Ticket sales-where have all the tickets gone? Long.

[Kintamayama 46,751]

Answering your question, I have some free time.

 

While a long-awaited Sumo popularity boom is underway, tickets for Aki have sold out quickly. Sumo has experienced several frenzied crazes that swept across Japan in the past. The "Wakataka boom" in the early 1990s, centered around Wakahanada (later Yokozuna Wakanohana) and Takahanada (later Yokozuna Takanohana), is still talked about as the most unprecedented in history. Fast forward to 2024. At the height of the Wakataka boom in 1996, tickets for all six basho and all 90 days of the basho were sold out, a major event that caused quite a stir. The popularity of the bashos remains strong in 2025, and tickets for all dates and seating types for Aki Basho, scheduled to be held from September 14th to 28th, have already sold out as of August 9th, when general sales began.

However, there seems to be some uncertainty as to whether all tickets are being distributed to sumo fans. On August 8, the Kyokai posted on its official X account, "Advance tickets are now on sale! On sale from 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 9th. Tickets will be available at 'Ticket Grand Sumo,' 'Ticket Pia,' and '7-Eleven.' Purchases and sales on ticket resale sites such as the Ticket Distribution Center and Ticket Jam are prohibited." However, some quoted reposts revealed several complaints, such as "Lots of tickets are being resold," "Please regulate resale," and "If purchasing and selling is prohibited, then crack down on all tickets already available."  Most seat types are going for more than double the price on these resale sites. As pointed out in one quoted repost, a significant number of tickets for the Aki Basho are being listed on the two aforementioned sites. As of midnight on August 10th, there were 124 listings (including active listings) on the Ticket Distribution Center and 78 on Ticket Jam

One example of a ticket being traded at the Ticket Distribution Center is two consecutive seats on the second floor, seat B, for the first day, for 22,000 yen. The transaction method section reads something like, "I'm selling this because I bought multiple tickets," which sounds plausible. However, considering that the regular price for the same seating is 5,500 yen per person on weekends and holidays and 5,000 yen per person on weekdays, and that the Ticket Distribution Center is not an official resale site designated by the Kyokai, it's safe to assume that this is a resale. Ticket Jam is also seeing many tickets, particularly regular seating, priced at around double the original price. It's no wonder that sumo fans who simply want to see the basho are sighing in frustration.

The Kyokai clearly states on its official website, "The Kyokai's 'Sumo Competition Spectator Contract Terms and Conditions" prohibit the resale of tickets for profit. The same is also prohibited in the 'Official Sumo Fan Club Terms of Use.' However, we have observed cases of sumo tickets being traded on ticket resale intermediary sites and certain apps. We are currently working with relevant parties to refuse entry to ticket holders, including those listed and tickets that have already been traded. Please be aware that even if you attend with a resold ticket, you may not be able to enter. Furthermore, if resale is confirmed, we may take measures such as suspending your fan club membership or your Sumo Tickets account." Furthermore, in March of this year, the Kyokai announced on its official website that it had identified and expelled several official fan club members who had resold tickets. While it will take time to identify ticket resellers for the Aki Basho, it is clear that they must be identified and severely punished. If ticket resale continues to deprive fans of the opportunity to watch sumo, there is a risk that the boom that has just begun to gain momentum may suddenly fade. The Kyokai is required to take appropriate measures with a sense of urgency, as this is a problem that could affect the future popularity of sumo.

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,286]

My personal experience in kyuushuu’24 (so take it or leave it) was that most individuals arriving to nearby masu were very clearly introducing themselves to their seat mates for the very first time. Mid Juryo was ok, but a couple matches into makuuchi there was enough mixed masu that there was a socially awkward atmosphere permeating the festivities, which I have never felt before in any situation in Japan. Two specific instances was one masu ended up being mixed gender and the guys were trying to make it into an impromptu goukon. The other was one guy brought a ridiculous amount of shopping bags mid makuuchi, and the couple that had been there since makushita were obviously exasperated. On the flip side the average age in these masu was really low which is good for sumo.

NSK is also trying the carrot. For a lot of the seats you got playmoney to use in the oyakata shop when the tickets were delivered. But this doesn’t really solve the problem because people WANT to buy tickets direct, they all just get sniped quick.

A lot of ticketed events in Japan have gone to a lotto system, NSK has the fan club fee.  Not sure what’s best but the fee could be a net negative if the scalpers can easily recoup Yokozuna tier fee and people who actually want to go aren’t interested in paying a priority fee.

Tickets are also quite cheap compared to a lot of things, especially a sports event that gets 20% tv viewership share (not that I’m complaining…)

[Kintamayama 46,751]

38 minutes ago, Tsuchinoninjin said:

 Two specific instances was one masu ended up being mixed gender and the guys were trying to make it into an impromptu goukon.

Goukon

[RabidJohn 2,010]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

Goukon

The stuff I learn here!

[Bunbukuchagama 922]

It's not just scalpers; I've heard of tour companies offering "basho experience" as a part of their overpriced day-tour packages. Some of those packages end up unsold (and some tourists skip the sumo portion for whatever reason); as a result, you can see empty seats when tickets are supposed to be sold out.

[Morning 92]

And now they are doing the Japanese phone number verification. When I got all my tickets previously via the official resale. 

[Kotogouryuu 143]

Have to keep an eye on this. We're planning on visiting Japan next May, and the goal is to attend a day of sumo. Sounds like it might be tricky to get tickets.

[rhyen 1,856]

Just to update, on the presale lottery draw for the sumo fan club, the amount of multiple choices pick has been reduced from 8 to only 3.

i suspect the telephone verification will also be implemented for every basho (that won’t deter scalpers).

[Akinomaki 41,568]

The reduction to one account per (verified) phone number plus the reduction of choices may cut down the number of illegally available tickets 

On 31/07/2025 at 11:47, Akinomaki said:

 there will be some authentication check for each ticket application.

http://sumo.pia.jp/guide/security.jsp

It looks like one has to call from the registered phone, a number that is displayed at the time of the buy. The check is done at a new registration and change of registered phone number and a ticket buy, if it hadn't been done before - this ... would mean only once is enough. Since at the start of sales, there is no time for this, one can do it before. If I get it confirmed, I can go on buying like before. 

another feature is, only one member on sumo.pia per phone number

This seems to be the main reason for the authentication check, restriction to one buying person/account per household (the registered phone number has to be a fixed phone or a 050 IP service number connected to it) - the number of tickets one can apply for at once for the basho has been reduced as well.  

[Kaninoyama 1,877]

It's become much harder to win tickets through the lottery system. Used to be able to get tickets about once a year (usually trying through multiple phones).

But haven't gotten a hit in years. 

Edited August 13 by Kaninoyama

[Koorifuu 1,099]

This is how I decided to move forward with a rather expensive ticket for a second day for London.

Edited August 13 by Koorifuu

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,286]

On 12/08/2025 at 22:18, Kaninoyama said:

It's become much harder to win tickets through the lottery system. Used to be able to get tickets about once a year (usually trying through multiple phones).

But haven't gotten a hit in years. 

Some of the tea houses are still operating, maybe that’s one of the ways. Gonna be expensive though…

[Octofuji 414]

I was considering trying Buy Sumo Tickets for next year as I had no joy through PIA in May, but it seems BST may stop selling Tokyo tickets altogether.

Is it any easier to get tickets to the regional bashos like Osaka?

[Bunbukuchagama 922]

1 hour ago, Octofuji said:

Is it any easier to get tickets to the regional bashos like Osaka?

Jungyo time. 

[Reonito 1,747]

1 hour ago, Octofuji said:

I was considering trying Buy Sumo Tickets for next year as I had no joy through PIA in May, but it seems BST may stop selling Tokyo tickets altogether.

Is it any easier to get tickets to the regional bashos like Osaka?

It sounds like Kyushu is relatively available, Osaka and Nagoya are limited but better than Tokyo IIRC

[Octofuji 414]

11 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Jungyo time. 

You're probably right... it'll be cheaper than buying tickets for London anyway