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.
SUMO TRAINING WEY NA ONLY YOUR GROUP · TOKYO & OSAKA
Enter di sumo ring. Carry better tori go house.
Discover sumo traditions, movements and spirit for session wey na only your group get. Learn with instructors wey sabi di work for Tokyo or Osaka, with pace wey suit your group.
Plan your own private sessionSee wetin di experience getNa only your groupSupport dey for EnglishBeginners and families dey welcome
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.
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%
Di sumo experience
Na your group. Na your pace. Di session na una own.
Plan family visit, quiet private experience for special clients, travel-agency group or focused practice for sumo team. Tell us wetin una wan achieve, make we discuss di format wey go fit. Particular instructors and special arrangements depend on who and wetin dey available.
Na about 90 minutes from preparation reach finish: wear mawashi, learn di customs and rules, practise shiko, koshiwari and suriashi, try drills wey suit you and bout wey instructor dey supervise, then snap photos. We go adjust how una participate and how hard di training go be to suit your group.
See wetin di experience getYOUR TIME FOR DI DOHYO
From di first bow reach di final photo.
Private introduction to di movements, rituals and people of sumo.
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Di mawashi
Get ready with your instructor help.
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Warm up
Enter di session gently at your own pace.
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Learn di rules
Discover di traditions behind di sport.
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Practise keiko
Try di basic movements of sumo.
-
Enter di ring
Try a bout with your instructor to guide you.
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Keep di memory
Take photos with di wrestlers.
About 90 minutes, including preparation and photos. We go adjust activities to your group; na di instructor go decide contact practice and bouts.
Di sumo experience
Small tradition. Plenty participation.
Na about 90 minutes from preparation reach finish: wear mawashi, learn di customs and rules, practise shiko, koshiwari and suriashi, try drills wey suit you and bout wey instructor dey supervise, then snap photos. We go adjust how una participate and how hard di training go be to suit your group.
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.
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Tie your mawashi
Your instructor go help you tie di traditional sumo belt and prepare you for di experience.
-
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.
-
Understand di rules
Learn di basics of sumo history, how person dey win a bout, and di proper behaviour for dohyo, di sumo ring.
-
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.
-
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.
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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
City wey you prefer
Two cities. One experience wey you no go forget.
Choose Tokyo or Osaka. We go confirm your venue, instructor and programme with you before you book.
01 / TOKYO
東京
Tokyo
Practise for real indoor sumo ring inside Heiwanomori Park for Ota, Tokyo. Small private groups go learn di basics, try bout wey instructor dey supervise, and snap photos together. Bigger groups fit ask for venue wey get sports mats.
Discover Tokyo
02 / OSAKA
大阪
Osaka
Enter traditional training space for central Osaka, inside di place wey Miyagino Stable bin dey stay and train for Osaka. Na eight minutes by train from Namba; add extra time to waka reach where una go meet.
Discover OsakaPLAN 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.
DI PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR EXPERIENCE
Instructors and support team
Meet di sumo instructors, interpreter, photographer and organiser behind Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!
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
Interpreter · Help for English language
- Dey speak English like native speaker and don live abroad.
- Don study for Sophia University.
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
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
Professional photographer
- Professional photographer wey dey speak English well.
- Get experience for high-end photography, including work for international luxury cruise ships.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Countries and regions
We don welcome guests from more than 34 countries and regions.
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
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 experiencePREPARE 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
Beginners and families dey welcome
Before you enter di ring
For private session, abeg contact us at least two weeks before. Bring drinking water, towel and clothes to change. Pikin fit join from two years, but we recommend four years and above. Pikin wey be twelve years or younger need parent or adult wey go supervise am. Tell us early about any help una need to enter di venue or participate.
Find out moreBefore 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 before | No charge |
|---|---|
| 10 days before | 30% |
| 7 days before | 50% |
| 3 days before | 70% |
| Di day before, di same day, or if you no show up | 100% |
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.
People wey dey work for travel business
Experience wey your clients go remember. Clear plan for you.
For travel agents, companies wey arrange local trips, hotels and tour operators: tell us di city, date, number of people, guests' ages, language and travel plan. We go confirm venue, staff, programme and booking conditions inside proposal wey suit you. We go share business terms with you privately.
For people wey work for travel business
SUMO TRAINING WEY NA ONLY YOUR GROUP · TOKYO & OSAKA
Make we plan your time for di ring.
Tell us small about your trip. We go check availability and prepare proposal. To send enquiry no mean say your booking don confirm.
Tokyo and Osaka
Na only your group
Sumo tori
Know sumo before you travel.
Plan your visit, discover sumo culture and find advice for travel professionals. Read our guides for di language wey you prefer.
SUMO MAN
You dey find performers for show or production?
For sumo shows, film, television, adverts, event appearances and talent casting, visit our specialist agency, Sumo Man.