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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO
Mar 7, 2019
Hakuho, other challengers ready to chase spring glory
The Osaka Basho, which gets underway on Sunday, is arguably the most wide-open tournament sumo has seen in years.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 27, 2019
Terutsuyoshi adds flair to makuuchi division
It's late February, which means all 650 or so wrestlers of the Japan Sumo Association have decamped to Kansai and are deep in preparation for the upcoming Spring Tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 20, 2019
Sumo in Heisei Era defined by dominant foreign yokozuna
The upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament marks the end of an era.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 13, 2019
Wrestlers put aside differences to promote U.S. sumo
Kelly Gneiting is a religious fundamentalist.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Feb 6, 2019
European sumo overcomes schism to build popularity
What do Baruto, Dejima, Kotomitsuki and Goeido have in common besides being ozeki who have won championships?
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jan 30, 2019
Tamawashi put on thrilling show during run to first title
Just prior to the 2018 September Tournament, while sitting in a sweltering Ryogoku Kokugikan and watching the Yokozuna Deliberation Council practice session, I grabbed a quick selfie with a couple of rikishi standing over my right shoulder.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 27, 2019
Sumo 101: Special prizes
The Emperor's Cup isn't the only prize awarded on the final day of a sumo tournament.
SUMO
Jan 26, 2019
Sumo 101: Tickets
Sumo tickets go on sale roughly about six weeks before the start of every tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 25, 2019
Sumo 101: Sumo's birthplace
Ryogoku is the center of the sumo world.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 24, 2019
Sumo 101: Koenkai
On the surface sumo generates income the same way as most other sports —through ticket sales, merchandising and sponsorships.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 23, 2019
Sumo 101: Trading cards
With a sport as ancient as sumo, trading cards aren't the first things that spring to mind when you think of memorabilia.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 22, 2019
Sumo 101: Keshō-mawashi
One of the first orders of business for a rikishi promoted to sumo's second-highest division (jūryō) is getting a keshō-mawashi (ceremonial apron-style belt).
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 21, 2019
Sumo 101: Pre- and post-bout rituals
From once they are called to mount the dohyo, makuuchi division wrestlers have four minutes to prepare for their bout.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 20, 2019
Sumo 101: Akeni
Sekitori (wrestlers in the top two divisions) have a lot of accouterments.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 19, 2019
Sumo 101: Championship portraits
One of the most striking features of Ryogoku Kokugikan is the ring of giant portraits hanging from the rafters.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 18, 2019
Sumo 101: A wrestler's typical tournament day
The six annual honbasho (tournaments) are the fulcrum around which the sumo world turns.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 17, 2019
Sumo 101: Retirement ceremonies
Now that Kisenosato has retired, one of the first orders of business for him will be arranging a retirement ceremony.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 16, 2019
Sumo 101: Stable locations and layout
The majority of sumo stables are concentrated in a couple of locations not far from Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 16, 2019
Despite injuries, Kisenosato embodied rikishi ideals
Kisenosato's retirement, while both inevitable and expected, casts a pall over the ongoing tournament.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 15, 2019
Sumo 101: Banzuke
All professional sumo wrestlers are listed on a 58x44 cm sheet of paper that is released about two weeks before the start of each tournament.

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