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September 16, 2025
 

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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 9, 2019
Innovative club nurtures sumo's young talent
Komatsuryu Dojo, one of the oldest and most prestigious sumo clubs in Japan emerged triumphant at the 16th National Youngster Sumo Tournament, held at the Kokugikan in Tokyo on October 6th.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 2, 2019
Naturalized Sokokurai fought for JSA return
One of the more interesting bits of news over the past month was the announcement that Arashio stable veteran Sokokurai had acquired Japanese nationality.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 25, 2019
Injuries continue to impact sumo landscape
Sumo fans continue to be spoiled, with September serving up yet another incredible and dramatic tournament.
SUMO
Sep 22, 2019
Sumo 101: Restaurants run by former rikishi
Sumo stable life is communal.
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
Sep 20, 2019
Sumo 101: Imperial family and sumo
You don't have to look far in sumo to find links with Japan's imperial family.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 19, 2019
Sumo 101: New Otani hotels and sumo
Last Friday, several members of the Ireland rugby team, including Clan Healy and Rory Best, visited Isegahama stable to watch a training session.
SUMO
Sep 18, 2019
Sumo 101: 'Dragons'
There are many ways of classifying rikishi and discussing those groups' various merits.
SUMO
Sep 17, 2019
Sumo 101: Sumo on the silver screen
For an activity as visually fascinating as sumo, there are precious few movies about the sport.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 16, 2019
Sumo 101: Presentation of new recruits
Sumo is a world filled with ritual and costume.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 15, 2019
Sumo 101: Banzuke-gai
It's common knowledge that the written banzuke (ranking sheet) contains the name of every single wrestler in professional sumo, from the yokozuna at the top right on down to those at the very bottom of the lowest (jonokuchi) division.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 14, 2019
Sumo 101: World championships
Broadly speaking, sumo is divided into two separate (but overlapping) sports.
SUMO
Sep 13, 2019
Sumo 101: Kaobure
Every day of a sumo tournament contains hundreds of bouts.
SUMO
Sep 12, 2019
Sumo 101: Kitanofuji
Sumo tournaments are shown daily on NHK. While the play-by-play men rotate, one ever present is acerbic color commentator Kitanofuji.
SUMO
Sep 11, 2019
Sumo 101: Technique and strategy
One of the defining features of sumo is how quickly bouts end.
SUMO
Sep 10, 2019
Sumo 101: Kuramae Kokugikan
The six yearly grand sumo tournaments are held at four locations.
SUMO
Sep 9, 2019
Sumo 101: Rikishi & social media
At first glance, sumo can seem intransigently stuck in the past.
SUMO
Sep 8, 2019
Sumo 101: Degeiko
The vast majority of a sumo wrestler's training bouts take place at home, against his own stablemates.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 5, 2019
Envisioning comparisons between sumo and rugby as RWC approaches
Sumo isn't the only show in town this September, as the world's third-largest sporting event comes to Asia for the first time ever.
SUMO
Sep 5, 2019
Emperor's Cup up for grabs at Autumn Basho
Since the beginning of 2018, sumo fans have been spoiled for entertainment with one dramatic event after another hitting the sport.
SDF spots China’s biggest aircraft carrier for first time
The Fujian aircraft carrier is seen in Shanghai in May 2024 as it leaves for its first sea trial.
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture
Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens?
Convenience stores are a fixture of Japanese life and 7-Eleven, a chain that began in the U.S. in 1927, opened its first store in Japan in 1974 — and then became wholly Japanese-owned in 2005 through parent company Seven & I Holdings.
Final weeks of World Expo in Osaka likely to see large crowds
With one month left to go, crowds are expected to swell at the World Expo in Osaka during its final weeks.
Japan's elderly population down at around 36.2 million
The estimated number of people age 65 or older in Japan stands at 36.19 million as of Monday, accounting for record 29.4% of the country's total population, according to the internal affairs ministry.
Strikes on Qatar and Poland shake U.S. sway among friend and foe
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible in Washington on Sept. 8. Israeli strikes in Qatar and Russian drone incursions into Poland have challenged the U.S. leaders claims of global respect.
Japan's major art events converge this fall
Shinji Ohmaki’s “Tokinokage” exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021 shows the use of fabric as art.
An aesthetic escape to Hakone’s art-drenched hills
Between traditional examples of fine art and sleek, modern exhibitions that blend with nature, Hakone offers a unique escape from Tokyo's urban sprawl.
Niinami’s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
A Brahmos missile system is displayed during a rehearsal for a military parade in New Delhi in January. The Philippines will soon receive its second batch of the supersonic cruise missiles from India.

Podcast

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