Tag - inside-sumo

 
 

INSIDE SUMO

SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 14, 2022
High school hopefuls make leap into professional sumo
While university graduates have dominated headlines at recent tournaments, just one of eight new wrestlers entering the sport ahead of the New Year Basho boasts a college background.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 8, 2022
Wrestlers with amateur backgrounds becoming new normal in sumo
These days elite top-tier wrestlers without an amateur background are an increasingly scarce sight.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 30, 2022
Focused Abi completes redemption arc in Fukuoka
Two years after his infamous suspension for violating COVID-19 protocols, the Saitama native won his first Emperor's Cup after triumphing in a rare multi-way playoff at the Kyushu Basho.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 23, 2022
In the land of baseball, sumo and soccer share a close relationship
Japan's national sport and the 'beautiful game' have formed many ties over the years, with even top-ranked wrestlers attending matches and taking part in promotional events.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 16, 2022
Younger wrestlers stepping up early at wild Kyushu Basho
With the top of the banzuke ratings struggling in Fukuoka, several rikishi are looking to capitalize on strong starts as they chase the last Emperor's Cup of 2022.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 9, 2022
Should the Japan Sumo Association reconsider the Kyushu Basho?
While better ticket sales and increased income could potentially be found elsewhere, the value of holding a tournament in Fukuoka isn't just monetary.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 2, 2022
Centuries-old records test sumo’s modern superstars
Autumn Basho champion Tamawashi is 11 tournaments away from becoming sumo's all-time ironman, but there are other marks in the sport widely expected to remain untouchable.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 26, 2022
Tokyo takes over as host of 2023 Sumo World Championships
Amateur sumo's most prestigious tournament will return to the capital for the first time since 1998, replacing Russia which was scheduled to host this year.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 19, 2022
JSA welcomes new crop of sumo recruits ahead of Kyushu Basho
Ten wrestlers passed their mandatory health checks at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Tuesday, with eight Japanese newcomers eligible to take part in next month's Fukuoka meet.
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.

Longform

Tokyo Koon stands at the forefront of tackling the so-called 2025 issue, also known as the “Magnetic Tape Alert.”
The race to save 20th-century history