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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.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 1, 2023

Makuuchi's international brotherhood grows with Kazakhstan's arrival

Kinbozan’s promotion to the rank of maegashira has resulted in sumo’s top tier gaining its first-ever wrestler from the central Asian nation.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 25, 2022

IOC raises prospect of boxing being pulled from Paris Games

Qualifying for the Paris 2024 boxing tournament is being organized by the IOC, but it said that concerns regarding global boxing's governing body mean it will take further decisions.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 28, 2022

'Ironman' Tamawashi gets his due with second Emperor's Cup

The 37-year-old's victory was the feel-good story of the the Autumn Basho, but the sport's immediate future remains in flux as young wrestlers struggle to perform consistently.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Sep 4, 2022

Serena Williams in the broadcast booth? The ball is in her court

Industry officials say the former world No. 1 and 23-time Grand Slam winner would be welcomed with open arms were she to take on a commentary role after she retires.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Aug 29, 2022

'Anxious' Naomi Osaka hoping to get back on track at U.S. Open

Osaka hopes a return to the New York hard courts, where she triumphed in 2018 and 2020 will help her to find her way.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 24, 2022

Degeiko training endures despite rise in COVID-19 infections

The Japan Sumo Association's decision to allow joint training between stables is both a benefit for wrestlers and a positive sign of a return to pre-pandemic norms.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 14, 2022

Athletics stars looking to use first world championships in U.S. to raise profile

Track and field stars are hoping the first world championships on U.S. soil will shine the light on their sport in a country where athletics is dwarfed by football, basketball and baseball.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 6, 2022

Far from war, Ukraine sumo team trains for global glory in Japan

The wrestlers, hailing from one of amateur sumo's hotbeds of activity, flew to the United States on Tuesday after completing a monthlong camp ahead of the World Games.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 2, 2022

Lewis Hamilton calls on Formula One to move past outdated views

'Why do we give these guys a platform? They are clearly not willing to change and these undertones of discrimination and micro-aggression in today's world are not helpful.'
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 13, 2022

Prestigious University of Tokyo may claim its first sumo wrestler

Hotaka Suyama could become the school's first graduate to enter the world of u014dzumo when he takes the Japan Sumo Association's entrance exam.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 18, 2022

Online cockfighting wagers rake in billions in the Philippines

Once a declining bloodsport, the centuries-old game is now a major industry across this Southeast Asian nation.
SUMO
Mar 11, 2022

Osaka-style upset back on the table for Spring Basho

Starved of sumo for so long, it's unlikely fans in Kansai will care whether we see dominance by the yokozuna as usual or a reclaiming of the basho's stormy reputation.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Mar 9, 2022

Formula One's 'marriage' with Netflix still has more mileage

Despite some criticism over its impact, the docu-series 'Drive to Survive' has created a surge of interest in grand prix racing among younger sports fans.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 16, 2022

With indoor ski resorts and curling schools, China lifts Xi’s sports dream

China said it succeeded on a vow by Xi Jinping, the country's top leader, to nurture millions of winter sports enthusiasts. But will the interest last after the Winter Games end?
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 11, 2022

How the ‘Garlic Girls’ overcame abuse to return to the Olympics

The South Korean curling team helped revive a painful discussion about the mistreatment of athletes in their country, leading the way for others to come forward.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 5, 2022

The top rivalries to watch at the Beijing Olympics

For every big-name athlete or team at the Beijing Games, there is someone standing in the way of victory.
OLYMPICS / Beijing 2022
Feb 4, 2022

Sparking consistent local interest in hockey key part of Japan's Winter Olympic future

“Hockey is the most valuable winter sport, and building momentum for hockey in Japan will be mandatory for the Winter Olympics,” Nikko Ice Bucks COO Takayuki Hioki said.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 12, 2022

Sumo catches new audience with Pokemon collaboration

The Japan Sumo Association's tie-up with the world's biggest video game franchise could be a big step in attracting younger fans to the sport.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 16, 2021

Max Verstappen comfortable with status as world champion

'It doesn't matter what they try to do,' Verstappen said. 'We won it on track, when there was a green light and we passed them on the track.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 17, 2021

Lack of excitement threatens Kyushu Basho atmosphere

Despite the ongoing meet's seeming openness, there is a sense of inevitability about proceedings in Fukuoka that appears to be draining some of the energy out of the event.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 14, 2021

Sumo tegata hold intimate and unique place among sports memorabilia

For fans, there is an intimacy that comes with having the imprint of every line in a man's hand alongside his personal calligraphy on your wall.
PARALYMPICS / Longform
Aug 23, 2021

Can the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics create a watershed moment in disability awareness in Japan?

Paralympians are poised to fight for medals and respect at a Games devoid of spectators.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Aug 12, 2021

Gender norms still hurt LGBTQ athletes despite Olympic profile

A record number of out LGBTQ athletes took part in the Games, but none were Japanese, and the host nation harbors opposition to issues such as same-sex marriage.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 3, 2021

In weightlifting, a historic moment for transgender women

New Zealander Laurel Hubbard has become the first to participate in the Olympics, but her appearance has received a mixed response.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 30, 2021

The Chinese sports machine’s single goal: the most golds, at any cost

China relies on a system that puts tens of thousands of children in government-run training schools. Many are funneled into less prominent sports that Beijing hopes to dominate.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight