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May 04, 2024
 

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John Gunning
For John Gunning's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Atamifuji is declared the winner following his bout against Mitakeumi at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Day 6 of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Sep 21, 2023
Eyes on Atamifuji for possible record at autumn sumo tournament
The 21-year-old wrestler enters Day 12 of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament having won 10 of his first 11 bouts.
Hokutofuji (right) grapples with Kirishima during Day 3 of the Autumn Basho at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Tuesday.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 13, 2023
Hokutofuji shines early as sumo's English streaming era begins
The Day 2 presentation by YouTube channel Sumo Prime Time was a welcome development for international fans.
Kazuki Paul Tsuyukusa with his dog Sunny in Fukuoka
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Sep 9, 2023
Kazuki Paul Tsuyukusa: 'It’s better to live without being noticed everywhere.’
A former rikishi, Kazuki Paul Tsuyukusa has swapped his sumo stable for the life of a salaryman.
Kotonowaka surely has his eyes on eventually emulating his grandfather, former grand champion Kotozakura.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 30, 2023
New sumo ranks highlight rise of next generation
Ahead of the autumn tournament in Tokyo, it's the up-and-coming wrestlers who are making waves.
Hoshoryu (left) beats rank-and-file wrestler Hokutofuji in a playoff on the final day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Dolphins Arena last month.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 23, 2023
A closer look at sumo's 'hot hand' after Hokutofuji's Nagoya run
Hokutofuji’s career best 12-win outing in July not only came out of the blue, but was his first winning record of any kind since the previous September.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 19, 2023
Amateur sumo star embarks on journey made for Hollywood with NCAA football move
Hidetora Hanada will be joining the Colorado State Rams, marking another huge step in what has been a whirlwind 16 months for the university sumo superstar.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 12, 2023
Nagoya Basho roars back with early thrills and rocking atmosphere
With Terunofuji out, various promotion challenges figure to monopolize the headlines over the next 10 days.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 7, 2023
Terunofuji looking to take another step toward rarefied status at Nagoya Basho
One of the most highly anticipated grand sumo tournaments of recent times gets underway at the Dolphins Arena in Nagoya on Sunday.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 5, 2023
Heat is on for most anticipated Nagoya tournament in years
High temperatures combined with oppressive humidity and constant thunderstorms create a challenging environment for both rikishi and fans alike at the July Basho.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 28, 2023
Latest sumo rankings showcase sport's up and coming stars
Hakuoho, 19, is just the latest in a long line of young Japanese athletes to receive massive media attention. Can he live up to the hype?
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 21, 2023
Sumo needs to control its narrative as its popularity rises abroad
As awareness of the sport increases internationally and its global fanbase continues to expand, it’s important that sumo works hard to counter false information.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 14, 2023
Give overworked sumo wrestlers a break — literally
A mid-summer pause would allow rikishi to heal up ahead of the two most arduous and punishing months on the schedule.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 7, 2023
Sumo's 'flat circle' keeps turning as upstarts replace iconic veterans
As Tochinoshin, Ichinojo, and Ishiura exit the stage, new talents are rising to take their places.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 31, 2023
Summer Basho offered excitement and a streamlined experience for sumo fans
The sport has emerged from three years of pandemic-era restrictions into a rapidly changing landscape that requires better delivery of content and a more attractive in-arena experience.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 24, 2023
Ex-ozeki Tochinoshin's retirement a heavy blow for European sumo
In addition to being a fan favorite and a well-liked rikishi inside the sport, Tochinoshin’s presence ensured sumo’s continued popularity in the Caucasus region.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 17, 2023
Opening days of Summer Basho offer some insight but few conclusions
Terunofuji and Asanoyama may not meet with the title at stake on Day 15, but the two veterans are clearly standouts so far at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Japan Times
SUMO / Basho reports
May 12, 2023
Terunofuji set for return to dominance at Summer Basho if knee holds up
The 31-year-old has missed the entirety of the last three tournaments after a flare-up of chronic knee issues forced him to withdraw midway through the September meet.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 10, 2023
Return of yokozuna council's open training offers good and bad
As with any pre-tournament training session, what didn’t happen was more informative than what did.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 3, 2023
Media returns to Kokugikan as sumo resumes in-person activities
Over the past few years, virtually all press club interviews with rikishi have taken place online, limiting fans' insights into their favorite wrestlers.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 26, 2023
New generation could rekindle ozeki rank's missing spark
With a history of engaging and charismatic wrestlers, sumo's second-highest rank often draws a greater response from fans than the stoicism demanded from yokozuna.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Yen swings stir talk that Japan is in the FX market once again
An electronic screen in Tokyo displays the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the graph showing its recent swings, on Thursday.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Japan's May 1 intervention may have cost ¥3.66 trillion, BOJ data suggests
An electronic screen displays a graph showing Japanese yen exchange rates surging against the dollar amid signs of intervention by authorities, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

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