Sumo Sundays

08/27/2026

A little glimpse of what’s coming on Sept. 7! 🤼🏻‍♂️

Last year’s basho saw some close calls and very exciting matches. We can’t wait to see what happens at our 2026 sumo exhibition in just less than two weeks.

Grab your tickets now for this unique opportunity to experience live sumo in Vancouver. Tickets are $35-25 sliding scale or $10 for children 12 and under.

Visit sumosundays.ca/basho (link in bio) for details.

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Thank you to Powell Street Festival Society, Fujiya Foods and Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall (VJLS-JH) for sponsoring and supporting our 2026 basho.

08/21/2026

POV: Trent (ön) at Powell Street Festival Society’s 2026 sumo exhibition. 🆒

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Thank you again to everyone who came out and supported us! This year, the exhibition was named after the late Shig Hirai, founder of Fujiya Foods (1937-2025).

Shig was a sumo enthusiast who played a key role in building sumo in Vancouver, from bringing professional sumo to Canada through the 1998 basho to building a foundation for amateur sumo at the festival.

We are grateful for Shig’s legacy and that of the former Sumo Fun Club. We are also grateful for Fujiya’s continued support of local sumo, not just at the Powell Street Festival but through some our other events over the year.

In addition to sponsoring our upcoming basho (more rice, anyone?), we recently inherited some of Shig’s sumo memorabilia from Fujiya. This includes hapi coats from the 1998 basho that we’re excited to debut at our next exhibition on Sept. 7.

Join us at our 2026 basho this Labour Day, the only place to watch live sumo in Vancouver outside of the Powell Street Festival. Learn more at sumosundays.ca/basho (link in bio).

08/13/2026

Leave it to Shane and Satoshi to have the longest fight ever. Yes, this went for three minutes (granted we weren’t using the dohyo) and they only stopped from fatigue. 🥱

Until Sept. 4, our weekly Friday night open mats are back at Vancouver Japanese Language School & Japanese Hall (VJLS-JH)! As these are somewhat self-directed sessions (with a guided warm-up), we recommend that folks sign up if they’ve been to even one sumo class or workshop before. These are also great for those participating in our 2026 basho on Sept. 7.

Alternatively, we’re still hosting weekly classes with Kyle Cox - VanCity Sumo at Kensington Judo Society every Sunday from 1:30-3 pm (resuming Aug. 23 since this weekend, we have our youth workshops).

For more info or to register, visit sumosundays.ca/register (link in bio).

05/17/2025

Throwback to this sumo workshop with in 2018. 🥹

“Just going to drop this and say sumo was fun today, but what was even cooler was hearing advocate and encourage folks of all abilities (and genders) to participate!” posted on Facebook.

Seven years later and this still rings true with Sumo Sundays today. Our founding team, which includes Lydia, has carried this goal of inclusion since day one.

And since day one, we have also continued to work closely with Powell Street Festival and are so grateful they have championed this vision in our work in and outside of the festival.

On Monday, Powell Street Festival staff will be joining us at our 2025 basho, donating their time to provide support at our event. Outside of this, program staff have helped coordinate our volunteers and first aid attendants.

Thank you, Powell Street Festival!

03/20/2025

SAVE THE DATE! 📣 Sumo Sundays is thrilled to bring back our basho for a second year on Monday, May 19, 2025 (Victoria Day).

With support from Powell Street Festival, and sponsored by Fujiya Japanese Foods and DMCL Chartered Professional Accountants, we’re hosting a full day of sumo entertainment, including six brackets of live matches and comic sumo demonstrations.

New this year, we’re introducing space for participants with limited experience in sumo (beginners welcome), as well as those looking for a more competitive experience. We also have open gender brackets and brackets specifically for women, non-binary and gender-diverse folks.

NOW OPEN:

✸ Register to compete ($20/bracket, max. 2 brackets per person)
✸ Sign up to volunteer
✸ Purchase an early bird ticket to watch ($15+ and $5 for children 12 and under)

Hosted at the historic Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall, this is one event you won’t want to miss. 🔥 To sign up to compete, volunteer or grab a ticket, visit sumosundays.ca/basho

01/29/2025

Up your sumo training with one of our upcoming intermediate and competitive skills classes! ☄️

• Intermediate: Sunday, Feb. 2 and March 9 (1-3:30 pm)
• Competitive skills: Every Friday (7:15-8:45 pm) and most Sundays (3:45-5:15 pm)

Both sessions are designed for learners looking to experience an advanced class (no sumo experience required). Glossing over basics, these sessions often build on technique using the experiences of those who attend.

All sessions are hosted at the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall and offered on a sliding scale. For more info and to register, visit sumosundays.ca/register

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Photo taken at our last intermediate drop-in of 2024!

01/06/2025

We are excited to share a new roster of drop-ins for 2025! 🎉

In addition to the fundamentals and intermediate sessions we added last fall, we are introducing a new 1-hour drop-in twice a week.

Starting Friday, Jan. 17, folks will have the opportunity to practice takedown and grappling skills with Vancouver Sumo Tigers. Meanwhile, our fundamentals and intermediate sessions will continue at the same 2.5-hour format we’ve hosted over the last two years.

For full details and registration, visit sumosundays.ca/register.

01/04/2025

Join us next Sunday, Jan. 12 for our first fundamentals class of the year! ✨

Led by Kayla and Mielle, these drop-ins aim to build confidence and safety for beginners and casual learners alike.

• 1-3:30 pm at the Vancouver Japanese Language School and Japanese Hall
• $15-22 sliding scale (+ fees)
• All sizes, genders and experiences welcome
• Max. 14 people per session

Our drop-in sessions aim to build confidence and safety around this popular Japanese sport.