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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
Sep 22, 2018
Sumo 101: Senshuraku
The last day of a sumo tournament is called senshuraku and it's packed with all kinds of ceremonies and events not seen over the preceding 14.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 21, 2018
Sumo 101: Yokozuna
Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 20, 2018
Sumo 101: Winning techniques
The Japan Sumo Association lists 82 different ways to win a bout. These winning techniques are called kimarite and the applicable one is announced in the arena immediately following each fight.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 19, 2018
Sumo 101: Sumo school
Sumo is a Darwinian world, but even in this harsh unforgiving environment, new recruits aren't given a "Battle Royale"-style "here's your mawashi — try to survive" induction.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 18, 2018
Sumo 101: Heya (Stables)
Sumo isn't really a sport in the true sense of the word. It's a combination of sport, religion and entertainment wrapped up in a quasi-monastic and militaristic lifestyle.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 17, 2018
Sumo 101: Ryogoku
Sumo is Japan's national sport and can be seen from one end of the country to the other in both official tournaments as well as regional tours.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 16, 2018
Sumo 101: Sekitori
The number of sumo wrestlers rises and falls as the popularity of the sport waxes and wanes.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 15, 2018
Sumo 101: Tegata
Sumo might be a sport steeped in tradition but its governing body has a very modern approach to merchandising.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 14, 2018
Sumo 101: The Topknot
It's common to smell sumo wrestlers before seeing them . . . and not in a bad way.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 13, 2018
Sumo 101: Ringside judges
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones aren't the only all-powerful "Men in Black."
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 12, 2018
Sumo 101: The Emperor's Cup
"To the victor go the spoils" is a phrase that could have been coined for sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 11, 2018
Sumo 101: Ring names
A sumo wrestler's shikona, or ring name, can reveal much about his history and heritage.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 10, 2018
Sumo 101: The belt
Sumo wrestlers on overseas tours have been called 'naked goodwill ambassadors'.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 9, 2018
Sumo 101: The Ring
Sumo tournaments take place on a raised ring called a dohyo. The kanji characters for dohyo (土俵) literally translate as clay and rice straw bales — the two materials the ring is made of.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 8, 2018
Expect the unexpected in wide-open Autumn Basho
The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament gets underway on Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 5, 2018
Sumo's Yokozuna Deliberation Council plays important role in overseeing sport
Kisenosato put in a strong performance at the Yokozuna Deliberation Council soken training session on Aug. 31.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 29, 2018
Unsung yobidashi keep sumo running smoothly
Who spends the most time in a sumo ring?
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 22, 2018
English sumo broadcasts bring together diverse cast
In last week's column, I talked about overseas tours by the Japan Sumo Association and also mentioned the live sumo broadcasts with English commentary on NHK.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 15, 2018
Overseas tours an unfortunate victim of sumo's recent popularity
The world of sumo has seen many changes over the past decade.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 8, 2018
Entering sumo world not something to be taken lightly
In lifting the Emperor's Cup last month, Mitakeumi became the fourth Japanese wrestler to win a championship in the past two years.
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.
Xi and Putin mark ‘new era’ amid efforts to counter U.S. ‘containment’
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend an event in Beijing on Thursday. During Putin's visit, the leaders showed off their growing alignment amid efforts to push back against the U.S.-led world order.
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.

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