Sumo wrestlers have taken the UK by storm this week with viral photos of the largely Japanese sportsmen enjoying London tourist spots in their traditional dress.

It was hardly surprising, then, that such buzz around the Grand Sumo Tournament led to a sold-out five days at the Royal Albert Hall.

The competition was last held at the historic venue 34 years ago, marking just two occasions when its taken place outside of Japan in the last 1500 years.

Arriving at the finals on Sunday, the Hall’s seating was rearranged in the round, with cushions for the very front around the dohyō, the sand-covered ring in the centre where battle between the very best rikishi (wrestlers) would take place.

The rules are pretty simple, two complete at a time, as both aim to force the other out of the ring via pushing, slapping, shoving and throwing. Alternatively they can make any of their opponents’ body parts other than their feet touch the ground to win.

The tournament’s final day featured 20 bouts, with the first few often lasting just several seconds. But by the time the greatest among the rikishi competed, we were in for some particularly thrilling battles, often with a last-minute upper hand from the underdog. The crowd whooped, cheered and gasped throughout as the larger-than-life titans (some as much as 28 stone) brought a 2000-year-old Japanese sport to life, and with it, its ancient rituals. Given just how old Sumo is, rituals inspired by Shintoism took place in-between the bouts. Hanging above the ring was a specially constructed mini temple roof, while the day began with a traditional rope-tying and drumming before the space was cleansed for its specific purpose. Prior to each fight, the rikishi stomp their feet to ward off evil spirits and clap their hands to draw the attention of the gods. Each man then takes a handful of salt to throw into the ring, purifying it.

The theatrics continued outside the ring too, with the wrestlers parading through the arena in various colourful keshō-mawashi, the ceremonial loincloths worn over the ones they fight in. All together, this Eastern spectacle makes heavyweight boxing look rather tame in comparison. The tournament concluded with a deciding match between the two undefeated: Onosato and Hoshoryu, with the latter ultimately claiming victory. Aside from being presented with the winning trophy, he was also eccentrically gifted a giant Hello Kitty and Soy Sauce bottle from the sponsors. Not just a thrilling and entertaining day, but clearly, from the size of the smile on the Japanese ambassador, a PR success for his country’s tourism and the future of Sumo.