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November 22, 2024
 

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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 8, 2021
New Year Basho arrives with yokozuna absent and virus concerns rising
The first grand tournament of 2021 is scheduled to begin Sunday despite the announcement of a state of emergency in parts of the greater Tokyo area.
Japan Times
SUMO
Dec 30, 2020
Plenty to unpack after eventful, unforgettable year in sumo
Sumo somehow managed to keep going and provided much-needed distraction in a tough year.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 23, 2020
Hidden gems await fans who dig deep into sumo's lower divisions
The sport's second and third ranks offer a chance to see both rising stars and wily veterans engaged in the sort of exciting bouts that are sometimes rare in the top level.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 16, 2020
American rikishi recalls extremely wild times in sumo world
Details on the now 71-year-old's career had been lost to the mists of time until the California native resurfaced in sumo circles online in recent months.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 9, 2020
NSSU freshman Hidetora Hanada emerges to claim amateur yokozuna title
The Nippon Sports Science University student overcame a talent-studded field at Sunday's All Japan Sumo Championships, the country's top amateur sumo tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 2, 2020
Chiganoura Beya had unique, eventful existence
Opened in 2004, by former sekiwake Masudayama, Chiganoura Beya grabbed the interest of many sumo observers right off the bat for a number of unique moves.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 25, 2020
Takakeisho's rise, Terunofuji's rebound? Thrills await fans in 2021
Professional sumo closed out the thrill ride that was 2020 with one final flourish.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 18, 2020
Popular rikishi Kotoshogiku and Gagamaru retire from sumo
Veteran ozeki Kotoshogiku hanging up his mawashi means there are now only four men in makuuchi still active who reached the sport's top division before the start of 2010.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 11, 2020
Universities offer foreign wrestlers new path to pro sumo
Instead of struggling to land rare stable placements directly, foreigners are instead blazing a path to the pros through collegiate and amateur sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 5, 2020
Healthy yokozuna Hakuho looks ready to reclaim throne
The Miyagino stable man is in position to extend his championship record and pick up an incredible 45th Emperor's Cup.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 4, 2020
Sumo stables housed in older structures becoming rare sight
The demolition of the Izutsu Beya stable building, one of the more run-down in the sport, got underway Wednesday.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 28, 2020
Banzuke remains essential part of sumo culture
Distributed before each grand tournament, the hand-written rankings list has been a part of the sport's lore for centuries.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 21, 2020
Venerable Ryogoku Kokugikan has allowed sumo to successfully cope with pandemic
Possessing its own full-size arena has allowed the Japan Sumo Association to easily switch tournaments scheduled for other cities to its home base in Tokyo.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 14, 2020
Once-fearsome ozeki rank no longer sport's 'great barrier'
Wrestlers in sumo's second-highest rank have struggled to emulate the success of their peers in previous generations.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 7, 2020
Sumo fans have plenty to look forward to in coming weeks
There are many aspects of Japan's national sport that should give hope for the future.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 30, 2020
JSA pulls off another successful tournament in COVID-19 era
After managing a second basho with fans at Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Japan Sumo Association still faces a number of challenges going forward.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 23, 2020
Sumo experiencing extreme period of parity in final stages of Hakuho's legendary reign
With four former ozeki and an incredible ten wrestlers with championship experience still active in the top division, sumo is the very definition of parity right now.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 16, 2020
Are ozeki Asanoyama's struggles all in his head?
Called out by former yokozuna Asashoryu after a poor start to the Autumn Basho, the highly anticipated ozeki needs to clear his mind in order to reach sumo's top level.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 10, 2020
Autumn Basho shaping up to be another drama-filled affair
Life as a sumo columnist in 2020 is akin to being a TV critic in 2019 writing about 'Game of Thrones.'
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 9, 2020
Sumo would benefit from picking up tips from other sports
There are ways to modernize and copy what is happening in sports worldwide without detracting from what it is that makes sumo special.
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

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?
By Kathryn Wortley

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SWCC keeps changing with keyword ‘new challenges’

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