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November 22, 2024
 

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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 13, 2018
Sumo 101: Nobori
Go to any sumo tournament and the first thing you'll notice is the array of giant colorful flags on bamboo poles in front of the stadium.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 12, 2018
Sumo 101: Chanko
Sumo wrestlers don't eat before training.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 11, 2018
Sumo 101: Shonichi
The first day of the basho brings plenty of optimism — and ceremony — for competing wrestlers.
Japan Times
SUMO
Nov 7, 2018
Higher-ranked wrestlers in driver's seat in Kyushu
November is upon us and that means the final sumo tournament of the year is just days away.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 7, 2018
Wrestlers settle into unique Kyushu location
The ring purification ceremony for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament takes places at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 10 a.m.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 31, 2018
Sumo dominance down to heart over matter
The newly-released banzuke (rankings) for the upcoming Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament see Hakuho back in his old familiar 'Yokozuna 1 East' position.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 24, 2018
Sumo boasts rich history of multiculturalism
Visitors to Japan, encountering sumo for the first time, are often surprised to learn that not only are there rikishi from places as far afield as Georgia, Mongolia and Hawaii, but that foreigners have dominated the sport for the better part of a decade and a half.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 17, 2018
Kyushu Basho an underrated gem for fans
Sumo's Autumn Regional Tour has reached Kansai and will continue winding its way westward until it arrives in Yamaguchi prefecture at the end of the month.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 10, 2018
Departed yokozuna Wajima brought charisma to ring
Last week's column featured links between sumo and American football, including a mention of how yokozuna Wakanohana took up the latter sport after retiring from the raised ring.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Oct 3, 2018
Sumo skills applicable on the gridiron, not in the ring
Former top-division wrestler Osunaarashi fell to 45-year-old actor Bob Sapp in his mixed martial arts debut this week.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Sep 26, 2018
Takanohana's departure marks end of era for sumo
Takanohana's retirement, announced on Tuesday, brings to an end the Hanada dynasty's 72-year-long involvement in sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 23, 2018
Sumo 101: Hobbies
All sumo wrestlers get a week off starting the day after a tournament ends.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 22, 2018
Sumo 101: Senshuraku
The last day of a sumo tournament is called senshuraku and it's packed with all kinds of ceremonies and events not seen over the preceding 14.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 21, 2018
Sumo 101: Yokozuna
Yokozuna is the highest rank in sumo.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 20, 2018
Sumo 101: Winning techniques
The Japan Sumo Association lists 82 different ways to win a bout. These winning techniques are called kimarite and the applicable one is announced in the arena immediately following each fight.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 19, 2018
Sumo 101: Sumo school
Sumo is a Darwinian world, but even in this harsh unforgiving environment, new recruits aren't given a "Battle Royale"-style "here's your mawashi — try to survive" induction.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 18, 2018
Sumo 101: Heya (Stables)
Sumo isn't really a sport in the true sense of the word. It's a combination of sport, religion and entertainment wrapped up in a quasi-monastic and militaristic lifestyle.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 17, 2018
Sumo 101: Ryogoku
Sumo is Japan's national sport and can be seen from one end of the country to the other in both official tournaments as well as regional tours.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 16, 2018
Sumo 101: Sekitori
The number of sumo wrestlers rises and falls as the popularity of the sport waxes and wanes.
Japan Times
SUMO
Sep 15, 2018
Sumo 101: Tegata
Sumo might be a sport steeped in tradition but its governing body has a very modern approach to merchandising.
Ishiba delays meeting with Trump, citing legal restrictions
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba waves upon arrival for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, in Callao, Peru, on Friday.
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.
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.
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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Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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By Kathryn Wortley

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