Hakuho moves past Asashoryu to third on the all-time greatest list
On July 21, yokozuna Hakuho became the third most successful rikishi in the modern era, even if his 26th yusho victory since first holding aloft the Emperor’s Cup 42 tournaments ago came with something of a bittersweet aftertaste.
Will Hakuho prove the party-pooper in Kisenosato's quest?
Hakuho, sumo's best grand champion in the past 25 years, will be aiming to win his fourth Nagoya Basho since being promoted to the top rank in 2007, and his 26th overall. Some would say this will be the toughest basho he has faced ...
Nagoya to be testing ground for a trio of sumo titans
As Hakuho continues chalking up championships almost at will, mention of the "other" yokozuna — Harumafuji (11-4) — in some sumo circles is now met with heads being shaken.
Is Hakuho on his way to becoming the greatest ever?
On sumo's list of all-time yusho winners, Hakuho currently stands tied with Kitanoumi on 24 championships to date. Just three men stand between the Mongolian and the all-time record: Asashoryu at 25, Chiyonofuji at 31 and Taiho at 32. Many modern-day sumo fans never saw ...
Hakuho sets records, Harumafuji only raises questions
As was expected before the recent Haru Basho in Osaka, both yokozuna, on the back of too little practice, and too many public engagements started the tournament less than convincingly. The opening day saw Hakuho lucky to keep his balance against a spirited Aminishiki, with ...
Will this be the basho in which Kisenosato claims his first yusho?
When the basho opens today, few rikishi will be as ill-prepared as the two yokozuna: Hakuho and Harumafuji. Neither man has had time to properly prepare for the annual jaunt in Osaka, Japan's third largest city. Subject to such events as PR visits to local dignitaries, ...
Wrestling's fall from Olympic grace sends wake-up call to International Sumo Federation
The quest of the International Sumo Federation (IFS) to have amateur sumo accepted as a bona fide Olympic sport has long been viewed as as a pie-in-the-sky proposition by many. In the wake of the recent IOC decision to drop the far more recognized sport ...
Harumafuji bounces back but cracks are still there
Harumafuji made many a sports-page headline Monday morning thanks to his latest 15-0 championship, his third zensho-yusho to date, and in claiming his fifth Emperor's Cup; his first as a yokozuna.
Seven sumo stories to look out for in the year of the snake
1. Baruto — make or break This will be the big story at the Hatsu Basho starting on the 13th. The Estonian giant — 187 kg and 197 cm — lost his ozeki rank at last November's tournament down in Fukuoka and only a 10-5 ...
Kyushu Basho: Harumafuji less than impressive as Baruto demoted
In the days leading up to the Nov. 11-25 Kyushu Basho in Fukuoka, much of the talk in sumo circles centered on the ozeki trio of Baruto, Kotoshogiku and the forever injured Kotooshu being able to maintain their rank come the January tournament back ...
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. Harumafuji will, of course, be the ...
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. Hundreds more, young and old, in nations around the world have also given what many term the Japanese national sport a try over the past ...
