The customary regional winter sumo tour, centered in Kyushu, will likely be canceled due to the flagging popularity of the ancient Japanese sport, sumo sources said Tuesday.
It will be the first time since 1958, except for a change of the event format during a preparation period in 2002, that the regional winter tour would not be held after the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November.
Sumo officials said further that the number of days of the regional sumo tours this year could be limited to just 15 after this summer's tour ended in two days -- also the lowest since 1958.