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October 22, 2025
 

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INSIDE SUMO

Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 12, 2022
Wrestlers and fans relax together at successful Sumo Fan Festival
For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, fans were able to get up close and personal with their favorite rikishi at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 5, 2022
Classic sumo film 'Shiko Funjatta' finds new life as spinoff drama
The upcoming Disney+ series based on director Masayuki Suo's award-winning work is leading a new wave of sumo content on streaming platforms.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 28, 2022
'Ironman' Tamawashi gets his due with second Emperor's Cup
The 37-year-old's victory was the feel-good story of the the Autumn Basho, but the sport's immediate future remains in flux as young wrestlers struggle to perform consistently.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 21, 2022
No stars? No problem: Interest in sumo grows as it enters parity era
The ebb and flow of Japan's national sport is closely tied to the rise and fall of its grand champions, but overseas viewers are increasingly backing a wider variety of wrestlers.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 14, 2022
JSA delights sumo diehards with announcement of October fan event
A number of rare opportunities will be available for attendees at Ryogoku Kokugikan event, the sport's first fan festival since 2005.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 9, 2022
Ichinojo seeking repeat as focus shifts back to sumo for Autumn Basho
It's looking increasingly likely that all members of the top division will be ready to go when the final Tokyo meet of the year gets underway at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sunday.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 7, 2022
Hakuho coy on details as January retirement ceremony announced
Fans of the former yokozuna can likely anticipate a spectacle when the newly minted Miyagino stablemaster enters the Ryogoku Kokugikan ring one last time.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 31, 2022
Ascent to sumo's peak slowing for recent crop of foreign wrestlers
While Mongolia may currently be monopolizing sumo's foreign slots, the overall level of domination that the central Asian nation has exerted over the sport is unlikely to continue.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 24, 2022
Degeiko training endures despite rise in COVID-19 infections
The Japan Sumo Association's decision to allow joint training between stables is both a benefit for wrestlers and a positive sign of a return to pre-pandemic norms.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 17, 2022
Threatened by rivals, Nichidai continues to produce elite sumo talent
Though Nihon University has ceded space in the elite tier of college sumo to its rivals, the school is still capable of developing wrestlers who can make an impact in the pro ranks.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 10, 2022
JSA taps veteran presenter for new English-language YouTube channel
Hiroshi Morita, who has been in the commentary booth for NHK since 1999, is the face of professional sumo's biggest effort yet to market to international fans in the internet era.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 3, 2022
Former yokozuna Hakuho faces new challenges as Miyagino stablemaster
Sumo's greatest-ever grand champion is now in charge of his own beya, but whether he will be able to rise through the complicated hierarchy of the Japan Sumo Association is an open question.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 27, 2022
Ichinojo's deserved first title rescues virus-struck Nagoya Basho
The Minato stable man's debut championship brought not only relief but genuine joy, as he is one of the most affable and likeable figures in Japan's national sport.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 20, 2022
Recently deceased yokozuna Wakanohana leaves mixed legacy
The giant portrait that commemorates his perfect 15-0 championship in November 1978 still hangs in JR Ryogoku Station and is visible to anyone getting off the train to visit the Kokugikan.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 13, 2022
World Games chaos highlights amateur sumo's structural flaws
The furor over excessive celebrations by Egyptian and Ukranian wrestlers shows that the sport needs reforms if it is to build a stable following.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 29, 2022
Faster, aggressive sumo on display at women's college championships
The tournament, dwarfed by its male counterpart in terms of size and interest, is nonetheless showcasing wrestlers increasingly capable of delivering entertaining and thrilling bouts.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 22, 2022
Wrestlers ramp up public appearances as pandemic subsides
The loosening of media restrictions has given wrestlers more exposure to both current and potential fans, whether it's through interviews at stables or guest spots on prime-time TV.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 15, 2022
Philosophical living legend Konishiki reflects on launch of career
The Hawaiian-born former ozeki, a driving force in gaining sumo recognition overseas, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his entry into the sport.
SPORTS / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 8, 2022
The return of degeiko training may herald more competitive sumo
That 2020 edict to ban degeiko was put in place to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection for wrestlers at a time when one rikishi had died, and the virus was raging.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 1, 2022
New challengers arrive as retired greats enjoy end of 'long goodbye'
Long stints in Japan's national sport aren't as common as they might seem at first glance, especially in sumo's upper echelons.
Takaichi makes history as Japan’s first female prime minister
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi reacts to applauding lawmakers after being elected prime minister at the Lower House on Tuesday.
Path clears for Takaichi to become PM as LDP and JIP agree to form coalition
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (right) reaches out to shake hands with Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura after signing a coalition deal Monday evening in Tokyo.
Rare female yakuza walks path to redemption in Japan
Retired yakuza Mako Nishimura sorts fallen leaves during a clean-up activity at the Gifu Gokoku shrine in Gifu Prefecture on Sept. 28.
Takaichi government will likely spend less than expected
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi at the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Monday
Who is Minoru Kihara, Takaichi’s new 'cool-headed' spokesman?
Minoru Kihara (second from left) attends a Lower House plenary session on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Nakatsu keeps its cool as gentrification looms
Shunsuke Takahashi, owner of the cafe Hood by Vargas, says the Osaka neighborhood of Nakatsu feels brighter and calmer with the influx of new businesses.
How Japan’s greatest psychological horror game came home
Series composer Akira Yamaoka and writer Ryukishi07 were integral figures in helping one of Japan's greatest horror gaming franchises land a Japanese setting.
Japan leads in in-depth AI awareness, new global study finds
In Japan, 55% were “equally concerned and excited” about the rise of AI in daily life, while 28% were “more concerned than excited.”
What does Jimbocho think of its unexpected ‘cool’ status?
Tokyo's Jimbocho neighborhood is a haven for book lovers, its rows of secondhand bookstores spilling over with printed materials.
What you need to see at this year's Tokyo film festival
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One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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