Tokyo Nights
The Show
Tokyo Nights is more than an event — it's a journey into Sumo culture, where ancient ritual meets contemporary entertainment, and the spirit of Tokyo collides with the energy of London.
Developed in close creative collaboration with our Japanese team of advisers and practitioners, the evening draws on the Shinto roots of Sumo, the flavours of Tokyo's culinary scene, and the city's distinctive sound. Together, we aim to celebrate these traditions while co-creating a new experience — one that informs, entertains, and resonates with a London audience.
What to expect
Our Japanese and UK commentary team will be introducing you to the world of Sumo — the rules, the rituals — so you can understand what's about to unfold.
Then begins a Tournament to crown the…
Tenko Muso
(One who is Peerless Under Heaven)
Our powerful rikishi will undertake an ancient celestial battle between mythological Heyas (or Sumo teams), based on the traditional 'guardians' of Sumo.
All guests will be assigned a Heya (team) and rivalry will be electric.
The Heya for our Dining Guests is Genbu
Genbu
Black Tortoise
"The Strategists"
Patience is a virtue, and no guardian embodies it better than Genbu. His mind and body are a fortress — impenetrable, unmoving and eternal. Like waves breaking on a rock, Genbu waits until opponents exhaust themselves before striking quickly and clinically. The followers of Genbu-beya are thinkers and philosophers. Stoic and unbreakable, they see sumo like a chess match.
"The mountain will not move."
The Heyas for our Action Zone guests are Seiryu & Byakko
Seiryu
Azure Dragon
"The Visionaries"
Seiryu is the wisest and most balanced of all the guardians — a perfectly balanced force of power, technique and intelligence. For generations, Seiryu's rikishi has dominated the tournament with knowledge and guile. The followers of Seiryu-beya are regal, sophisticated and driven. Trend-setters and innovators who want to rise to the top and stay there.
"Rise like a dragon."
Byakko
White Tiger
"The Warriors"
Byakko strikes first and strikes hard. A born warrior, fierce in the face of adversity, operating with a strict code — always attacking for justice. There is nothing more exciting than the moment before the tachi-ai. It is the moment before Byakko can strike like lightning, overwhelming opponents with unstoppable power. The followers of Byakko-beya are intensely loyal and competitive.
"Strike first. Strike hard."
The Heya for our Balcony guests is Suzaku
Suzaku
Vermillion Bird
"The Artists"
The underestimated and often dismissed guardian, Suzaku embodies energy, determination and ambition. The smallest and most agile of the four, Suzaku uses an opponent's size and momentum against them. Like the phoenix, always evolving, learning from defeat and rising with greater knowledge. The followers of Suzaku-beya love rooting for the underdog. Their zeal and fervour is unrivalled.
"This is our time."
Origins
Origins of the Heyas
Keen-eyed cultural travellers may be wondering — aren't these symbols Chinese? While originating in Chinese cosmology, the Four Guardians — Genbu, Byakko, Seiryu, Suzaku — were embraced by Japanese culture centuries ago. In sumo, they symbolically guard the ring during the dohyō-iri ceremony. Our mythological heyas honour this tradition, which is both ancestrally Chinese and distinctly Japanese.