Tag - asashoryu

 
 

ASASHORYU

Jargal Lhagvasuren practicing an aerial routine at the Mongolian Circus School in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on May 18. Contortionists and acrobats with celestial skills train in squalid conditions as the promise of a former sumo wrestler to restore the national circus to its past glory has gone mostly unfulfilled.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 26, 2023
Mongolians are circus stars all over the world, except at home
The promise to return state circus in Ulaanbaatar to its former glory remains unfulfilled, forcing trained performers abroad.
Hoshoryu (left) beats rank-and-file wrestler Hokutofuji in a playoff on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena last month.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 23, 2023
A closer look at sumo's 'hot hand' after Hokutofuji's Nagoya run
Hokutofuji’s career best 12-win outing in July not only came out of the blue, but was his first winning record of any kind since the previous September.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 23, 2022
In the land of baseball, sumo and soccer share a close relationship
Japan's national sport and the 'beautiful game' have formed many ties over the years, with even top-ranked wrestlers attending matches and taking part in promotional events.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 3, 2021
Interesting facts about sumo's 13 living former yokozuna
With the passing of Tochinoumi on Jan. 29 there are now just 15 surviving active or retired yokozuna.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 16, 2020
Are ozeki Asanoyama's struggles all in his head?
Called out by former yokozuna Asashoryu after a poor start to the Autumn Basho, the highly anticipated ozeki needs to clear his mind in order to reach sumo's top level.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 8, 2020
Sumo's unique kanreki ceremonies provide windows into past
It's looking increasingly likely that it could be December (or even 2021) before Isegahama will be able to don the red rope.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 17, 2020
Gaming world remains land of untapped potential for sumo
Putting a sport in front of the eyeballs of the younger generation guarantees much higher rates of engagement and participation at all levels.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 20, 2020
Who should be engraved on sumo's Mount Rushmore?
If Hakuho and Futabayama are locks, then who should occupy the remaining two slots is far less clear.
Japan Times
SUMO
Mar 12, 2020
Roho's career defined by unsavory incidents
Since September 2018, there are officially no Russians in professional sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO / Rikishi Files
Jan 15, 2020
Tochiazuma's bloody rivalry with Asashoryu a spectacle
In terms of sumo's vintage years, 1976 was one of the best.
Japan Times
SUMO / Rikishi Files
Jan 13, 2020
Technical acumen couldn't get Kotomitsuki over hump
The three pillars of sumo are shin-gi-tai, which translate as heart-technique-physique.
Japan Times
SUMO / Rikishi Files
Nov 13, 2019
Asashoryu electrified sport with unorthodox style
Hakuho may be the greatest rikishi of all time, but for many fans he has never come close to his immediate predecessor in terms of excitement.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 23, 2019
Quest to capture 10 titles a tough challenge for current crop of star wrestlers
It's been over 15 years since Andre 3000 of seminal Atlanta rap group OutKast once asked — and answered — a pressing question: "What's cooler than being cool? Ice cold!"
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Sep 28, 2019
New generation of quasi-gangsters fly under police radar
Mainstream media last month broke a long-standing silence they've had concerning the activities of Japan's organized crime groups, which are referred to in official circles as "boryokudan" (violent groups) or, colloquially, as "yakuza."
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 21, 2019
Sumo 101: Championship scores
One of the side effects of having Hakuho, the greatest rikishi of all time, succeed another legend in Asashoryu at the top of the sumo pile, is that fans in recent years have become accustomed to seeing dominant championship performances.
SUMO
May 25, 2019
Sumo 101: Controversial decisions
Friday's controversial overturning of an apparent Tochinoshin win has people up in arms.
Japan Times
SUMO
May 24, 2019
Sumo 101: Mongolians
Sumo might be Japan's national sport, but for most of the last two decades it has been dominated by Mongolians.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 31, 2018
Sumo dominance down to heart over matter
The newly-released banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament see Hakuho back in his old familiar 'Yokozuna 1 East' position.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 3, 2018
Sumo skills applicable on the gridiron, not in the ring
Former top-division wrestler Osunaarashi fell to 45-year-old actor Bob Sapp in his mixed martial arts debut this week.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 30, 2017
Harumafuji retires with impressive legacy in ring
It was plain from both Harumafuji's words and body language at Wednesday's news conference announcing his retirement that he was going under duress and felt harshly treated.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?