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May 18, 2024
 

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John Gunning
For John Gunning's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 19, 2019
Sumo 101: Championship portraits
One of the most striking features of Ryogoku Kokugikan is the ring of giant portraits hanging from the rafters.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 18, 2019
Sumo 101: A wrestler's typical tournament day
The six annual honbasho (tournaments) are the fulcrum around which the sumo world turns.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 17, 2019
Sumo 101: Retirement ceremonies
Now that Kisenosato has retired, one of the first orders of business for him will be arranging a retirement ceremony.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 16, 2019
Sumo 101: Stable locations and layout
The majority of sumo stables are concentrated in a couple of locations not far from Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 16, 2019
Despite injuries, Kisenosato embodied rikishi ideals
Kisenosato's retirement, while both inevitable and expected, casts a pall over the ongoing tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 15, 2019
Sumo 101: Banzuke
All professional sumo wrestlers are listed on a 58x44 cm sheet of paper that is released about two weeks before the start of each tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 14, 2019
Sumo 101: Sanyaku
Sanyaku is the collective noun for the three ranks below yokozuna.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 13, 2019
Sumo 101: Becoming a rikishi
How does a person go about becoming a professional sumo wrestler and what is the initial process like once you sign up?
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 10, 2019
Hakuho and rivals seeking to taste success in opening tournament of new season
After one of the best years in the ring the past couple of decades, sumo heads into the final January tournament of the Heisei Era poised on the edge of its own era change.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 10, 2019
In-arena experience provides thrills for fans
Why do people attend sumo tournaments?
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 2, 2019
Scandals allowing sumo to ID, rid sport of bad elements
It's that time once again to make predictions, and state hopes and wishes for the year ahead in sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 26, 2018
Sumo's young guns ready to make big impact in 2019
Last December, when looking ahead to 2018, I wrote that this would be the year when a new generation of sumo talent would rise to glory.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 19, 2018
Passion and technology behind English sumo coverage
Sumo fans around the globe are spoiled for choice these days when it comes to following their favorite sport.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 12, 2018
Ticket sales brisk despite Takanoiwa scandal
Once again, sumo finds itself embroiled in a violence scandal.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 5, 2018
Change in stable can revive wrestlers' careers
Takakeisho, winner of this year's Kyushu tournament, was pictured alongside his stablemaster on Nov. 26 holding up a large red sea bream and drinking sake from an outsized trophy at a celebratory event.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 28, 2018
Takakeisho's victory may herald rise of new generation
Takakeisho's victory in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament made him the third wrestler to lift a maiden Emperor's Cup in 2018.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 25, 2018
Sumo 101: Illegal moves
Prior to their first live experience, many people are under the impression that sumo is a plodding sport in which two overweight men slowly try to force each other backward in a straight line.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 24, 2018
Sumo 101: Ring-entering ceremonies
A normal day of a sumo tournament starts around 8:30 a.m. and ends just after 5:45 p.m.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 23, 2018
Sumo 101: Wrestlers' clothing and footwear
Sumo is a world where success or failure in the ring has direct and tangible effects on a wrestler's life.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 22, 2018
Sumo 101: Museums
It's no surprise that sumo, an activity hundreds (possibly thousands) of years old, has several museums solely dedicated to its history.
Japanese stripper bids to have her porn movies taken off internet
Plaintiff Miyuki Ariga (left) speaks at a news conference along with her lawyer, Yoshitomo Morohashi, after filing a lawsuit at the Tokyo District Court on Monday.
U.S. envoy to Japan makes landmark visit to front-line island near Taiwan
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel meets with members of the Self-Defense Forces stationed on Yonaguni, Okinawa Prefecture, on Friday.
Japan to review romanization system for first time in 70 years
An advisory panel to the education ministry will consider how the Japanese language should be transcribed into the Latin alphabet, including unifying different romanization styles currently in use.
Japanese billionaire sues Meta over investment scams using his image
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
Japan’s economy contracts as consumers and firms cut spending
Japan's gross domestic product shrank at an annualized pace of 2% in the three months through March.
Unraveling the Japanese prose of Yukio Mishima
Author Yukio Mishima accepts the Arts Festival Award in the drama category at the 20th Arts Festival Award Ceremony on Jan. 22, 1966.
New Taiwan president to set tone for ties with China at inauguration
Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te arrives at the CyberSec 2024 Exhibition in Taipei on Wednesday.
Japanese billionaire sues Meta over investment scams using his image
Entrepreneurs Yusaku Maezawa (second from right) and Takafumi Horie (third from right) attend a study session on fake social media ads and investment scams at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo on April 10.
Japanese rap creates its mecca in Pop Yours
Tokyo-based artist Jumadiba says he forgoes the label of simply “rap” for his music because the Japanese rap scene isn’t confined to a particular sound.
Was Onosato's defeat of Terunofuji an era-defining bout?
Onosato (right) defeats Terunofuji at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 12. While nothing in sumo is guaranteed, it seems almost inevitable that Onosato is destined for the top of the sport's pyramid.

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