Six major professional sumo tournaments are held in Japan each year.
These events are known as honbasho. Three take place in Tokyo, while the other three are staged in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. Each tournament lasts 15 days, creating a regular annual calendar that fans can follow across the four seasons.
The Tokyo events are held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan, the sport’s best-known indoor arena. The remaining tournaments give major cities outside Tokyo a direct role in professional sumo. The locations and months are traditionally linked: Tokyo hosts the January, May and September tournaments; Osaka hosts March; Nagoya hosts July; and Fukuoka hosts November.
These six competitions are distinct from exhibition tours and regional events. Tournament results affect official rankings, championship records and promotion opportunities. Because wrestlers compete throughout the year, injuries, winning streaks and performance against highly ranked opponents can shape the banzuke, the ranking list published before each tournament.