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Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Apr 8, 2011

The U.S. role in advancing amateur sumo

In the second of two interviews with globally respected officials involved in the international sumo game, Sumo Scribblings recently threw a few questions over the Pacific to Andrew Freund, the face of the United States Sumo Federation. In many ways far bigger in the sport than his slim physique would...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Mar 9, 2011

A brighter side: amateur sumo

Given the dark days for the world of professional sumo and the suspension of the Haru Basho, Sumo Scribblings is turning its focus the amateur sumo season, which is just getting underway. To learn more about the landscape, we spoke with Katrina Watts, who serves as a board member of the International...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Feb 26, 2011

Foreign sumo fans have their say on yaocho

In reaction to the yaocho (bout fixing) fracas enveloping sumo at present, many journalists in Japan and overseas have recently jumped on the sumo coverage bandwagon. Many have criticized the sumo association, the participants and their lifestyle and called for punishments, suspended basho and the like,...
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 10, 2022

JSA taps veteran presenter for new English-language YouTube channel

Hiroshi Morita, who has been in the commentary booth for NHK since 1999, is the face of professional sumo's biggest effort yet to market to international fans in the internet era.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Apr 29, 2009

Is sumo truly the Japanese national sport?

For the 140 or so years non-Japanese have known of the existence of sumo, many have referred to it as Japan's national sport. But are they correct about the status of this ancient form of wrestling found only in these islands, misinformed entirely, or just partly right?
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 17, 2011

Sumo will change or die

"Please hit hard at the faceoff and then go with the flow.''
JAPAN
Jul 17, 2010

Sumo's seamy underbelly

NAGOYA — Sumo is more than a sport to Japan. It's like a religion, a bastion of traditional culture and a matter of national pride. Wrestlers aren't just athletes — they are icons, role models and, often, larger-than-life heroes.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 23, 2022

In the land of baseball, sumo and soccer share a close relationship

Japan's national sport and the 'beautiful game' have formed many ties over the years, with even top-ranked wrestlers attending matches and taking part in promotional events.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 21, 2019

Sumo shows offer new life for retired rikishi

Sumo is an all-enveloping lifestyle.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 3, 2018

Sumo skills applicable on the gridiron, not in the ring

Former top-division wrestler Osunaarashi fell to 45-year-old actor Bob Sapp in his mixed martial arts debut this week.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 19, 2018

Passion and technology behind English sumo coverage

Sumo fans around the globe are spoiled for choice these days when it comes to following their favorite sport.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 25, 2018

Powerhouse Nihon University keeps churning out sumo talent

When the rankings for the upcoming Summer Grand Sumo Tournament are released next Monday, Endo should find himself among sumo's top four ranks for the very first time.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Jul 12, 2011

Boycott sumo, a sport tainted by racist rules

To the Japan Sumo Association:
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Feb 12, 2011

How 'bout that sumo?

The March Grand Sumo Tournament has been canceled due to bout-rigging. The May tournament is now in doubt as well. Who knows, sumo may be the world's first canceled sport.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2010

Sumo failed to keep champ in check

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who announced his retirement Thursday, is one of the strongest sumo wrestlers of modern times.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jun 12, 2007

Sumo at the Olympics or a dohyo too far?

Sumo in Japan is on the up and up. We now have two yokozuna with a good half decade of rivalry in the tanks, one young enough to still be around in 10 years time. Irrespective of reports in the Japanese-language media, the sport is not sinking into the abyss with the continued success of its foreign...
COMMUNITY
Jan 26, 2003

Whether crisis or not, sumo's show must go on

Of all the crises that the institution of sumo is said to be confronting -- and there are many -- yokozuna (grand champion) Takanohana's announcement last Monday of his retirement is being regarded by some as particularly ominous.
EDITORIALS
Jan 22, 2003

Sumo needs a clear vision

Yokozuna Takanohana has finally bowed out of the dohyo. Looking back over his active career, he certainly made spectacular achievements. There can be no objections to his being described as one of the all-time great grand champions of sumo.
SUMO
Jan 21, 2003

Injured Takanohana retires from sumo

Yokozuna Takanohana brought an illustrious but injury-plagued sumo career to an end Monday after his comeback bid ended in failure at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
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
Aug 18, 2021

Sumo makes its way to Cambridge as former U.S. wrestler studies sport's ancient role

Colton Runyan, 31, has gone from taking on Tobizaru and Daiamami in the ring to tackling ancient and abstruse Japanese texts in Cambridge's vast and sprawling library system.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 19, 2020

Englishman racking up Hakuho-like numbers in online fantasy-style sumo tournament

Simon Siddall continues to dominate and has now been crowned Sumo Games World Champion in five of the last six years.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 5, 2019

Amateur tourneys offer window to sport's future stars

Asanoyama is sumo's latest champion.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 20, 2019

Sumo in Heisei Era defined by dominant foreign yokozuna

The upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament marks the end of an era.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 7, 2018

Fujio Kariya recalls memorable moments in announcing career

For Fujio Kariya, NHK's executive commentator (the broadcaster's top news commentator), the most impressive bout in his 31-year career as an NHK sumo announcer took place at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in 1988.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 24, 2018

Sumo boasts rich history of multiculturalism

Visitors to Japan, encountering sumo for the first time, are often surprised to learn that not only are there rikishi from places as far afield as Georgia, Mongolia and Hawaii, but that foreigners have dominated the sport for the better part of a decade and a half.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 27, 2018

Sumo world attracts wide range of characters

Sumo is a monolith. Individual stables may exhibit variances in training and culture, but for the most part life for wrestlers is the same throughout the sport. Enter any stable early in the day and you will find training going on. Come back at 6 p.m. and everyone will be eating dinner.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Oct 26, 2012

Sumo World Championships a shadow of former self

Thousands of kids in Japan attend amateur sumo clubs every weekend. Many adults join them as part of fitness regimes.
SUMO
Oct 26, 2023

Takakeisho heads to Kyushu Basho with yokozuna promotion in sight

The 27-year-old has put himself in line for elevation to the sport’s highest rank following the upcoming Kyushu meet.
Nicholas Tarasenko trains at Minato stable in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, on Tuesday. Tarasenko’s potential in sumo was made obvious when he won U18 gold in the 90-kg weight class at the 2023 Baruto Cup in Estonia despite being four years under the age limit and having only had a total of one hour of sumo training before the meet.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 28, 2024

This English schoolboy has big dreams of becoming yokozuna — and more

Nicholas Tarasenko may only be 15 years old, but he is already making big plans for his burgeoning sumo career.

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