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November 22, 2024
 

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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 14, 2018
Sumo 101: The Topknot
It's common to smell sumo wrestlers before seeing them . . . and not in a bad way.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 13, 2018
Sumo 101: Ringside judges
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones aren't the only all-powerful "Men in Black."
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 12, 2018
Sumo 101: The Emperor's Cup
"To the victor go the spoils" is a phrase that could have been coined for sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 11, 2018
Sumo 101: Ring names
A sumo wrestler's shikona, or ring name, can reveal much about his history and heritage.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 10, 2018
Sumo 101: The belt
Sumo wrestlers on overseas tours have been called 'naked goodwill ambassadors'.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 9, 2018
Sumo 101: The Ring
Sumo tournaments take place on a raised ring called a dohyo. The kanji characters for dohyo (土俵) literally translate as clay and rice straw bales — the two materials the ring is made of.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 8, 2018
Expect the unexpected in wide-open Autumn Basho
The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament gets underway on Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 5, 2018
Sumo's Yokozuna Deliberation Council plays important role in overseeing sport
Kisenosato put in a strong performance at the Yokozuna Deliberation Council soken training session on Aug. 31.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 29, 2018
Unsung yobidashi keep sumo running smoothly
Who spends the most time in a sumo ring?
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 22, 2018
English sumo broadcasts bring together diverse cast
In last week's column, I talked about overseas tours by the Japan Sumo Association and also mentioned the live sumo broadcasts with English commentary on NHK.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 15, 2018
Overseas tours an unfortunate victim of sumo's recent popularity
The world of sumo has seen many changes over the past decade.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 8, 2018
Entering sumo world not something to be taken lightly
In lifting the Emperor's Cup last month, Mitakeumi became the fourth Japanese wrestler to win a championship in the past two years.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Aug 1, 2018
Grueling summer tours offer mixed blessing for sumo
Sumo's summer regional tour is already under way, snaking around Lake Biwa and across central Japan towards the Kanto region.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 25, 2018
Mitakeumi earns spoils of victory
The Nagoya tournament ended with the Emperor's Cup being handed to arguably the most surprising top division champion in eight years.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 4, 2018
Hot reception awaits sumo competitors in Nagoya
Sumo makes its yearly stop in steamy Nagoya starting Sunday, with Kakuryu aiming for a third straight title at the only venue where he has yet to raise the Emperor's Cup.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 27, 2018
Sumo world attracts wide range of characters
Sumo is a monolith. Individual stables may exhibit variances in training and culture, but for the most part life for wrestlers is the same throughout the sport. Enter any stable early in the day and you will find training going on. Come back at 6 p.m. and everyone will be eating dinner.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 20, 2018
Grueling training key to sumo transcendence
The sport of sumo manages to achieve with one circle what Dante Alighieri needed nine to describe.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 13, 2018
Byzantine rules govern sumo's name shares
Tochinoshin's promotion to ozeki comes with many perks. Most are connected to his life as an active wrestler, such as a boost in salary and parking privileges.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 6, 2018
Army of okamisan work behind scenes to keep sumo stables running smoothly
Tochinoshin was officially promoted to ozeki on May 30.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 30, 2018
Newly minted ozeki Tochinoshin reaping rewards of fighting spirit
Yokozuna Kakuryu came from behind to win consecutive tournaments for the first time in his career on Sunday.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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By Kathryn Wortley

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