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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 12, 2015

Tokyo: Why did you come to see the sumo today?

Mark Buckton talked to foreign visitors to the Ryokoku Kokugikan on Sunday as Hakuho began his quest to win a 33rd basho and become the most successful wrestler ever.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jun 20, 2010

Who pays for sumo?

Sumo wrestlers don't make huge salaries but they can get a lot of yen in other ways.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 4, 2021

Storied stadium lends sumo flavor to Tokyo's Olympic boxing

Boxing bouts are taking place at the legendary Kokugikan Arena, a 7,300 seat stadium described by Olympic organizers as the 'spiritual home' of sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 7, 2021

Sumo's greatest comeback story could end in white rope for Terunofuji

The ozeki will find himself in one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sport if he manages to get the championship — or equivalent — needed to earn yokozuna promotion.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 13, 2021

Sumo stables deserve more scrutiny after wrestler's shock retirement

The decision by Kotokantetsu to leave the sport rather than risk infection with the coronavirus at the New Year Basho has resulted in a wave of outrage against the Japan Sumo Association.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 28, 2020

Banzuke remains essential part of sumo culture

Distributed before each grand tournament, the hand-written rankings list has been a part of the sport's lore for centuries.
SUMO
Jul 29, 2020

History shows Abi's flouting of virus protocols will likely be last straw for Japan Sumo Association

Many of those who have transgressed against the JSA's myriad rules (whether official or unwritten) in the past have found themselves out of the sport in short order.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 29, 2020

Sumo feels impact of COVID-19 but escapes major financial hit plaguing other sports

Sumo’s bi-monthly nature may have exempted it from the financial pressures that are hitting other sports hard, but the ongoing pandemic is still having an impact on the sport.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 5, 2020

Ban on social media wrong call for sumo's popularity, transparency

Japan's national sport is semiglobalized.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 14, 2019

Sumo 101: World championships

Broadly speaking, sumo is divided into two separate (but overlapping) sports.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 5, 2019

Envisioning comparisons between sumo and rugby as RWC approaches

Sumo isn't the only show in town this September, as the world's third-largest sporting event comes to Asia for the first time ever.
SUMO
Mar 14, 2019

Sumo 101: Souvenirs

Sumo is a unique sport and its merchandising reflects that fact.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 23, 2019

Sumo 101: Trading cards

With a sport as ancient as sumo, trading cards aren't the first things that spring to mind when you think of memorabilia.
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.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 6, 2018

Army of okamisan work behind scenes to keep sumo stables running smoothly

Tochinoshin was officially promoted to ozeki on May 30.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 9, 2018

Future without sumo unthinkable for Hakuho

The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which gets underway on Sunday, is shaping up to be a make-or-break one for several wrestlers.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 19, 2017

Harumafuji incident highlights sumo's inherent problems

The Harumafuji scandal continues to morph almost daily and at the time of writing appears to be evolving into a pitched battle between stablemaster Takanohana and the Japan Sumo Association.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 25, 2015

‘Japan Sumo Cup’ is possibly the most Japanese thing ever

In this rhythm game, players choose a real sumo player, ride an actual race horse and compete against characters from 'Street Fighter.'
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Reviews
May 3, 2023

‘Sanctuary’: Bad boy of sumo’s journey doesn’t pack a punch

Centered on a brutish underdog, the Netflix series about professional sumo offers satisfying heft in its action sequences, but its uneven storyline is anticlimactic.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 30, 2022

Wakatakakage continues sumo's surprise-champion trend

The spring meet of 2022 has continued a trend of photo finishes and thrilling tournaments.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 20, 2021

Shocking concussion incident should be wake-up call for sumo

The indifference shown by referees to the head injury sustained by third-tier wrestler Shonannoumi on Tuesday drew criticism from fans and journalists alike.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 24, 2020

A quiet day at the basho: Sumo wrestles on, without the crowd's loud roar

Even sumo's notoriously loyal fan base seems rattled by the risk of infection in a closed arena, despite the Kokugikan's anti-coronavirus measures, which includes reducing the number of tickets being sold.

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