WaMu Theater will be transformed for a night of sushi and wrestling on April 28th as three champion sumo wrestlers come to town. An event unlike any other in Seattle, locals will revel in this 1500-year-old Japanese sport as they enjoy sushi and Japanese beverages.

The special evening will host two shows to choose from offered on Saturday, April 28th at 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm. Both shows will feature live sumo wrestling matches, Japanese cuisine from Shiro’s Sushi and I Love Sushi, sake, Japanese beer and cocktails, and sumo education and the opportunity for a Q&A with the wrestlers between the live matches.  

Event creator, Sam Minkoff, notes that while hundreds of thousands of people participate in sumo in Japan, there are only about 700 or so Professional Sumo wrestlers in the country. There are also international sumo teams around the world.

All the sumo stars in the Sumo + Sushi shows are either very successful Pro Sumo wrestlers and/or multi-time National Sumo Champions from their countries.

The following champion sumo wrestlers will be participating:

• Byamba (Mongolia) – winner of Pro Sumo Division Title, four-time World Sumo Champion, weighing in at 380 pounds.
• Roy (U.S.) – four-time U.S. Sumo Champion, #3 in the world (2016), weighing in at 380 pounds and 6’6″ tall.
• Ramy (Egypt) – multi-time African Sumo Champion and U.S. Sumo Open Champion, weighing in at 500 pounds.

For those who have never witnessed sumo live, Minkoff says guests can expect to be stunned by the speed, technical skill, and dynamic movements as they watch 500-pounders flying through the air and being slammed to the ground.

He also notes that one of the awesome aspects of sumo is that, despite it’s exoticism, the actual contest is very easy to understand, even for a novice. So, newbies can understand, from the first match they see, who wins and who loses!

Tickets are on sale now at sumoandsushi.com and start at $45.

About Shiro’s Sushi

In 1994, master sushi chef, Shiro Kashiba, opened his namesake, Shiro’s Sushi Restaurant, in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood. The same tradition that opened the restaurant and established a legacy over 20 years ago still exists today with the blending of classical Japanese technique and the Pacific Northwest’s wealth of local seafood and ingredients. Learn more at shiros.com.

About I Love Sushi Bellevue

I Love Sushi and its ownership group has been perfecting the art of sushi in Bellevue since the opening of Shogun House in 1986, the first sushi restaurant to open in Bellevue. The same premise of fresh fish rooted in Japanese technique to produce premium sushi remains today. Learn more at ilovesushi.com.

About Sumo + Sushi Organizers

Sumo + Sushi is produced by SE Productions, specialists in food and beverage event production in the Seattle area. Their events include Bacon Eggs & Kegs at CenturyLink Field and Sumo + Sushi at WaMu Theater. Their local events company, Sound Excursions, features events from terrarium making and wine tasting, to Leavenworth River tubing getaways and more for the local adventurer! Learn more at seproductions.us.

Photo by Sumo + Sushi.