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	<title>The Japan Times &#187; SUMO SCRIBBLINGS</title>
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	<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp</link>
	<description>News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More</description>
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		<item>
		<title>While Hakuho chalks up another victory, Harumafuji&#8217;s future grows less certain</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/sumo/hakuho-notches-another-harumafujis-future-now-being-discussed/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hakuho-notches-another-harumafujis-future-now-being-discussed</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/sumo/hakuho-notches-another-harumafujis-future-now-being-discussed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:57:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harumafuji]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461951</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[And then there were 27 — little replicas of the Emperor's Cup atop the yokozuna's mantelpiece that is.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/sumo/hakuho-notches-another-harumafujis-future-now-being-discussed/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>As Baruto heads out and Kisenosato aims upward, Hiroshima is one to watch</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/sumo/as-baruto-heads-out-and-kisenosato-aims-upward-hiroshima-as-one-to-watch/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=as-baruto-heads-out-and-kisenosato-aims-upward-hiroshima-as-one-to-watch</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/sumo/as-baruto-heads-out-and-kisenosato-aims-upward-hiroshima-as-one-to-watch/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Sep 2013 14:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baruto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kisenosato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=455200</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the runup to the Sept. 15–29 Aki Basho sumo headlines have been dominated by the decision of former ozeki Baruto of Onoe Beya to call time on a nine year career peppered by injuries, and containing brief but highly memorable flashes of brilliance.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/sumo/as-baruto-heads-out-and-kisenosato-aims-upward-hiroshima-as-one-to-watch/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is sumo’s lost decade finally coming to an end?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/10/sumo/is-sumos-lost-decade-finally-coming-to-an-end/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=is-sumos-lost-decade-finally-coming-to-an-end</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/10/sumo/is-sumos-lost-decade-finally-coming-to-an-end/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:51:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=453497</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many long-time sumo fans trace the origins of the decline of sumo in the modern era back to a decision made in January 2003 by Takanohana to call it quits and hang up his mawashi. In the years since no Japanese rikishi has realistically come close to being promoted to yokozuna. In fact, in the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/10/sumo/is-sumos-lost-decade-finally-coming-to-an-end/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hakuho moves past Asashoryu to third on the all-time greatest list</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/sumo/hakuho-moves-past-asashoryu-to-third-on-the-all-time-greatest-list/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hakuho-moves-past-asashoryu-to-third-on-the-all-time-greatest-list</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/sumo/hakuho-moves-past-asashoryu-to-third-on-the-all-time-greatest-list/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jul 2013 14:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=415669</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On July 21, yokozuna Hakuho became the third most successful rikishi in the modern era, even if his 26th yusho victory since first holding aloft the Emperor’s Cup 42 tournaments ago came with something of a bittersweet aftertaste.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/22/sumo/hakuho-moves-past-asashoryu-to-third-on-the-all-time-greatest-list/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Will Hakuho prove the party-pooper in Kisenosato&#8217;s quest?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/04/sumo/will-hakuho-prove-the-party-pooper-in-kisenosatos-quest/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=will-hakuho-prove-the-party-pooper-in-kisenosatos-quest</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/04/sumo/will-hakuho-prove-the-party-pooper-in-kisenosatos-quest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 14:15:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kisenosato]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nagoya]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nagoya Basho]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=405875</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hakuho, sumo&#8217;s best grand champion in the past 25 years, will be aiming to win his fourth Nagoya Basho since being promoted to the top rank in 2007, and his 26th overall. Some would say this will be the toughest basho he has faced as a yokozuna. Incredibly popular with both Japanese and foreign fans [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/07/04/sumo/will-hakuho-prove-the-party-pooper-in-kisenosatos-quest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nagoya to be testing ground for a trio of sumo titans</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/06/sumo/nagoya-to-be-testing-ground-for-a-trio-of-sumo-titans/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nagoya-to-be-testing-ground-for-a-trio-of-sumo-titans</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/06/sumo/nagoya-to-be-testing-ground-for-a-trio-of-sumo-titans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:52:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harumafuji]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kisenosato]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nagoya]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=377224</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As Hakuho continues chalking up championships almost at will, mention of the "other" yokozuna — Harumafuji (11-4) — in some sumo circles is now met with heads being shaken.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/06/06/sumo/nagoya-to-be-testing-ground-for-a-trio-of-sumo-titans/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is Hakuho on his way to becoming the greatest ever?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/01/sumo/is-hakuho-on-his-way-to-becoming-the-greatest-ever/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=is-hakuho-on-his-way-to-becoming-the-greatest-ever</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/01/sumo/is-hakuho-on-his-way-to-becoming-the-greatest-ever/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:01:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuho]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=356314</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On sumo&#8217;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 saw the recently deceased Taiho, for many the greatest yokozuna ever, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/05/01/sumo/is-hakuho-on-his-way-to-becoming-the-greatest-ever/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hakuho sets records, Harumafuji only raises questions</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/03/sumo/hakuho-sets-records-harumafuji-only-raises-questions/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hakuho-sets-records-harumafuji-only-raises-questions</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/03/sumo/hakuho-sets-records-harumafuji-only-raises-questions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:23:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Haru Basho]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harumafuji]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=339815</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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, with Harumafuji also less than impressive in opening his account with [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/03/sumo/hakuho-sets-records-harumafuji-only-raises-questions/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Will this be the basho in which Kisenosato claims his first yusho?</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/10/sumo/will-this-be-the-basho-in-which-kisenosato-claims-his-first-yusho/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=will-this-be-the-basho-in-which-kisenosato-claims-his-first-yusho</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/10/sumo/will-this-be-the-basho-in-which-kisenosato-claims-his-first-yusho/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2013 03:35:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=262374</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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&#8217;s third largest city. Subject to such events as PR visits to local dignitaries, supporters club parties, museum visits and dedicatory ceremonies at [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/10/sumo/will-this-be-the-basho-in-which-kisenosato-claims-his-first-yusho/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Wrestling&#8217;s fall from Olympic grace sends wake-up call to International Sumo Federation</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/01/sumo/wrestlings-fall-from-olympic-grace-sends-wake-up-call-to-international-sumo-federation/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=wrestlings-fall-from-olympic-grace-sends-wake-up-call-to-international-sumo-federation</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/01/sumo/wrestlings-fall-from-olympic-grace-sends-wake-up-call-to-international-sumo-federation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:01:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[International Olympic Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International Sumo Federation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wrestling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=190804</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 of wrestling from automatic inclusion in the 2020 Games, anyone can see that the IFS goal remains as far away as ever.
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/03/01/sumo/wrestlings-fall-from-olympic-grace-sends-wake-up-call-to-international-sumo-federation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Harumafuji bounces back but cracks are still there</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/sumo/harumafuji-bounces-back-but-cracks-are-still-there/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=harumafuji-bounces-back-but-cracks-are-still-there</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/sumo/harumafuji-bounces-back-but-cracks-are-still-there/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:41:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hakuko]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harumafuji]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=107204</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/28/sumo/harumafuji-bounces-back-but-cracks-are-still-there/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seven sumo stories to look out for in the year of the snake</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/08/sumo/seven-sumo-stories-to-look-out-for-in-the-year-of-the-snake/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=seven-sumo-stories-to-look-out-for-in-the-year-of-the-snake</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/08/sumo/seven-sumo-stories-to-look-out-for-in-the-year-of-the-snake/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jan 2013 00:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/08/%sports_category%/seven-sumo-stories-to-look-out-for-in-the-year-of-the-snake/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[1. Baruto &#8212; make or break This will be the big story at the Hatsu Basho starting on the 13th. The Estonian giant &#8212; 187 kg and 197 cm &#8212; lost his ozeki rank at last November&#8217;s tournament down in Fukuoka and only a 10-5 result or better this time out will do to secure [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/01/08/sumo/seven-sumo-stories-to-look-out-for-in-the-year-of-the-snake/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kyushu Basho: Harumafuji less than impressive as Baruto demoted</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/28/sumo/kyushu-basho-harumafuji-less-than-impressive-as-baruto-demoted/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kyushu-basho-harumafuji-less-than-impressive-as-baruto-demoted</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/28/sumo/kyushu-basho-harumafuji-less-than-impressive-as-baruto-demoted/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/28/%sports_category%/kyushu-basho-harumafuji-less-than-impressive-as-baruto-demoted/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the days leading up to the Nov. 11-25 Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka, much of the talk in sumo circles centered on the ozeki trio of Baruto, Kotoshogiku and the forever injured Kotooshu being able to maintain their rank come the January tournament back in Tokyo. All were kadoban going into the basho and anything [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/28/sumo/kyushu-basho-harumafuji-less-than-impressive-as-baruto-demoted/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kyushu 2012 &#8212; once more, two yokozuna heading the rankings</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/09/sumo/kyushu-2012-once-more-two-yokozuna-heading-the-rankings/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kyushu-2012-once-more-two-yokozuna-heading-the-rankings</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/09/sumo/kyushu-2012-once-more-two-yokozuna-heading-the-rankings/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/09/%sports_category%/kyushu-2012-once-more-two-yokozuna-heading-the-rankings/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 the one many want to see in his first tournament as [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/11/09/sumo/kyushu-2012-once-more-two-yokozuna-heading-the-rankings/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sumo World Championships a shadow of former self</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/26/sumo/sumo-world-championships-a-shadow-of-former-self/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sumo-world-championships-a-shadow-of-former-self</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/26/sumo/sumo-world-championships-a-shadow-of-former-self/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:00:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/26/%sports_category%/sumo-world-championships-a-shadow-of-former-self/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 past 20-years or so thanks to efforts by well-meaning individuals intent [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/10/26/sumo/sumo-world-championships-a-shadow-of-former-self/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Harumafuji &#8212; sumo&#8217;s 70th yokozuna</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/25/sumo/harumafuji-sumos-70th-yokozuna/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=harumafuji-sumos-70th-yokozuna</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/25/sumo/harumafuji-sumos-70th-yokozuna/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Sep 2012 00:00:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/25/%sports_category%/harumafuji-sumos-70th-yokozuna/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 70th individual in the 255 years since the sport&#8217;s first official [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/25/sumo/harumafuji-sumos-70th-yokozuna/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Aki Basho 2012: Time for ozeki Harumafuji to step up his game</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/09/sumo/aki-basho-2012-time-for-ozeki-harumafuji-to-step-up-his-game/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=aki-basho-2012-time-for-ozeki-harumafuji-to-step-up-his-game</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/09/sumo/aki-basho-2012-time-for-ozeki-harumafuji-to-step-up-his-game/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 09 Sep 2012 00:00:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/09/%sports_category%/aki-basho-2012-time-for-ozeki-harumafuji-to-step-up-his-game/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 consecutive championship victory and thereby guarantee his own promotion to the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/09/09/sumo/aki-basho-2012-time-for-ozeki-harumafuji-to-step-up-his-game/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Amateur sumo in crisis: Europe and Japan go head to head</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/30/sumo/amateur-sumo-in-crisis-europe-and-japan-go-head-to-head/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=amateur-sumo-in-crisis-europe-and-japan-go-head-to-head</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/30/sumo/amateur-sumo-in-crisis-europe-and-japan-go-head-to-head/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 2012 00:00:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://aws.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/30/%sports_category%/amateur-sumo-in-crisis-europe-and-japan-go-head-to-head/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For the past 20 years amateur sumo has been bidding for full and formal IOC recognition. Making its way through the IOC&#8217;s various levels of acceptance, it was, according to many, doing rather well. Its governing body, the International Sumo Federation (IFS), initially served as a unifier, bringing together people from many corners of the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/06/30/sumo/amateur-sumo-in-crisis-europe-and-japan-go-head-to-head/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Sumo&#8217;s dohyo starting to level out</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/03/sumo/sumos-dohyo-starting-to-level-out/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sumos-dohyo-starting-to-level-out</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/03/sumo/sumos-dohyo-starting-to-level-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 00:01:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/03/%sports_category%/sumos-dohyo-starting-to-level-out/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If Hakuho wins the upcoming Grand Sumo Tournament (May 6-20) it will be the 50th time a Mongolian has won the Emperor&#8217;s Cup. Of the 32 championship portraits currently hanging in the Ryogoku Kokugikan, eight on each of the four main sides, none are of Japanese sekitori, and currently all, bar one, are Mongolian. That [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/05/03/sumo/sumos-dohyo-starting-to-level-out/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Sumo returns to Osaka with a bang</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/31/sumo/sumo-returns-to-osaka-with-a-bang/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=sumo-returns-to-osaka-with-a-bang</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/31/sumo/sumo-returns-to-osaka-with-a-bang/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:01:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/31/%sports_category%/sumo-returns-to-osaka-with-a-bang/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For the first time since March of 2010, the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium played host to a sumo tournament. Things started off slow and somber on the opening day as the tournament, as the entire nation paused to remember the victims of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that changed Japan forever. Later in the day, in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/31/sumo/sumo-returns-to-osaka-with-a-bang/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>One large step back, a few small steps forward</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/10/sumo/one-large-step-back-a-few-small-steps-forward/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=one-large-step-back-a-few-small-steps-forward</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/10/sumo/one-large-step-back-a-few-small-steps-forward/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:01:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/10/%sports_category%/one-large-step-back-a-few-small-steps-forward/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last month the sumo association, while supposedly seeing 2012 as the year to move forward and clear their sullied name, took a massive step backward. During the most recent reshuffle of bigwigs running the game, former chairman Kitanoumi was re-elected Rijicho. Under the latter part of his leadership that ended in 2008, the sport saw [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/03/10/sumo/one-large-step-back-a-few-small-steps-forward/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>2012 kicks off with a bang for Baruto</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/24/sumo/2012-kicks-off-with-a-bang-for-baruto/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=2012-kicks-off-with-a-bang-for-baruto</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/24/sumo/2012-kicks-off-with-a-bang-for-baruto/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:01:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/24/%sports_category%/2012-kicks-off-with-a-bang-for-baruto/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before the New Year&#8217;s Grand Sumo Tournament, most fans would have predicted that Hakuho, the reigning yokozuna, would claim his third successive Emperor&#8217;s Cup, and 22nd title overall. It was not to be. In what was perhaps the most interesting basho for sumo fans for some years, four of the five ozeki finally stepped up [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Hatsu Basho 2011 &#8212; time for domestic rekishi to shine</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/06/sumo/hatsu-basho-2011-time-for-domestic-rekishi-to-shine/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hatsu-basho-2011-time-for-domestic-rekishi-to-shine</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/06/sumo/hatsu-basho-2011-time-for-domestic-rekishi-to-shine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/06/%sports_category%/hatsu-basho-2011-time-for-domestic-rekishi-to-shine/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For around a decade much has been made of the lack of domestic born talent in professional sumo. No Japanese sekitori has won a yusho now for six full years &#8212; the last local winner being then ozeki Tochiazuma back in January of 2006. And, in truth, when push comes to shove, despite a few [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2012/01/06/sumo/hatsu-basho-2011-time-for-domestic-rekishi-to-shine/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Tis the season to be focused</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/27/sumo/tis-the-season-to-be-focused/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=tis-the-season-to-be-focused</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/27/sumo/tis-the-season-to-be-focused/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Dec 2011 00:00:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/27/%sports_category%/tis-the-season-to-be-focused/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unlike many sports, the sumo calendar can be predicted months, even years in advance. The start and finish dates of the six annual tourneys are pretty easy to work out when you know basho almost always start on the closest Sunday to the 10th of the month, and end 15 days later &#8212; also on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/12/27/sumo/tis-the-season-to-be-focused/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Kisenosato promoted to ozeki, Hakuho on 21</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/30/sumo/kisenosato-promoted-to-ozeki-hakuho-on-21/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kisenosato-promoted-to-ozeki-hakuho-on-21</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/30/sumo/kisenosato-promoted-to-ozeki-hakuho-on-21/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/30/%sports_category%/kisenosato-promoted-to-ozeki-hakuho-on-21/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When the Kyushu Basho down in Fukuoka drew to a close on Nov. 27, much of the conversation was centered on sekiwake Kisenosato and whether or not he deserved his all-but-publicly announced imminent promotion to the rank of ozeki. To some more comfortable with stats and pie charts, his 32 instead of &#8220;usual&#8221; 33 wins [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/30/sumo/kisenosato-promoted-to-ozeki-hakuho-on-21/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The next big thing, and one that never quite made it</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/10/sumo/the-next-big-thing-and-one-that-never-quite-made-it/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=the-next-big-thing-and-one-that-never-quite-made-it</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/10/sumo/the-next-big-thing-and-one-that-never-quite-made-it/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:01:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/11/10/%sports_category%/the-next-big-thing-and-one-that-never-quite-made-it/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Leading up to the 2011 Kyushu tourney down in Fukuoka, the world of sumo is looking to round off another annus horribilis. Court cases against the Sumo Association are still going through the notoriously slow legal system, having been brought by several rikishi fired amid the yaocho match fixing scandal. Claims of hazing have resurfaced [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Aki goes pear shaped for Harumafuji as Hakuho notches No. 20</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/29/sumo/aki-goes-pear-shaped-for-harumafuji-as-hakuho-notches-no-20/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=aki-goes-pear-shaped-for-harumafuji-as-hakuho-notches-no-20</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/29/sumo/aki-goes-pear-shaped-for-harumafuji-as-hakuho-notches-no-20/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 00:01:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/29/%sports_category%/aki-goes-pear-shaped-for-harumafuji-as-hakuho-notches-no-20/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On Day 1, popular ozeki Harumafuji downed komusubi Toyonoshima in a match that had the audience at the Kokugikan clapping wildly and looking forward to a tournament in which the smallest man in the second rank would make a run for yokozuna grand champion status, following his championship win back in Nagoya in July. Toyonoshima, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/29/sumo/aki-goes-pear-shaped-for-harumafuji-as-hakuho-notches-no-20/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Aki Basho: Normal sumo service resumes in the capital &#8212; almost</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/08/sumo/aki-basho-normal-sumo-service-resumes-in-the-capital-almost/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=aki-basho-normal-sumo-service-resumes-in-the-capital-almost</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/08/sumo/aki-basho-normal-sumo-service-resumes-in-the-capital-almost/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:01:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/08/%sports_category%/aki-basho-normal-sumo-service-resumes-in-the-capital-almost/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sunday Sep. 11 will see the Sumo Association resume the closest thing to normal service they can hope for in the present era of post-scandal reflection. It will be he first tourney back in the Ryogoku Kokugikan after a summer of much discontent and thus &#8220;coming home&#8221; to the capital will offer the powers that [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/09/08/sumo/aki-basho-normal-sumo-service-resumes-in-the-capital-almost/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Kaio calls it quits, while Harumafuji secures a shot at yokozuna promotion</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/01/sumo/kaio-calls-it-quits-while-harumafuji-secures-a-shot-at-yokozuna-promotion/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=kaio-calls-it-quits-while-harumafuji-secures-a-shot-at-yokozuna-promotion</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/01/sumo/kaio-calls-it-quits-while-harumafuji-secures-a-shot-at-yokozuna-promotion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:02:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/01/%sports_category%/kaio-calls-it-quits-while-harumafuji-secures-a-shot-at-yokozuna-promotion/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[From Day 1 at the recent Nagoya Basho the vultures were circling. Some went after the admittedly pathetically low attendances on the first few days of the basho as a sign that all is not well with the public&#8217;s perception of sumo in the wake of the yaocho bout-buying scandal. Two of the first three [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/08/01/sumo/kaio-calls-it-quits-while-harumafuji-secures-a-shot-at-yokozuna-promotion/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Bringing the focus back to the rikishi and sumo</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/09/sumo/bringing-the-focus-back-to-the-rikishi-and-sumo/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=bringing-the-focus-back-to-the-rikishi-and-sumo</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/09/sumo/bringing-the-focus-back-to-the-rikishi-and-sumo/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:01:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark Buckton</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/09/%sports_category%/bringing-the-focus-back-to-the-rikishi-and-sumo/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On July 25, yokozuna Hakuho, barring major injury, or another basho-cancelling scandal, will mount the dohyo at around 5:45pm to be presented with his 20th Emperor&#8217;s Cup to date. Expect a humble response from the best the modern game has produced. No Asashoryu-esque fist-pumps or waves to the crowd. This is the quintessential sumo champ, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2011/07/09/sumo/bringing-the-focus-back-to-the-rikishi-and-sumo/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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