author

 
 

Meta

Twitter

@JohnGunningISJ

John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 6, 2018
Army of okamisan work behind scenes to keep sumo stables running smoothly
Tochinoshin was officially promoted to ozeki on May 30.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 30, 2018
Newly minted ozeki Tochinoshin reaping rewards of fighting spirit
Yokozuna Kakuryu came from behind to win consecutive tournaments for the first time in his career on Sunday.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 9, 2018
Future without sumo unthinkable for Hakuho
The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which gets underway on Sunday, is shaping up to be a make-or-break one for several wrestlers.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 2, 2018
Ancient banzuke adds human touch to sumo
"I can't do this for 10 years. I want to have a normal job. I want to live in a normal house. I want to eat normal food. I want to live a normal life."
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 25, 2018
Powerhouse Nihon University keeps churning out sumo talent
When the rankings for the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament are released next Monday, Endo should find himself among sumo's top four ranks for the very first time.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 18, 2018
Family legacy weighs heavily on young sumo prospects
Jigjidiin Monkhbat, the father of yokozuna Hakuho, passed away recently. A legendary figure in Mongolian wrestling, the six-time Naadam festival champion was also a silver medalist at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 11, 2018
Time for sumo to ditch ban on women in ring
Less than a month after International Women's Day, sumo found itself embroiled in a gender-discrimination controversy when a female nurse administering CPR was ordered to leave the ring by an official.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 4, 2018
Osunaarashi trying to navigate post-sumo life
Disgraced former top-division wrestler Osunaarashi appeared on a late-night variety show this week. Head freshly shaven, the big Egyptian hammed it up, participating in sumo bouts with veteran TV personality Bobby Ologun and erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 28, 2018
Quiet man Kakuryu on top after long struggle
Kakuryu won his fourth championship last Sunday. It was the yokozuna's first Emperor's Cup in eight tournaments and the relief on his face was visible as he accepted a stack of kensho (prize money) envelopes after downing Goeido on day 14 to take the title.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 28, 2018
Sumo-rich Osaka ready for stormy Spring Basho
That stretch in the evenings and the plum blossoms in bloom means just one thing to sumo fans — it's time for the Osaka Basho.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 31, 2018
Hard work pays off for good guy Tochinoshin
Tochinoshin finally lifted the Emperor’s Cup on Sunday, 12 tumultuous years after joining the sumo world.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 27, 2017
Belief could lift young sumo talent to glory in 2018
Before the Harumafuji scandal broke, 2017 had been shaping up to be one of the better sumo years of recent times.
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.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 29, 2017
Harumafuji had with no choice but to retire
Yokozuna Harumafuji announced his intention to retire at a press conference on Wednesday.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 19, 2017
Harumafuji incident highlights sumo's inherent problems
The Harumafuji scandal continues to morph almost daily and at the time of writing appears to be evolving into a pitched battle between stablemaster Takanohana and the Japan Sumo Association.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 1, 2017
Sumo needs to tackle cause of rising injuries
Yokozuna Harumafuji, who won his ninth championship in September, edged compatriot Hakuho for top spot in the newly released rankings for the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 27, 2017
Autumn Basho flourishes in absence of stars
The 2017 Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament ended with a yokozuna beating an ozeki in the title-deciding final bout.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 25, 2017
JSA offering foreign fans rare glimpse of special sumo rituals
The Japan Sumo Association will hold an Ozumo Beyond 2020 Basho at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 4 for the second straight year.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 31, 2017
More multiracial wrestlers making mark in raised ring
Sumo’s long and grueling summer regional tour came to an end last Sunday with the now yearly KITTE Basho held in the heart of Tokyo at the 38-story JP Tower. The following day, the new banzuke was released for the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament that gets underway on Sept. 10.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 26, 2017
Yokozuna Hakuho showing no signs of letting up anytime soon
Hakuho continued to defy time, as well as a host of up-and-coming young fighters, winning the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with a 14-1 record. That came two months after he took the Summer Basho without a loss.

Longform

People in cities across Japan will pop into their local convenience store for any number of products they believe will help them with a night of drinking.
Hangover cures are everywhere in Japan — but do they work?