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October 11, 2025
 

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John Gunning
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.
SUMO
Jul 8, 2019
Sumo 101: Charismatic rikishi
One of sumo's most defining features is the stoicism of its wrestlers.
SUMO
Jul 7, 2019
Sumo 101: Tied bouts
Every sumo bout ends with a winner declared.
SUMO
Jul 4, 2019
Title appears up for grabs at upcoming Nagoya Basho
Commentators often divide sumo into eras, each defined by its outstanding rivalry.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 4, 2019
Nagoya Basho historically significant for foreign wrestlers and sumo fans
When you think of the Nagoya tournament what first comes to mind?
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 26, 2019
Much talk, no action from sumo committees
The Japan Sumo Association loves committees.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 19, 2019
Retirement ceremonies often full of emotion
It's no secret that difficulty in procuring tickets is one of the main hurdles preventing overseas visitors from being able to watch sumo in person.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 12, 2019
Predicting next yokozuna a formidable task
When veteran sumo journalists get together and the conversation turns, as it inevitability does, to up-and-coming wrestlers, talk is rarely of who will be the next yokozuna.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 5, 2019
Amateur tourneys offer window to sport's future stars
Asanoyama is sumo's latest champion.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 29, 2019
Trump's basho visit boosts sumo's reputation overseas
U.S. President Donald Trump's attendance at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, and presentation of a large trophy to its winner, made headlines around the globe.
Japan Times
SUMO
May 26, 2019
Sumo 101: Sumo and singing
Though sumo and song may not seem obvious bedfellows, Japan's national sport has musical connections both varied and historical.
SUMO
May 25, 2019
Sumo 101: Controversial decisions
Friday's controversial overturning of an apparent Tochinoshin win has people up in arms.
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
May 23, 2019
Sumo 101: Yobidashi (ring announcers)
The busiest men in sumo are the yobidashi (ring announcers).
SUMO
May 22, 2019
Sumo 101: Large rikishi
The first thing that comes to mind when people think of sumo is the size of the participants.
SUMO
May 21, 2019
Sumo 101: Small rikishi
Sumo has no weight classes.
SUMO
May 20, 2019
Sumo 101: Cancellations
Sumo tournaments are rarely canceled.
Takaichi's PM bid faces further headwinds with coalition split
LDP leader Sanae Takaichi and Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito attend a party leaders' meeting on Friday in Tokyo.
Powerful earthquake strikes off southern Philippines
Authorities inspect a damaged wall and a car outside a mall in Butuan, Philippines, on Friday, after a major earthquake struck the area.
Japan to move toward five-year integrated bachelor's-master’s programs
Japan plans to introduce nationwide five-year bachelor's-master's programs to raise graduate school enrollment and train more highly skilled professionals amid a shrinking workforce.
Tokyo named world’s best big city for second straight year
Tokyo was ranked the world's best large city for the second year in a row in the Conde Nast Traveler's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards.
Chemistry Nobel winner Kitagawa says downtime helped him think up new material
Susumu Kitagawa speaks to reporters at Kyoto University on Wednesday after receiving the news that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry the same day.
A Japanese comedian walks into an Aussie bar … and stays there
Takashi “Waka” Wakasugi stopped by the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya Ward last month following his stint at Edinburgh Festival Fringe performing his show “Comedy Samurai.”
Chemistry Nobel winner Kitagawa says downtime helped him think up new material
Susumu Kitagawa speaks to reporters at Kyoto University on Wednesday after receiving the news that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry the same day.
University of Tokyo lands its highest spot ever in global higher education ranking
The University of Tokyo in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward
Tokyo named world’s best big city for second straight year
Tokyo was ranked the world's best large city for the second year in a row in the Conde Nast Traveler's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards.
With nuclear sub proposal, Japan faces array of political and tech challenges
The Jingei, the third of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Taigei-class submarines, was commissioned in March last year. It is equipped with lithium-ion batteries, enabling it to have a longer diving time and cruising distance than older models with lead-acid batteries.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo
Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

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