Royal Albert Hall, Temple of Sumo

For five days, the Royal Albert Hall will be transformed into a temple to Sumo, one of the world’s oldest sports and Japan’s national sport. Sumo is a form of hand-to-hand combat in which two contestants face each other with the aim of knocking their opponent out of the ring: the dohyō, a fighting area made of earth and sand, covered by a roof that evokes the shape of a Shinto shrine. More than 40 of Japan’s best maku-uchi rikishi (wrestlers) will compete, bringing with them a thousand-year-old sporting legacy that combines explosive athleticism with ceremonial splendor. From the vibrant, hand-embroidered kesho-mawashi silk robes to the ancient salt-throwing rituals, to the 82 winning moves, every element is steeped in history and culture.