Review: Tokyo Nights (London)

This live sumo dining experience delivers a one-of-a-kind night out for those looking to witness rikishis clash first-hand. But it's probably not one for the purists...

Photo: Immersive Rumours

Eight months on from elite sumo wrestling returning to the UK for the first time in 34 years with The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall, London-based sumo fans have another opportunity to witness the rites and rituals of the sport up close as Tokyo Nights takes over Greenwich Borough Hall until 8th July.

Billed as a live dining and performance experience, Tokyo Nights combines a rotating line-up of retired rikishi competing in a series of bouts with a sushi and sake dining experience courtesy of Sticks'n'Sushi and Kay Sake.

While the Grand Sumo Tournament is steeped in tradition and returned to the UK in part to showcase Japan's traditional culture to the world, Tokyo Nights takes a far more contemporary approach to showcasing the art of sumo, mixing one of the world's oldest sports with the kind of Western sporting spectacle most commonly associated with wrestling. It's a deliberate shift in presentation that gives Tokyo Nights a very different feel from a traditional sumo tournament.

Photo: Immersive Rumours

The bulk of Tokyo Nights revolves around a round-robin tournament, where all four rikishi compete against each other before a grand finale to decide the Tenko Muso ('One Who is Peerless Under Heaven' for us non-Japanese speakers). To win a bout, a rikishi must either get their opponent outside of the dohyō or get any part of their body besides their feet to touch the floor. With no height or weight divisions, rikishi of vastly different sizes can, and will, battle it out, overseen by a Gyōji, who also officiates the ring-entering ceremony.

It's hard to deny that witnessing sumo wrestling in real life is a pretty thrilling experience, and it's certainly unlike anything else happening in London this summer. For newcomers, this 90-minute show serves as a solid introduction to the sport and will no doubt spark an interest in it for many, even if it's not presenting sumo in its purest form.

Photo: Immersive Rumours

To keep the energy within the venue high throughout, each section of the audience, from the Balcony and Action Zone to the Dining and VIP Dining areas, is assigned a different heya (traditional sumo training stable). Each heya is paired with a rikishi, with audiences encouraged to cheer them on throughout the evening. Helping to build that atmosphere is a cast of roaming performers - many of whom will be familiar to immersive theatre fans - who lead regular chants and rally support.

Alongside those in the dohyō, Tokyo Night also features a charismatic on-stage host (David Fearn), who does an apt job of keeping things moving, and two ringside commentators (Emi Del Bene and Rob Thompson), who provide insight into the history of the sport and walk the audience through some of its finer points in between bouts, all of which provides some much-needed context for those fresh to sumo wrestling.

Photo: Immersive Rumours

Beyond the wrestling, Tokyo Nights leans heavily into theatrical presentation. Bombastic pre-recorded introductions give each rikishi the feel of a prize fighter, while slow-motion replays, vibrant lighting, luminous signage and striking Japanese calligraphy transform the art deco venue into a colourful sporting arena.

Much of this succeeds in helping the audience invest in what's happening inside the ring, but there are moments when the presentation undermines the authenticity it aims to celebrate and causes you to question if the bouts are scripted in some way. The commentators, for example, frame the evening as a once-in-a-lifetime meeting between the competing rikishi, which wraps the entire evening in a quasi-fictional narrative that feels unnecessary when the wrestling itself is already hugely compelling.

Photo: Immersive Rumours

While the on-stage action is undoubtedly gripping, it only makes up part of the overall Tokyo Nights experience, with multiple dining options available depending on the chosen ticket type.

Non-dining tickets - which make up the Balcony and Action Zone sections of the venue - allow guests to pre-order bento boxes from Sticks'n'Sushi, with a choice of karaage chicken, mixed seafood or vegan options, for an upcharge. Dining tickets - which place guests far closer or within touching distance of the dohyō - include a generous three-course meal featuring beef tataki, salmon, tuna and shrimp sushi, and a chocolate gateaux.

If you've ever been to one of Sticks'n'Sushi's brick-and-mortar restaurants, you'll know what to expect. While it isn't especially memorable, it's consistently enjoyable and complements the evening’s main focus well.

Photo: Immersive Rumours

Tokyo Nights is at its strongest when the focus remains on the dohyō. The layers of theatricality surrounding the bouts won't be to everyone's taste, particularly those hoping for a more traditional presentation of sumo, but they succeed at creating an atmosphere that's welcoming and easy to invest in.

The result is an enjoyable evening that blends sport, theatre and dining into an experience unlike anything else currently on offer in London while providing an accessible introduction to a sport that rarely reaches UK audiences.

★★★★

[Tickets gifted in exchange for an honest review]

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Tokyo Nights runs at Greenwich Borough Hall until 8th July 2026. Tickets are priced from £79.00 per person. For more information and to book tickets, visit tokyonights.com