In May the English soccer team Manchester United won their 19th English league championship to date — and the world watched on TV, the Internet and via a wealth of other media sources.
A little over a week later, half way around the globe Yokozuna Hakuho went 13-2 between May 8 and the 22nd to secure his own 19th title in Japan's national sport — and no one noticed. Or so the folks at NHK would have us believe.
As part of the after-effects of the match-rigging scandal so well documented in recent months, the Sumo Association (NSK) was informed that the national broadcaster (NHK) would not be broadcasting the most recent basho live even if they did let highlight bouts appear on their evening news shows.