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Clyde Newton
For Clyde Newton's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
SUMO
Sep 23, 2002
Maru overpowers Taka to take title
Yokozuna Musashimaru overpowered fellow-yokozuna Takanohana on the final day of the Aki Basho to win his 12th title with a 13-2 record. It was the 31-year-old Hawaiian-born yokozuna's third yusho this year; he also triumphed in March and May.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 8, 2002
Last hurrah for Takanohana?
Yokozuna Takanohana has definite plans to compete in the Aki Basho at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. It will be his first appearance on the dohyo since May 2001; he has been absent for a record (for a yokozuna) seven consecutive tournaments.
SUMO
Jul 22, 2002
Chiyotaikai takes yusho as Asashoryu slips up
Ozeki Chiyotaikai clinched his second championship on the final day of the Nagoya Basho as sekiwake Asashoryu lost his third bout to Wakanosato, thereby forfeiting his chance to compete in a playoff with Chiyo.
SUMO
Jul 7, 2002
Musashimaru favored again
Yokozuna Musashimaru is a strong favorite to win his third consecutive title at Nagoya. The 31-year-old Musashimaru will take his 12th yusho if he wins in July, which will tie him with the great Futabayama, who dominated sumo during the late 1930s and early '40s. Musashimaru is reported to be in top shape and if truly determined could achieve a perfect 15-0 record, or zensho yusho, for the first time since his initial title at Nagoya in July 1994. In fact, no rikishi has achieved a 15-0 record in the Makunouchi since Takanohana did in September 1996.
SUMO
May 27, 2002
Maru finishes with a whimper
Yokozuna Musashimaru clinched his 11th title in the Natsu Basho on the 14th day, only to lose to ozeki Kaio on the final day, to finish with a 13-2 record.
SUMO
May 12, 2002
Takanohana is still star of the no-show
Much of the focus in the runup to the Natsu Basho has been on a rikishi who will not even compete: yokozuna Takanohana.
SUMO
Mar 25, 2002
Musashimaru ends with loss
Yokozuna Musashimaru, looking somewhat relaxed after capturing the Haru Basho title the previous day, lost to ozeki Tochiazuma on the final day, to finish with a 13-2 record and his 10th title.
SUMO
Mar 10, 2002
Two Ozeki aiming to boost promotion hopes in Osaka
The Haru Basho gets under way in Osaka today, with ozeki Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai aiming for yokozuna promotion, while sekiwake Kotomitsuki sets his sights on ozeki.
SUMO
Jan 28, 2002
Tochiazuma downs Chiyotaikai in playoff to take New Year title
Tochiazuma won his first yusho on the final day of the Hatsu Basho after defeating fellow-ozeki Chiyotaikai in a playoff for the championship, coming from behind to take the title Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
SUMO
Jan 13, 2002
Maru favored to win Hatsu Basho
The Hatsu Basho gets underway this Sunday with only one yokozuna competing -- Musashimaru. Yokozuna Takanohana will be absent for the fourth consecutive tournament.
SUMO
Nov 26, 2001
Musashimaru loses final bout to Kaio
Yokozuna Musashimaru lost to ozeki Kaio in the final bout of the Kyushu Basho, but it made no difference to the outcome of the tournament, as he had already clinched his ninth championship on the 14th by defeating Tochiazuma. Musashimaru looked clumsy and overly laid-back in his final bout.
SUMO
Nov 11, 2001
Wide-open race expected in Kyushu Basho
Though it is not taking place in a dramatic fashion, sumo is now in a state of transition, a changing of the guard. Unlike most generational shifts in the past, the current transition is far from dramatic, since the old guard rikishi are actually, for the most part, still in their 20s, and many of their potential successors are only a few years younger. Another factor which makes this changing of the guard unusual is that there are still no real stars in the younger generation who can capture the imagination of the public.
SUMO
May 13, 2001
Taka ready for another title
Despite much speculation over the last month that ozeki Kaio would secure promotion to yokozuna in the Natsu Basho that starts today, yokozuna Takanohana now appears to be a strong favorite to take the yusho against only lackluster opposition.
SUMO
Mar 26, 2001
Kaio captures title in Osaka
Ozeki Kaio won the Osaka Haru Basho on Sunday with a 13-2 record after he defeated fellow ozeki Musoyama and yokozuna Takanohana lost to Musashimaru at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
SUMO
Jan 7, 2001
Takanohana, Kaio favored in New Year sumo tourney
The 21st century for sumo gets under way at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan today.
SUMO
Nov 20, 2000
Akebono king of Kyushu
Akebono, facing a potential playoff with No. 9 maegashira Kotomitsuki, overwhelmed fellow-yokozuna Musashimaru in the final bout of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday at Fukuoka International Center to take his 11th yusho with a 14-1 record.
SUMO
Nov 5, 2000
Big guns head for Kyushu tourney
This year's Kyushu Basho gets under way in Fukuoka today with all three yokozuna and all five ozeki ready to compete.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on