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July 16, 2024
 

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Mark Buckton

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Mark Buckton
Mark Buckton has covered sumo for The Japan Times Online since 2006 and has long worked with broadcast media such as the BBC and CNN when things go awry in the sport. He has contributed to six books on Japanese culture, and is a columnist at entertainment magazine Eye-Ai.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 31, 2012
Nagoya: If you could only choose one, which Japan Olympic soccer team would you like to see win gold?
Chiharu Matsui
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 28, 2012
Harumafuji's third yusho marred by an ill-mannered yokozuna
Five, 10, 20 years from now, whenever we look back at the career of the current yokozuna Hakuho, it will be hard to avoid a particular black mark against the name of one of the sport's most successful of grand champions.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jun 30, 2012
Amateur sumo in crisis: Europe and Japan go head to head
For the past 20 years amateur sumo has been bidding for full and formal IOC recognition. Making its way through the IOC's various levels of acceptance, it was, according to many, doing rather well.
Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
May 3, 2012
Sumo's dohyo starting to level out
If Hakuho wins the upcoming Grand Sumo Tournament (May 6-20) it will be the 50th time a Mongolian has won the Emperor's Cup.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Mar 31, 2012
Sumo returns to Osaka with a bang
For the first time since March of 2010, the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium played host to a sumo tournament.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Mar 10, 2012
One large step back, a few small steps forward
Last month the sumo association, while supposedly seeing 2012 as the year to move forward and clear their sullied name, took a massive step backward.
Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jan 24, 2012
2012 kicks off with a bang for Baruto
Before the New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament, most fans would have predicted that Hakuho, the reigning yokozuna, would claim his third successive Emperor's Cup, and 22nd title overall.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jan 6, 2012
Hatsu Basho 2011 — time for domestic rekishi to shine
For around a decade much has been made of the lack of domestic born talent in professional sumo. No Japanese sekitori has won a yusho now for six full years — the last local winner being then ozeki Tochiazuma back in January of 2006.
Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Dec 27, 2011
Tis the season to be focused
Unlike many sports, the sumo calendar can be predicted months, even years in advance.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 30, 2011
Kisenosato promoted to ozeki, Hakuho on 21
When the Kyushu Basho down in Fukuoka drew to a close on Nov. 27, much of the conversation was centered on sekiwake Kisenosato and whether or not he deserved his all-but-publicly announced imminent promotion to the rank of ozeki.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 10, 2011
The next big thing, and one that never quite made it
Leading up to the 2011 Kyushu tourney down in Fukuoka, the world of sumo is looking to round off another annus horribilis.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 29, 2011
Aki goes pear shaped for Harumafuji as Hakuho notches No. 20
On Day 1, popular ozeki Harumafuji downed komusubi Toyonoshima in a match that had the audience at the Kokugikan clapping wildly and looking forward to a tournament in which the smallest man in the second rank would make a run for yokozuna grand champion status, following his championship win back in...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 8, 2011
Aki Basho: Normal sumo service resumes in the capital — almost
Sunday Sep. 11 will see the Sumo Association resume the closest thing to normal service they can hope for in the present era of post-scandal reflection. It will be he first tourney back in the Ryogoku Kokugikan after a summer of much discontent and thus "coming home" to the capital will offer the powers...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Aug 1, 2011
Kaio calls it quits, while Harumafuji secures a shot at yokozuna promotion
From Day 1 at the recent Nagoya Basho the vultures were circling. Some went after the admittedly pathetically low attendances on the first few days of the basho as a sign that all is not well with the public's perception of sumo in the wake of the yaocho bout-buying scandal. Two of the first three days...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 9, 2011
Bringing the focus back to the rikishi and sumo
On July 25, yokozuna Hakuho, barring major injury, or another basho-cancelling scandal, will mount the dohyo at around 5:45pm to be presented with his 20th Emperor's Cup to date.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jun 15, 2011
NSK gets a glimpse of a (potentially) bright future
In May the English soccer team Manchester United won their 19th English league championship to date — and the world watched on TV, the Internet and via a wealth of other media sources.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
May 4, 2011
Scandals offer a silver lining
Over 20 rikishi have thus far been expelled. Some have gone quietly picking up very nice severance packages on the way out the door. Others have promised legal battles ahead that will, in all likelihood, be timed to avoid a clash with a particular basho. Wherever the yaocho allegations, dismissals and...
Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Apr 8, 2011
The U.S. role in advancing amateur sumo
In the second of two interviews with globally respected officials involved in the international sumo game, Sumo Scribblings recently threw a few questions over the Pacific to Andrew Freund, the face of the United States Sumo Federation. In many ways far bigger in the sport than his slim physique would...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Mar 9, 2011
A brighter side: amateur sumo
Given the dark days for the world of professional sumo and the suspension of the Haru Basho, Sumo Scribblings is turning its focus the amateur sumo season, which is just getting underway. To learn more about the landscape, we spoke with Katrina Watts, who serves as a board member of the International...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Feb 26, 2011
Foreign sumo fans have their say on yaocho
In reaction to the yaocho (bout fixing) fracas enveloping sumo at present, many journalists in Japan and overseas have recently jumped on the sumo coverage bandwagon. Many have criticized the sumo association, the participants and their lifestyle and called for punishments, suspended basho and the like,...
Who needs AI when you have Hatsune Miku?
Over the first six months of 2024, a handful of songs using Vocaloid singer Hatsune Miku’s voice have enjoyed widespread attention, underlining a global interest in the character and the technology she represents.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
Shooter came within inches of killing Trump, but left few clues as to why
An aerial view shows the stage where Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump had been standing during an assassination attempt the day before, and the roof of a nearby building where a gunman was shot dead by law enforcement, in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Sunday.
Yen’s woes seem too big for even a BOJ hike this month to solve
The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.

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Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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