The Japan Sumo Association has officially decided to allow spectators at the July tournament, which will be held from Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Set to take place in Tokyo instead of the usual Nagoya venue, the tournament was initially planned to be held without spectators. However, the JSA decided at an extraordinary board meeting on Monday that up to about 2,500 spectators per day, or about one-fourth of the stadium's capacity, will be allowed in.
Restrictions on holding events were relaxed on July 10, and the association took into account the fact that professional baseball and Japan's top pro soccer league are holding games with spectators present.
The upcoming sumo tournament will be the first in four months, following the Spring Grand Tournament in March. That event was held in Osaka with no spectators, and the Summer Grand Summer Tournament slated for May was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Spectators will be allowed into a sumo tournament for the first time since the New Year tournament in January.
Regarding the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament to be held from Nov. 8, the association has decided to move the venue from Fukuoka to Tokyo, aiming to prevent large groups of wrestlers from traveling or being away from their stables for a long period of time.
"The wrestlers have faithfully adhered to strict restrictions on going out and infection prevention measures to prepare for the July tournament," association chair Hakkaku, the former yokozuna grand champion Hokutoumi, said in a statement. "We'll be proud to show you powerful bouts in the ring."
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