Predicting next yokozuna a formidable task
When veteran sumo journalists get together and the conversation turns, as it inevitability does, to up-and-coming wrestlers, talk is rarely of who will be the next yokozuna. Most writers or commentators ...
Amateur tourneys offer window to sport's future stars
Asanoyama is sumo's latest champion. The Takasago stable wrestler's victory in the May tournament makes him the fourth rikishi to win a debut championship in the past six meets — something ...
Trump's basho visit boosts sumo's reputation overseas
U.S. President Donald Trump's attendance at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, and presentation of a large trophy to its winner, made headlines around the globe. The attention of the world's media, ...
The American-made trophy presented by U.S. President Donald Trump at a sumo tournament will join the sport's historical materials at a museum in Tokyo, the sport's governing body said Monday. The President's Cup, which was presented by Trump to the winner of the Summer Grand ...
A day after receiving his first Emperor's Cup trophy, Summer Grand Sumo Tournament winner Asanoyama said the reality of his maiden top-level title was still sinking in on Monday. Having clinched victory with a day to spare, the No. 8 maegashira, who debuted in the ...
Though sumo and song may not seem obvious bedfellows, Japan's national sport has musical connections both varied and historical. Jinku, a form of folk singing, is a common sight on provincial tours and at retirement ceremonies. Six wrestlers wearing kesho mawashi (highly decorated apron-like belts) take ...
U.S. President Donald Trump became the main attraction on an otherwise anticlimactic final day at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, a day after No. 8 maegashira Asanoyama clinched his first championship. The president, accompanied by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, U.S. first lady Melania ...
Rank-and-filer Asanoyama clinched his maiden championship on Saturday by beating ozeki Goeido with one day remaining at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament. In addition to the Emperor's Cup, the No. 8 maegashira Asanoyama will receive a trophy from U.S. President Donald Trump, who will attend ...
Sumo 101: Controversial decisions
Friday's controversial overturning of an apparent Tochinoshin win has people up in arms. Irate fans flooded social media with photos, videos and gifs that they felt proved the burly Georgian was hard done by. There is even a change.org petition to have the ruling reversed. That ...
Rank-and-file wrestler Asanoyama seized the sole lead at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday with a controversial win over sekiwake Tochinoshin, as Kakuryu dropped off the pace by losing to ozeki Takayasu. Yokozuna Kakuryu, who is aiming for a sixth top-level championship, dropped to ...
Sumo might be Japan's national sport, but for most of the last two decades it has been dominated by Mongolians. From November 2002, when Ulaanbaatar native Asashoryu won his first Emperor's Cup, to January 2016, when Kotoshogiku broke a 10-year title drought for Japan-born rikishi, ...
Yokozuna Kakuryu recovered from his second upset of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament to reclaim a share of the lead with rank-and-filer Asanoyama, who suffered his second loss of the meet on Thursday. Kakuryu (10-2) was momentarily pushed back by No. 5 maegashira Ryuden (7-5) ...
