A unique campaign in collaboration with Grand Sumo, Japan’s national sport, has begun at FamilyMart convenience stores all across Japan. By using services unique to Japanese convenience stores, such as paying utility bills and taxes, customers have a chance to win tickets to a Grand Sumo tournament or original merchandise from popular rikishi (sumo wrestlers).
To participate in this campaign, you’ll need the official FamilyMart app, “FamiPay.” When you pay for utility bills, online shopping, and other services at the in-store register and present your FamiPay barcode, you’ll collect one stamp for each payment. Depending on the number of stamps you collect, you can choose from two different prize courses to enter.
Excitement Builds for the November Tournament! Off-Shot Photos and Special Interviews with Popular Rikishi
To further build excitement for this campaign, popular rikishi such as Wakatakakage-zeki, Onosho-zeki, Tamawashi-zeki, and Abi-zeki are collaborating. Rare off-shot photos of them signing the original merchandise prizes will be released on FamilyMart’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. You can see a different, more relaxed side of the wrestlers, away from the stern expressions they wear on the dohyo (sumo ring).
The interview with Abi-zeki, who holds the rank of Nishi Maegashira 7, is a must-see. He spoke about his favorite FamilyMart products and the “shobu-meshi” (winning meal) he eats before an important match.
Interview with Abi-zeki: His “Winning Meal” is FamilyMart’s Natto Roll!
In the interview, Abi-zeki revealed that he has loved FamilyMart’s classic hot snack, “Famichiki,” since he was a child. Famichiki is a boneless fried chicken and one of the most popular items representing Japanese convenience stores.
Furthermore, when asked about his “winning meal” before a tournament, he gave a surprising answer: the “Natto Roll” sold at FamilyMart. Natto is a traditional Japanese health food made from fermented soybeans. He said that eating this sushi roll is part of his routine. He mentioned that he often buys it at the FamilyMart near his heya (the stable where wrestlers live and train together).
Finally, regarding his ambitions for the November Tournament (Kyushu Basho), he commented powerfully, “I want to achieve results that will make everyone happy.”
These off-shot photos, including scenes of the wrestlers signing autographs, are scheduled to be released on FamilyMart’s official X account at 9:00 AM on Friday, November 14, 2025. Be sure to check it out.
Win Points Worth 10,000 Yen! A Concurrent X Campaign is Also Being Held
Additionally, a special campaign is being held on FamilyMart’s official X account (@famima_now), where 10 lucky winners will receive FamiPay points equivalent to 10,000 yen.
Participation is simple. Just follow the official account and reply to the designated post with the specified hashtag.
The campaign period is from Thursday, November 13, 2025, to Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Winners will be notified via a direct message on X around mid-December. The FamiPay app is required to receive the points, so it’s a good idea to have it ready in advance.
For more details on how to receive the points, you can check the official website.
https://famipay.famidigi.jp/guide/fp-gift/
How to Participate in the Campaign and an Introduction to the Grand Prizes
Let’s review how to participate in the campaign again.
When paying for utility bills, taxes, or various online purchases at a FamilyMart store, have the cashier scan the barcode from your FamiPay app. You will receive one stamp for each payment. Once you’ve collected the required number of stamps, you can apply for the course of your choice.
In Japan, it is common to handle various payments at convenience stores, a practice deeply integrated into daily life. If you see this during your travels, you might get a sense of Japan’s convenience.
Campaign Period: October 7, 2025 (Tuesday) – February 2, 2026 (Monday)
Tournament Ticket Course
By collecting stamps and applying, you can enter a lottery to win tickets to the January 2026 Grand Sumo Tournament for a total of 160 people. The venue is the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, known as the sacred ground of sumo.
Various types of seating are available, including “masu-seki” (box seats) for multiple people and “isu-seki” (chair seats) for enjoying the matches solo. This is a rare opportunity to experience the power of Japan’s national sport live.
Application Period: October 7, 2025 (Tuesday) – December 26, 2025 (Friday)
Other Prizes Course
Besides tickets, there are other attractive prizes available.
With four stamps, you can apply for an autographed acrylic stand of a popular rikishi. You will randomly receive one featuring either Wakatakakage-zeki, Onosho-zeki, Tamawashi-zeki, or Abi-zeki.
With two stamps, you can apply for a tenugui (a traditional Japanese cotton towel) featuring a popular rikishi’s handprint design or limited-time FamiPay points that can be used for shopping at FamilyMart.
Application Period: October 7, 2025 (Tuesday) – February 6, 2026 (Friday)
This is a very interesting campaign that shows how closely Japanese convenience stores are tied to daily life and how they sometimes connect with traditional culture in unique ways. If you have the chance to visit Japan, why not stop by a FamilyMart and experience this “dosukoi” (sumo-style) excitement for yourself?
More detailed information about the campaign can be found on the special event page.
https://www.family.co.jp/campaign/spot/2510_GrandSumo_January_cp.html
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