So last night at the Bar, we got chatting to some americans eho reminded us that there's a sumo tournament on in Tokyo at the moment (they're only held 6 times a year) and its just up the road (25min walk) from our hostel. So we got up early (7.30am), thank gos this jetlag has finally gone now! and walked down as the ticket booth opens at 8am and 400 tickets go on sale daily as well as the pre-bought tickets, so we went and queued up and bought a day ticket for 2,100yen (about a tenner). then we went and had some brekkie (toast) in the English pub round the corner, as once you go in you can only come out and re-enter once which we knew we'd do at lunchtime. So once we got in the amateur sumo had started, and as most people do not watch the mornings as its all amateurs (a lower league) we sat really close to the front so had a good view! The amateur matches are over really quick and so in the morning i reckon they go through about 700 matches. At lunchtime we came out and went for lunch and then on our way back in all the sumo wrestlers for th afternoon were coming in so we stood around taking pictures, some of these guys are pretty famous over here i think as a certain few got big cheers when they were seen and 1 little girl got really excited when he signed a autograph for her.

We then went inside for the afternoon bouts and we had to sit in the seats we'd bought tickets for which was the last row and so pretty high up (not good for photo opps) but a good enough view. In the afternoon the whole place really filled up with spectators and the routines before the bouts began became more elaborate as they paraded in their ceremonial aprons (kesho-mawashi). and they stamped about a lot more before their bout and cleansed themselves by washing their mouths out and wiping themselves with a towel. But by this time the audience were really getting behind certain sumo's, but towards the end of the afternoon for vic and I it was getting a bit repetitive but we stayed till the end 6/6.30ish.

We then have come back to the hostel and are hoping that the FA cup is either going to be shown here or at the bar at 11pm

I'm still having trouble putting my pics up on here but for those of you who are on ringo Ive managed to upload them on there, but dont worry i will put them up on here at some point when the technology lets me!

Hope you're all OK, thanks for the messages you're leaving its nice to see that you're keeping up to date with our travels and thinking of us!

xxxx