【ABEMA】 “ABEMA” will broadcast the Grand Sumo 100th Anniversary Tournament exclusively for free live starting Tuesday, October 7th! A “traditional grand sumo tournament” based on the sumo festivals of the Heian period will be held for the first time in 30 years, a special event connecting culture to the future.
ABEMA Press Release: October 3, 2025 “Sumo” at “ABEMA” The 100th Anniversary Tournament will be broadcast live and free of charge exclusively from Tuesday, October 7th! A “traditional grand sumo tournament” based on the sumo festivals of the Heian period will be held for the first time in 30 years, a special event connecting culture to the future.
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ABEMA, the new television of the future, is pleased to announce that it will be exclusively broadcasting the special Grand Sumo Centennial Tournament, to be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, live and free of charge. ABEMA is the only service that will allow you to watch the entire event, from opening to closing, for free. This event is being held as part of the commemorative projects of the Japan Sumo Association, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary since its founding as a foundation in 2025. The highlight of the event is the “Traditional Grand Sumo Tournament,” based on the Sumo Festival, a court event held during the Heian period. This will be the first time a traditional sumo tournament has been held in 30 years, and rather than being a competition to win or lose, it will be a special event that will communicate the origins and aesthetic values of sumo both in Japan and abroad as a forum for promoting culture and tradition. The traditional sumo event will begin with an enbu (flying spear) performance, followed by performances of children’s sumo, traditional bouts by makuuchi wrestlers, and Bugaku (traditional Japanese dance and music). Additionally, current sumo masters and experts will select bouts they would like to preserve for the future and introduce them with rare footage from the time. Also planned are spectacular performances such as “Sandan Kamae” (three-stage stance) and “Yokozuna Gonin Gake” (five-person yokozuna performance), which can only be realized now that both the East and West Yokozuna are present. It will be a day where you can experience the fusion of tradition with the modern sumo ring. A stellar lineup of performers will be joining the “ABEMA” broadcast. Guests include Torajo Hanada, and former sumo wrestler Toyonoshima and Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Hagino will appear as reporters. Commentary will be provided by sumo wrestlers Abushō (formerly Daido) and Mihogeseki (formerly Tochiei), who will share memories of their time as wrestlers and share cultural perspectives. Former NHK announcer Kariya Fujio, making his first appearance on “ABEMA,” will provide commentary and share the appeal of “sumo as a culture” from a variety of perspectives. In addition, stablemaster Nishiiwa has provided a commentary on the release. “We hope that not only sumo fans who watch regular tournament broadcasts will enjoy the show, but also those who are not very familiar with sumo. Traditional sumo wrestling is a special opportunity to experience the culture of sumo itself, more than just the outcome of the competition. We hope that people will be able to experience the history and beauty of sumo through ABEMA.” Schedule for the day 10:45 AM Yose Taiko 11:00 AM Doors open 13:00 Performance Begins: Touching Taiko 13:05 Family Selection Team Tournament 14:15 Awards Ceremony 14:20 Announcement from the Association and singing of the national anthem 14:30 Taiko drumming demonstration 14:40 Gozengakari Dohyo-iri (Makuuchi Dohyo-iri) / Yokozuna Dohyo-iri 15:00 Intermission 15:10 Three-stage stance (Toyoshoryu/Oonosato) 15:15 Divine Sumo 15:20 Gonin-gakari (Yokozuna Toyonoryu vs. 5 Makuuchi wrestlers) 15:25 Modern Sumo, Makuuchi Bout No. 9 15:55 Short Break 16:00 Furihoko (Traditional Grand Sumo) 16:10 Children’s Sumo, 3 Groups 16:20 Traditional Grand Sumo, Bout 10 (Makuuchi) 16:50 Bugaku 17:05 Speech from the Yokozuna 17:10 End The Grand Sumo Centennial Tournament is a special event that goes beyond the wins and losses of sumo wrestling and promotes the appeal of sumo as a culture both domestically and internationally. Be sure to enjoy this historic day, including the “Traditional Grand Sumo Tournament” being held for the first time in 30 years, exclusively on “ABEMA,” for free live coverage. ■ABEMA “Sumo 100th Anniversary Place” Program Overview Distribution date: October 7, 2025 (Tuesday) 13:00~ URL:
https://abema.tv/channels/sumo/slots/9uY8dp6dhAiAhu Cast Guest: Toranosuke Hanada (exclusive commentator for “ABEMA Grand Sumo”) Reporters: Toyonoshima, Kosuke Hagino Commentary: Oyakata Abushō (formerly Daido), Oyakata Mihogeseki (formerly Tochiei) Play-by-play commentary: Kariya Fujio (former NHK/first appearance on ABEMA) *Please note that broadcast schedules, content, and broadcast formats are subject to change without notice. *When using images, please credit [(C) AbemaTV, Inc.]. ■About “ABEMA” “ABEMA” is a video streaming service that aims to innovate television and is being developed as “the new television of the future.” No registration is required, and approximately 25 channels across a wide variety of genres, including a 24-hour news channel, original dramas, romance shows, anime, and sports, are broadcast 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In addition, we boast the largest number of original episodes of any domestic video service in Japan (※), and offer a wide selection of content, including notable new movies, popular domestic and
international dramas, and trending anime, as well as a variety of music and live stage performances online. You can enjoy content anytime, whether on TV or on demand, and you can watch programs that fit your lifestyle, regardless of location, on your smartphone, PC, tablet, or TV device. In addition, by subscribing to “ABEMA Premium” for a monthly fee of 1,080 yen (tax included), you can watch exclusive content and enjoy exclusive features such as catch-up playback and download functionality. Additionally, with “ABEMA Premium with Ads” for a monthly fee of 580 yen (tax included), you can watch “ABEMA Premium” exclusive content with ads. *As of October 2024, according to our own research
