It’s not every day that the Royal Albert Hall turns into a stage for sumo wrestling — and certainly not every day that a referee has to step in to save a wrestler from an awkward wardrobe malfunction.
But that’s exactly what happened during a tense match between Ura Kazuki and Shonannoumi Momotaro at the Grand Sumo Tournament in London.
A Sudden Pause in the Ring
Midway through the bout, alert referee — known in sumo as a gyoji — noticed something that could’ve turned the contest into a rather embarrassing spectacle.
Ura Kazuki’s mawashi (the traditional sumo loincloth) had started to loosen, putting the wrestler at risk of an unwanted reveal.
Without hesitation, the referee jumped into action, placing his hands on both wrestlers to halt the fight.
Referee to the Rescue
The quick-thinking gyoji carefully attended to Ura’s mawashi, adjusting and tightening it to avoid a potential mishap.
The BBC commentators watching the scene couldn’t help but comment on the delicate situation: “You do not want those mawashi to come off — I’ve seen it before, and it’s not a pretty sight.”
They explained the procedure, noting that this type of stoppage, called a mawashi matta, allows the referee to fix the belt while both competitors remain frozen in place.
Once Ura’s belt was secured, the referee did a quick check on Shonannoumi’s attire too, just to make sure everything was in order before restarting the match.
The Bout Continues — and Ends in Victory
After the impromptu wardrobe fix, the contest resumed, and Ura wasted no time reclaiming focus.
In a powerful move, he flipped Shonannoumi moments later, sealing his victory.
The crowd at the Royal Albert Hall erupted in applause — perhaps both for the athletic performance and the referee’s composure under pressure.
Sumo in the Heart of London
The incident took place on the third day of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, a historic event that has brought more than 40 of Japan’s top wrestlers to London.
The Royal Albert Hall was transformed with an authentic sumo ring and a Shinto shrine-style roof to recreate the traditional atmosphere of Japanese tournaments.
This marks only the second time in history that the Grand Sumo Tournament has been held outside Japan — the first being in 1991, also in London.
Despite the minor hiccup, the event continues to draw huge crowds, offering fans a rare and fascinating glimpse into one of Japan’s oldest sporting traditions.