FOR PEOPLE WEY WORK FOR TRAVEL BUSINESS

Private sumo wey your clients fit experience.

Private sumo training for travel agents, DMCs, tour operators, hotel concierges and MICE planners. Tell us about your clients, and we go help you plan their visit.

Make we plan your private experience
Special for your guests. Clear for your team.
Group experience for sumo ring wey use mats.
Group experience for sumo ring wey use mats.

FIT travellers, private groups and incentive travel

Arrange private ring session for individual travellers and small groups, or mat programme for bigger party. Share your guests’ profile and goals, from family cultural discovery reach corporate participation or specialist sports visit.

Time to see demonstrations, ask questions and talk.
Time to see demonstrations, ask questions and talk.

Proposal wey get di details you need

We go discuss venue, instructors, language support, programme, timing and participation arrangements before confirmation. All business terms go come privately. You fit request partner arrangements and sales kit.

  • City, date and other dates wey fit work
  • Number of adults and children, with ages for everybody under 18
  • Whether tour leader and interpreter go attend, and whether dem go participate
  • Language, clothing and access needs, plus any meal arrangements wey affect your itinerary
  • Arrival and departure plans, duration wey you request and privacy needs
  • Instructor background wey you prefer, photo plans and any training goals
We dey learn di basic movements of sumo together.
We dey learn di basic movements of sumo together.

How many people dey come and how the session go be

We recommend real ring for small parties up to 20. Di normal mat format na 10–30 guests. Other sizes, including large groups up to 200, need individual venue and staffing arrangements. Mat session fit include demonstrations, rules, belt fitting, movements, supervised bouts, rituals, questions and answers, and photos.

Sitara Matsumoto — interpretation and communication with guests.
Sitara Matsumoto — interpretation and communication with guests.

Staffing and communication with guests

Di normal arrangement na one or two sumo instructors plus interpreter wey go also lead introductions. Staffing dey change with group size; bigger group fit use three or more instructors. Enquiry support dey available for English and Japanese. Discuss any extra language needs before confirmation.

Booking and business arrangements

Request private session at least two weeks ahead. We go review your request, prepare proposal, agree booking conditions and issue invoice. Normally, payment must come ahead by bank transfer; credit card payment through Stripe dey available too. Every booking depend on availability. For repeat business, we fit discuss ongoing partner agreement and renewal terms.

Cancellation, safety and documents

Cancellation and payment conditions go come with di proposal; review dem before you confirm. We dey use Japan time to interpret dates. We fit provide insurance information and participation documents for you to review. Insurance depend on policy terms; e no mean say every injury or loss get cover.

Referral partners

Hotels, guides, publishers and travel partners fit request referral link. We go record your referral code with di guest enquiry, and our team fit update di record when booking confirm. We go agree referral terms, who qualify for commission and how to connect bookings to each partner.

WETIN WE DON DO

We dey welcome sumo guests from all over di world.

Travel agencies and online partners

We don work with dozens of big travel agencies and online travel agencies.

Logos of travel agencies and online agencies: JTB, WILLER, GetYourGuide, Klook, Viator and Airbnb
JTB · WILLER · GetYourGuide · Klook · Viator · Airbnb

Countries and regions

We don welcome guests from more than 34 countries and regions.

World map wey show where our guests travel come from
Where our guests travel come from.
See di countries and regions our guests come from

Some of dem na:

  • United States of America
  • Canada
  • France
  • United Kingdom
  • Mexico
  • Australia
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • India
  • Brazil
  • Taiwan
  • Italy
  • New Zealand
  • Poland
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
  • Democratic Republic of di Congo
  • Czech Republic
  • Dominican Republic
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Indonesia
  • Israel
  • Lithuania
  • Nepal
  • Norway
  • Réunion
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey

YOUR PRIVATE SUMO EXPERIENCE

How di programme go, step by step

From when you tie mawashi reach when you enter di ring: learn sumo movements, rules and traditions with your instructors. You no need any sumo experience before.

Plan for about 90 minutes, including preparation and photos.

  1. Tie your mawashi

    Your instructor go help you tie di traditional sumo belt and prepare you for di experience.

  2. Warm up together

    Start with stretches and movements wey go prepare your body. Follow wetin di instructor show you at a pace wey you dey comfortable with.

  3. Understand di rules

    Learn di basics of sumo history, how person dey win a bout, and di proper behaviour for dohyo, di sumo ring.

  4. Practise di basics — keiko

    Try di traditional movements wey form di foundation of sumo training. Your instructor go explain and show you each exercise.

    Shiko
    Raise and lower each leg one after di other to practise balance and di special sumo leg stamp.
    Koshiwari
    Spread your feet wide, lower your hips and practise how to control your posture.
    Suriashi
    Practise sliding steps and keep your feet close to di ground as you move.
    Teppo
    Learn how to push forward and how your arms and feet work together.
    Butsukari-geiko
    If your instructor decide say e dey suitable, try controlled pushing practice with a level of effort wey suit you.
  5. Try a bout — torikumi

    Learn di order: bow, do chirichozu, put both fists for ground, start di bout, then bow again. Learn wetin chirichozu mean and wetin kinjite, di techniques wey dem ban, be. Di instructor go adjust each supervised bout to suit di people wey dey take part.

  6. Take photos to remember di day

    Finish with photos beside di sumo wrestlers so you go remember your time inside di ring.

Na example of di programme be this. Exercises, order and duration fit change because of di venue, group or conditions that day. Na di instructor go decide which contact exercises and bouts to offer. You no need take part in every activity. Tell us wetin your group need when you send enquiry.

SEE WETIN DI EXPERIENCE BE LIKE

Look inside one session

Watch a sample session to understand di atmosphere and how you go take part yourself. We fit adjust your private programme to suit your group, interests and venue.

This video na example. We go confirm activities, instructors, venue and times for your own booking.

Watch am for YouTube

DI PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR EXPERIENCE

Instructors and support team

Meet di sumo instructors, interpreter, photographer and organiser behind Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!

Toru Shimakura

Toru Shimakura

Na im dey run am · E dey represent Backrub LLC

  • Na im dey run Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!
  • Representative of Backrub LLC.
Sitara Matsumoto

Sitara Matsumoto

Interpreter · Help for English language

  • Dey speak English like native speaker and don live abroad.
  • Don study for Sophia University.
Sota Kohara

Sota Kohara

Sumo instructor

  • Win di Chiba Prefecture High School Sumo Championship two years back to back.
  • Take third place for di team category of di All-Japan Student Sumo Championships.
  • Get competitive sumo experience from Hosei University.
So Miyaue

So Miyaue

Sumo instructor · Training for English language

  • Get 25 years of competitive sumo experience.
  • Dey provide professional sumo training for English language.
  • Take second place for di under-85 kg category of di All Japan Intercollegiate Sumo Weight-Class Championships.
Kyosuke Sata

Kyosuke Sata

Professional photographer

  • Professional photographer wey dey speak English well.
  • Get experience for high-end photography, including work for international luxury cruise ships.
Shinnosuke Takemasa

Shinnosuke Takemasa

Sumo teacher · E bin be professional wrestler

  • Champion for di team category of di National Sports Festival of Japan.
  • Champion of di All Japan Junior Sumo Championships.
  • Former professional wrestler for di Makushita division, wey compete with di ring name Genki.

We go arrange your session team based on di programme and who dey available. Tell us if you get any instructor or language request when you send enquiry.

SOMETHING EXTRA FOR YOUR PRIVATE SESSION

Train with person wey bin be sekitori.

Former sekitori — wrestlers wey reach Jūryō or Makuuchi divisions — fit join your private training experience for extra fee. Tell us di wrestler you prefer, your city and dates. We go check who dey available and confirm di arrangements inside your proposal.

Hidenoumi / 英乃海

Hidenoumi 英乃海

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 6

Former Makuuchi wrestler from Kise stable and Jūryō champion. E specialise for right-hand inside grip and techniques to force opponent out of di ring.

Daishoho / 大翔鵬

Daishoho 大翔鵬

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 9

E come from Ulaanbaatar for Mongolia, train for Oitekaze stable and compete for nine Makuuchi tournaments. E specialise for right-hand inside grip and techniques to force opponent out.

Daikiho / 大喜鵬

Daikiho 大喜鵬

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 16

Masahiro Yamaguchi, wey be member of Miyagino stable before, reach di Makuuchi division. Im experience also cover international sumo shows, television and film.

Shiden / 紫雷

Shiden 紫雷

Highest rank wey e reach: Jūryō 2

Former Jūryō wrestler from Kise stable, wey people know for left-hand inside grip and force-out style. Im friendly manner suit demonstrations and activities wey guests dey join.

We go only confirm di wrestler you request after we agree on availability and di extra fee. For sumo shows, media appearances or choosing wrestlers for events, contact Sumo Man. Shows and event casting with Sumo Man

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Every day of di week dey possible

We fit arrange private sessions any day, including Mondays and weekends, if space and team dey available.

Normal start times · Japan time

If these times no fit your travel plan, ask us about changing di start time.

You dey visit Tokyo area on Monday?

We no fit use di Heiwajima / Heiwanomori Park venue for Tokyo on Mondays. Instead, we fit arrange Monday sessions for one of these places:

  • Soka, Saitama
  • Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  • Ginza, Tokyo — extra fee dey apply

We go check availability and confirm di venue and start time with you before booking.

AN EXPERIENCE WEY SUIT YOUR GROUP

Choose an experience wey suit your group.

Our sumo experiences start for 2020. We establish di operating company, Backrub LLC, for August 2023.

From small private group reach large group

Traditional ring · We recommend am for up to 20 guests

For independent travellers and small groups, we recommend real dohyo. We fit arrange for groups of up to 30 for di Tokyo ring, but we must confirm di venue and participation plan.

Mat programme · Normal groups of 10–30

Mat programme give more flexibility for group travel plans. Bigger groups need separately arranged venue and instructor team.

Mat training places for Tokyo · 20–50 people for one group

Venue options include Takadanobaba and Shibuya. We go choose di location and programme based on your group and which venue dey available.

Mat training places for Tokyo · 50–200 people for one group

For large groups, one option na venue about 10 minutes by car from Ikebukuro. We go confirm capacity, transport arrangements and staff for each booking.

Different guests fit join in different ways

Families, school groups and events

We welcome company groups for meetings, incentive trips, conferences and exhibitions, families, middle-school and high-school groups, and special-event bookings. Most guests never try sumo before; you no need previous knowledge or experience.

Women and children

Women dey welcome to enter di dohyo and take part. We recommend participation from age four; children fit also follow di group and watch without taking part. Tell us di ages and numbers of participants and observers.

Older guests and gentle participation

We don welcome plenty guests wey dey their 60s and above. Gentler programme dey for people wey prefer less physical activity. Experienced athletes fit request more intensive training.

Modest clothing and privacy

Muslim guests fit take part with hijab or other modest clothes. You fit request female instructor well in advance, depending on who dey available. Private sessions also give LGBT+ guests and anybody wey need privacy space to enjoy di experience with their own group.

Sessions for English language, with demonstrations to guide you

We dey run sessions for English language, with help for English and Japanese. Demonstrations and physical practice also help guests wey no speak English understand di movements.

Tell us wetin your group need when you send enquiry. We go confirm di venue, instructors, participation arrangements and meeting instructions before your visit. Also confirm your travel arrangements together with your booking details.

Plan your group experience

PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT

Insurance and safety

Our sumo experience get business insurance with Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. We join this with safety training for instructors and clear guidance for participants.

Business insurance

Di policy wey our service information describe include liability for bodily injury, liability for property damage and theft of guests’ belongings. Wetin insurance cover depend on di policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Care during your session

Instructors dey receive safety training and first-aid kits dey for di venue. Follow di instructor directions and tell us about any participation needs before your visit.

Understand wetin di insurance cover

Sumo na physical activity, so small scrapes or bruises fit happen. Di insurance wey our service information describe no cover these small injuries. E no guarantee cover for every accident or loss.

Travel professionals and guests fit ask us to confirm di insurance arrangements and di cover conditions wey apply to their visit.

Ask us how insurance go work for your visit

Small courage. Plenty smiles.

Sumo sweet pass when we do am together.

Come with your curiosity. We go show you sumo. Make una try am together, for pace wey suit you.

Pikin dey try sumo with instructor

From small pikin reach grandpa and grandma

Make memory wey your family go share. We dey adjust di activities to each person age and wetin dem dey comfortable with.

Guests dey enjoy sumo together

Women, make una enter di sumo ring!

Try di moves, enjoy friendly challenge and pose for photo. Join with pace wey suit you.

A day wey go make you smile anytime you remember am

94.4%of people wey answer di survey give us 100 out of 100

Learn something new. Laugh together. Carry tori go house wey you fit share.

Na your first time? You dey welcome!

72.2%of people wey answer di survey never try sumo before

You no need experience. Your instructor go show you every move, step by step.

Results from di guest survey wey dey inside our sales materials.

See all di survey results

Wetin our guests tell us

These figures come from guest survey inside our sales materials. Di source no state di survey date or how many people answer am.

Age groups

People for their 20s
23.5%
People for their 30s
47.1%
People for their 40s
23.5%
People for their 50s
5.9%

Women and men

Women
17.9%
Men
82.1%

Satisfaction: almost full marks

100 points
94.4%
90 points
5.6%

Most participants never try sumo before

No previous experience
72.2%
Small experience
11.1%
Previous experience
16.7%

Before you book

Our safety record

We never cause any guest serious injury. We dey adjust activities and intensity to each group, and na di instructor dey decide which contact exercises suit dem.

Watching and taking part

To watch na free, including for children, tour leaders and interpreters. Tour leader wey take part for di experience go pay as participant.

Payment and travel-agency rates

Normally, you need pay in advance through bank transfer. Travel agencies get net wholesale rates without commission, and dem set their own selling prices. Contact us for detailed sales materials and individual terms, including payment and cancellation conditions.

Cancellation conditions

15 days or more beforeNo charge
10 days before30%
7 days before50%
3 days before70%
Di day before, di same day, or if you no show up100%

If na we cancel di experience, we go refund all di money.

Wetin to bring and wear

Remove your glasses or use contact lenses for di experience. Bring towel, change of clothes and about 500 ml of drinking water.

Children and other guests wey never reach 18

Private booking dey compulsory if children wey be 12 years or younger dey take part. Tell us in advance how many participants dey under 18 and their ages.

Photos and videos

You fit post your own photos and videos freely for social media. Ask other guests for permission before you record or share their images. We fit use materials wey we film for our official website, social media and sales materials. Tell us before di experience if you no want appear.

SUMO MAN

You dey find performers for show or production?

For sumo shows, film, television, adverts, event appearances and casting, visit our specialist agency, Sumo Man.

Sumo Man

PRIVATE SUMO TRAINING FOR TOKYO & OSAKA

Make we plan your time inside di ring.

Tell us small about your trip. We go check availability and prepare proposal. To send enquiry no mean say booking don confirm.

Tokyo and Osaka

Abeg enquire at least two weeks ahead for private session.

Date wey you prefer

Our team dey handle enquiries for English and Japanese. You fit write for any language wey you prefer.

Languages wey dey

87 languages · English · 日本語 · Deutsch · Français · Español

EnglishEnglish 日本語Japanese EspañolSpanish FrançaisFrench DeutschGerman ItalianoItalian PortuguêsPortuguese NederlandsDutch PolskiPolish РусскийRussian УкраїнськаUkrainian RomânăRomanian SvenskaSwedish DanskDanish NorskNorwegian SuomiFinnish ČeštinaCzech MagyarHungarian ΕλληνικάGreek СрпскиSerbian HrvatskiCroatian БългарскиBulgarian SlovenčinaSlovak LietuviųLithuanian LatviešuLatvian EestiEstonian ShqipAlbanian МакедонскиMacedonian 简体中文Simplified Chinese 繁體中文Traditional Chinese 한국어Korean Bahasa IndonesiaIndonesian Bahasa MelayuMalay Tiếng ViệtVietnamese ไทยThai 粵語Cantonese 吴语Shanghainese Basa JawaJavanese မြန်မာဘာသာBurmese TagalogTagalog Bân-lâm-gúHokkien Hak-kâ-faHakka Basa SundaSundanese CebuanoCebuano ខ្មែរKhmer ລາວLao МонголMongolian हिन्दीHindi বাংলাBengali اردوUrdu मराठीMarathi తెలుగుTelugu தமிழ்Tamil ਪੰਜਾਬੀPunjabi ગુજરાતીGujarati മലയാളംMalayalam ಕನ್ನಡKannada ଓଡ଼ିଆOdia भोजपुरीBhojpuri मैथिलीMaithili नेपालीNepali සිංහලSinhala سنڌيSindhi العربيةArabic TürkçeTurkish فارسیPersian پښتوPashto AzərbaycancaAzerbaijani עבריתHebrew KurdîKurdish OʻzbekchaUzbek ҚазақшаKazakh КыргызчаKyrgyz ТоҷикӣTajik TürkmençeTurkmen ՀայերենArmenian ქართულიGeorgian KiswahiliSwahili NaijáNigerian Pidgin HausaHausa አማርኛAmharic YorùbáYoruba FulfuldeFula IgboIgbo SoomaaliSomali isiZuluZulu AfrikaansAfrikaans

SUMO TRAINING WEY NA ONLY YOUR GROUP · TOKYO & OSAKA