Sumo | INSIDE SUMO May 20, 2020
Who should be engraved on sumo's Mount Rushmore?
by John Gunning
If Hakuho and Futabayama are locks, then who should occupy the remaining two slots is far less clear.
Sumo | Rikishi Files Jan 16, 2020
Ukrainian Sergey Sokolovsky follows sumo great Taiho's career path
by John Gunning
Sergey Sokolovsky recently took the new recruit exam and, when he makes his competitive debut in March, the 22-year-old will become the first-ever Ukrainian in professional sumo. He won't be the first rikishi with a connection to the eastern European nation, however. The father of yokozuna ...
Sumo | Rikishi Files Nov 17, 2019
Muscular Chiyonofuji's career bloomed late
by John Gunning
For a certain generation of fans there is only one name that comes to mind when discussing the greatest of all time and that name is Chiyonofuji. The muscular yokozuna dominated inside the ring and won hearts outside it during the 1980s. Known as "the Wolf," ...
Sumo | INSIDE SUMO Oct 23, 2019
Quest to capture 10 titles a tough challenge for current crop of star wrestlers
by John Gunning
It's been over 15 years since Andre 3000 of seminal Atlanta rap group OutKast once asked — and answered — a pressing question: "What's cooler than being cool? Ice cold!" It's well past time for the sumo version. What's more yokozuna than being yokozuna? Dai yokozuna! While ...
Sumo | INSIDE SUMO Mar 27, 2019
Dominant Hakuho continues to redefine greatness
by John Gunning
Sumo columnist James Hardy once bemoaned the difficulty of doing daily tournament reports, saying, "There are only so many ways to write A pushed out B." With yokozuna Hakuho wrapping up his 42nd championship last Sunday, I'm beginning to feel the same way about describing ...
Sumo Mar 17, 2019
by John Gunning
All sumo wrestlers have a shikona (ring name). A few, like Endo or Takayasu, use their family name. Most, however, have ring names with elements referring to their stable or place of origin. Anyone with the prefix 琴 (Koto), for example, belongs to Sadogatake Stable or its ...
Sumo Jan 20, 2019
by John Gunning
Sekitori (wrestlers in the top two divisions) have a lot of accouterments. There are kesho-mawashi (ceremonial aprons), kimono, sandals, cushions and items like knee braces and tape that must be transported from the stables to the arena and brought on regional tours. While athletes in team ...
Sumo Nov 7, 2018
Fujio Kariya recalls memorable moments in announcing career
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
For Fujio Kariya, NHK's executive commentator (the broadcaster's top news commentator), the most impressive bout in his 31-year career as an NHK sumo announcer took place at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in 1988. That was when yokozuna Onokuni upset fellow yokozuna Chiyonofuji on the ...
Sumo | INSIDE SUMO Oct 31, 2018
Sumo dominance down to heart over matter
by John Gunning
The newly-released banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament see Hakuho back in his old familiar 'Yokozuna 1 East' position. It is the 48th time that the Mongolian veteran has occupied the top slot — a sumo record. Indeed at this stage in his ...
Sumo / Basho Reports Jul 24, 2017
Yokozuna Hakuho, who captured a record 39th career title at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, said Monday the reality of having won the championship and made multiple record-breaking feats along the way has finally sunk in. Speaking at the traditional day-after press conference following his ...
Sumo / Basho Reports Jul 18, 2017
Triumphant Hakuho now one win shy of tying Kaio's all-time mark
Yokozuna Hakuho collected his 1,046th career win Tuesday as he edged rank-and-file grappler Chiyoshoma to stay perfect at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. The yokozuna notched his 10th victory in as many days of the 15-day tourney to grab sole possession of second place on ...
Sumo / Basho Reports Jul 17, 2017
Hakuho equals legendary yokozuna Chiyonofuji with 1,045th career victory
Hakuho reached yet another milestone by tying late yokozuna Chiyonofuji at 1,045 career victories after beating fourth-ranked maegashira Kagayaki at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday. Yokozuna Hakuho remained peerless at the 15-day tournament, improving to a perfect 9-0 with an easy win over ...