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John Gunning
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 28, 2019
Japan slow to offer support to women's sumo
"It's not only boys who can practice and enjoy sumo. There are girls that like sumo too. I hope someday women can become pros."
Japan Times
SUMO
Aug 27, 2019
Girls wrestle in the Wanpaku sumo ring for the first time ever
It was a historic weekend for sumo in Japan as the first-ever Wanpaku national championships for elementary school-age girls took place at Okudo Sogo Sports Center in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward on Sunday.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 21, 2019
Sumo shows offer new life for retired rikishi
Sumo is an all-enveloping lifestyle.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 14, 2019
Sumo wrestlers beat heat and make new fans at summer camps
For many, the words "training camp" and "summer" are synonymous with American football and particularly the NFL.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 7, 2019
Kids tournaments provide much more than just recruiting grounds
You can become a professional sumo wrestler at 15 years old.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 31, 2019
Rikishi pulling their weight in buildup to RWC in Japan, but rugby's gain could be sumo's loss
The 2019 Rugby World Cup is less than two months away.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 24, 2019
Kakuryu adds to solid resume with latest win
Yokozuna Kakuryu lifted the Emperor's Cup last Sunday after a final day defeat of fellow yokozuna Hakuho.
SUMO
Jul 21, 2019
Sumo 101: JSA chairman
The Japan Sumo Association's highest authority is the chairman of its board of directors.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 20, 2019
Sumo 101: Non-traditional training
Sumo is often described as a lifestyle rather than a sport.
SUMO
Jul 19, 2019
Sumo 101: Press club
Sumo receives extensive coverage year- round in the Japanese media.
SUMO
Jul 18, 2019
Sumo 101: Tsukebito
Sumo is a life built around the carrot and stick approach.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 17, 2019
Sumo 101: Regional tours
An oft-heard refrain from fans new to sumo is that wrestlers get paid huge sums for just a few seconds work each day.
SUMO
Jul 16, 2019
Sumo 101: Futabayama's win streak
Sumo fans these days have the privilege of being able to watch the greatest rikishi of all time live in the ring.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 16, 2019
Kids sumo offers wrestlers an early start
As outlined in a previous Sumo 101, joining sumo is often a matter of just getting in touch with a stable.
SUMO
Jul 14, 2019
Sumo 101: Shikiri sen
There are two parallel white lines in the center of every sumo ring known as shikiri sen.
SUMO
Jul 13, 2019
Sumo 101: Joining sumo
Virtually every athlete on teams like Real Madrid or the Chicago Bears came up through a youth system or showed promise while playing in high school or college, with many of them already well versed in their sport of choice by the time their age hits double figures.
SUMO
Jul 12, 2019
Sumo 101: Wakanohana-Tochinishiki rivalry
As with boxing, wrestling, MMA or any other activity where two contestants face off in a ring, great rivalries are the lifeblood of Japan's national sport.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 11, 2019
Sumo 101: Teahouses
There are many ways to purchase sumo tickets.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 10, 2019
Sumo 101: Kokugikan
Three of the six yearly Grand Sumo tournaments are held in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
SUMO
Jul 9, 2019
Sumo 101: Non-Tokyo tournaments
There are six honbasho (official tournaments) every year. They take place in the odd-numbered months, with half being hosted in Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’