Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS May 1, 2013

Is Hakuho on his way to becoming the greatest ever?

by Mark Buckton

On sumo’s list of all-time yusho winners, Hakuho currently stands tied with Kitanoumi on 24 championships to date. Just three men stand between the Mongolian and the all-time record: Asashoryu at 25, Chiyonofuji at 31 and Taiho at 32. Many modern-day sumo fans never ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Apr 3, 2013

Hakuho sets records, Harumafuji only raises questions

by Mark Buckton

As was expected before the recent Haru Basho in Osaka, both yokozuna, on the back of too little practice, and too many public engagements started the tournament less than convincingly. The opening day saw Hakuho lucky to keep his balance against a spirited Aminishiki, ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Mar 10, 2013

Will this be the basho in which Kisenosato claims his first yusho?

by Mark Buckton

When the basho opens today, few rikishi will be as ill-prepared as the two yokozuna: Hakuho and Harumafuji. Neither man has had time to properly prepare for the annual jaunt in Osaka, Japan’s third largest city. Subject to such events as PR visits to ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Mar 1, 2013

Wrestling's fall from Olympic grace sends wake-up call to International Sumo Federation

by Mark Buckton

The quest of the International Sumo Federation (IFS) to have amateur sumo accepted as a bona fide Olympic sport has long been viewed as as a pie-in-the-sky proposition by many. In the wake of the recent IOC decision to drop the far more recognized sport ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Jan 28, 2013

Harumafuji bounces back but cracks are still there

by Mark Buckton

Harumafuji made many a sports-page headline Monday morning thanks to his latest 15-0 championship, his third zensho-yusho to date, and in claiming his fifth Emperor's Cup; his first as a yokozuna.

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Jan 8, 2013

Seven sumo stories to look out for in the year of the snake

by Mark Buckton

1. Baruto — make or break This will be the big story at the Hatsu Basho starting on the 13th. The Estonian giant — 187 kg and 197 cm — lost his ozeki rank at last November’s tournament down in Fukuoka and only a ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Nov 9, 2012

Kyushu 2012 — once more, two yokozuna heading the rankings

by Mark Buckton

For the first time since 2009, the Kyushu Basho, Nov. 11-25, will see two yokozuna featured on the ranking sheet. Hakuho is in the slightly more prestigious east slot, with Harumafuji over on the west side of the banzuke. Harumafuji will, of course, be ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Oct 26, 2012

Sumo World Championships a shadow of former self

by Mark Buckton

Thousands of kids in Japan attend amateur sumo clubs every weekend. Many adults join them as part of fitness regimes. Hundreds more, young and old, in nations around the world have also given what many term the Japanese national sport a try over the ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Sep 25, 2012

Harumafuji — sumo's 70th yokozuna

by Mark Buckton

The 2012 Aki Basho will forever be remembered as the tournament at which ozeki Harumafuji, winner of the previous Nagoya Basho with a perfect 15-0 record, mirrored his performance in July and guaranteed his promotion to the rank of yokozuna. He will be the ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Sep 9, 2012

Aki Basho 2012: Time for ozeki Harumafuji to step up his game

by Mark Buckton

When the Aki-basho starts today, all eyes will be on one man, and this time it is not yokozuna grand champion Hakuho. Rather the focus of sumo fans throughout Japan and around the world will be on ozeki Harumafuji. Looking to secure a second ...

Sumo | SUMO SCRIBBLINGS Jun 30, 2012

Amateur sumo in crisis: Europe and Japan go head to head

by Mark Buckton

For the past 20 years amateur sumo has been bidding for full and formal IOC recognition. Making its way through the IOC’s various levels of acceptance, it was, according to many, doing rather well. Its governing body, the International Sumo Federation (IFS), initially served ...