Hot Springs will host the state's first sumo wrestling exhibition on March 3 at 6 p.m. at Bank OZK Arena, which will feature the world's heaviest Sumo, Hiroki.
The exhibition will be held in conjunction with the Seventh Annual Arkansas Cherry Blossom Festival and the Fourth Annual American Craft Sake Festival, both of which conclude March 3.
Hiroki, who was featured in the movie "John Wick 4" starring Keanu Reeves, will fly in from Japan for the round-robin event.
"He's the world's largest sumo wrestler," Steve Arrison, Visit Hot Springs CEO, said. "He's 6-4, 580 pounds; he'll be wrestling. He was in the movie 'John Wick 4.' ... He's the samurai who gets shot twice. He was also in a Netflix series about sumo wrestling."
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Joining Hiroki in the ring will be Ramy, who stands 6-4 and weighs 500 pounds, and Mendee, who at 5-10 and 330 pounds is by far the smallest of the official competitors.
"We have two other sumo wrestlers," Arrison said. "One of those is 6-4, 500. Then another one is 5-10, 330 pounds, and that guy can do cartwheels without using his hands. So he's pretty nimble at 330 pounds. So we're really excited about it. It's going to be exhibition matches."
There will also be three "celebrity" matchups as part of the event, Arrison said.
"Sumo wrestling is very traditional," he said. "Be a great learning experience. They'll come out. Their guy will tell you how it works, what they're doing, and then there'll be the matches, exhibitions. It ought to be a lot of fun."
Arrison said the two-hour event will also include a chance for people to take photos with the wrestlers.
"After they're over, you can come down and get your pictures made with them," he said. "It'll all be part of it. They're very approachable. Be a great time to come and see what you look like next to a 6-4, 570 pound (Sumo)."
Tickets for the event are $30 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Floor seating will be $50 a ticket, and tickets are available at:
http://tinyurl.com/3xtps54a
The Cherry Blossom Festival, which is sponsored by the Hot Springs Sister City Foundation, will be held March 3 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. General admission for the festival, which is a celebration of Japanese culture, is free and the family-friendly event offers something for all ages.
The festival will feature "cultural demonstrations, exhibits and musical performances including taiko drums," a news release said.
"Japanese lectures and workshops for those wanting a more hands-on experience will also be available. There are fees for some of the workshops and events," it said.
The American Craft Sake Festival, which is being held in Hot Springs for the first time, will be held Feb. 29 through March 3 in the Bridge Street Entertainment District.
Sumo Hiroki (Submitted photo courtesy of Visit Hot Springs)
Sumo Ramy (Submitted photo courtesy of Visit Hot Springs)
Sumo Mendee (Submitted photo courtesy of Visit Hot Springs)