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SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 9, 2012

Kyushu 2012 — once more, two yokozuna heading the rankings

For the first time since 2009, the Kyushu Basho, Nov. 11-25, will see two yokozuna featured on the ranking sheet. Hakuho is in the slightly more prestigious east slot, with Harumafuji over on the west side of the banzuke.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Mar 10, 2012

One large step back, a few small steps forward

Last month the sumo association, while supposedly seeing 2012 as the year to move forward and clear their sullied name, took a massive step backward.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jan 26, 2011

Hakuho on top again

Prediction correct from the pre-basho Sumo Scribblings in that Hakuho did indeed win the yusho. He did so yet again with a day to spare as his challengers gradually fell away during the second week. Maegashira and future sanyaku man Okinoumi (11-4) were the best of the chasing bunch, before being beaten...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 3, 2010

Media racism: How unsportsmanlike

Local favoritism is built into organized sports. At the macro level you have whole countries rooting for national teams at the Olympics or the World Cup. At the micro level you have fans cheering a hometown boy who plays for a team far away. By the same token, nationalistic fans denigrate opposing countries'...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 7, 2010

Nagoya Basho 2010 — a tournament that will live in infamy

For two months sumo has been rocked to its core by evidence of illegal gambling on baseball games, involvement with the Japanese underworld, and more recently claims by the man on the street that those in positions of power within the sumo association did precious little to stop this.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Feb 16, 2010

Where were the Japanese voices when the overseas fans declared Asa innocent?

In the last issue of Sumo Scribblings following the Hatsu Basho, mention was made of Asashoryu's self-destructive mindset in relation to the then recent allegations that he had up and punched somebody following a night on the beer in a plush neighborhood of Tokyo.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Dec 1, 2009

Hakuho notches another, while Kaio once again raises eyebrows

With the presentation of the Emperor's Cup to yokozuna Hakuho on Sunday evening Nov. 29, the first decade of sumo in the 21st century came to a thundering close. Hakuho (15-0) had just dispatched fellow yokozuna Asashoryu with a wonderful uwatenage throwing technique to claim his 12th top-flight trophy...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 30, 2008

Rising giants and falling champs in the autumn basho

The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament started under a cloud, with three Russian wrestlers freshly kicked out of the sport for drug use, but by the final bouts on Sunday sumo was enjoying clearer skies. With Musashigawa — former yokozuna Mienoumi — at the helm of the sport, the future looks brighter....
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 25, 2007

Hakuho, and other foreign-born wrestlers, dominate the Autumn Basho

Of the 700 men active in professional sumo less than 10 percent are foreign-born. Of the six divisions in which they compete, only one went the way of a Japanese rikishi at this year's Autumn Basho. The remaining five divisions were dominated by men from afar.
SUMO
Mar 13, 2005

Rising star Hakuho set to shine in Osaka

Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia heads into the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament as the odds-on favorite, but rising star Hakuho will be the one to watch when the 15-day meet begins Sunday at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Sep 30, 2003

A level playing field?

Sports are seen as a catalyst for international communication. Even the Olympic Games were established a century ago to promote world peace -- through people meeting and competing on level playing fields.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 12, 2003

Asashoryu ready for shot at promotion to yokozuna

Even with injury-riddled grand champion Takanohana back on the comeback trail, the smart money says cocky Mongolian ozeki Asashoryu will be the man who rules the roost when the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament kicks off in Tokyo on Sunday.
SUMO
Jan 22, 2002

Kotomitsuki upsets Kaio to stay tied for lead

Promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotomitsuki dodged a bullet before pulling off an upset win over ozeki Kaio to preserve his share of the three-way lead in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
SUMO / Basho reports
Jul 16, 2020

Upcoming July Basho could be fascinating, unpredictable affair

It's hard to know just what kind of physical or mental condition rikishi will be in when things kick off at Ryogoku Kokugikan on July 19.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 18, 2020

Japan's news outlets take one step backward before moving forward

Before going forward into the new year, an extra edition of Shukan Shincho (with a Jan. 27 publication date) flashed back in time to track down author Ben Goto. Now a spry 89 years old, Goto achieved instant fame with a 1973 publication titled "Great Prophecies of Nostradamus." His book initially sold...
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 29, 2017

Harumafuji had with no choice but to retire

Yokozuna Harumafuji announced his intention to retire at a press conference on Wednesday.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 25, 2017

Kisenosato becomes first Japanese-born yokozuna in almost two decades

Unlike during tournaments, an occasional smile crept across Kisenosato's face.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 30, 2015

Time for Hakuho to bring down curtain on legendary career?

In 1971, when the great Taiho retired from the sport of sumo with 32 Emperor's Cups to his name, Hakuho was not yet born.

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