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November 22, 2024
 

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John Gunning
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 20, 2022
Recently deceased yokozuna Wakanohana leaves mixed legacy
The giant portrait that commemorates his perfect 15-0 championship in November 1978 still hangs in JR Ryogoku Station and is visible to anyone getting off the train to visit the Kokugikan.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jul 13, 2022
World Games chaos highlights amateur sumo's structural flaws
The furor over excessive celebrations by Egyptian and Ukranian wrestlers shows that the sport needs reforms if it is to build a stable following.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 8, 2022
Yokozuna Terunofuji eager to put on show for fans in Nagoya
Terunofuji is the frontrunner in Nagoya, and it'd be no surprise if he finished the fortnight's action with another title under his belt.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 29, 2022
Faster, aggressive sumo on display at women's college championships
The tournament, dwarfed by its male counterpart in terms of size and interest, is nonetheless showcasing wrestlers increasingly capable of delivering entertaining and thrilling bouts.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 22, 2022
Wrestlers ramp up public appearances as pandemic subsides
The loosening of media restrictions has given wrestlers more exposure to both current and potential fans, whether it's through interviews at stables or guest spots on prime-time TV.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 15, 2022
Philosophical living legend Konishiki reflects on launch of career
The Hawaiian-born former ozeki, a driving force in gaining sumo recognition overseas, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his entry into the sport.
Japan Times
SPORTS / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 8, 2022
The return of degeiko training may herald more competitive sumo
That 2020 edict to ban degeiko was put in place to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection for wrestlers at a time when one rikishi had died, and the virus was raging.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Jun 1, 2022
New challengers arrive as retired greats enjoy end of 'long goodbye'
Long stints in Japan's national sport aren't as common as they might seem at first glance, especially in sumo's upper echelons.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 25, 2022
Terunofuji making most of what may be limited time as yokozuna
The 30-year-old's expected brief span as grand champion won't detract from what he has achieved to date, and purely in terms of silverware he has already outclassed many of his predecessors.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 18, 2022
Frenzied Summer Basho offering little clarity on sumo's future
After 10 days, virtually every pre-basho prediction made by columnists, experts and insiders about what might transpire in the May meet has gone up in flames.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 11, 2022
Kotonowaka impresses as top-rankers stumble early at Summer Basho
The early story of the unpredictable Summer Basho is Kotonowaka, who opened the tournament with three straight wins over ozeki opponents.
Japan Times
SUMO
May 6, 2022
Element of surprise set to add more flavor to May Grand Sumo Tournament
A reduction in the amount of detailed reports emanating from sumo ensures the surprise factor from tournament to tournament remains high.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 4, 2022
Fan-produced content boosts sumo's international visibility
With few dedicated English-language journalists covering sumo, the importance of fan-produced translations, blogs and reports remains high.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 27, 2022
Balanced Summer Basho banzuke offers few reasons for complaint
With the current top-division hierarchy well established, fans in search of the unexpected may have to look down to the third-division makushita.
Japan Times
SUMO
Apr 20, 2022
Sumo's doors open for college stars but closing for foreign hopefuls
University sumo clubs regularly churn out talent capable of reaching the paid ranks, but fewer foreigners are entering the sport outside of powerhouse Mongolia.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 13, 2022
Prestigious University of Tokyo may claim its first sumo wrestler
Hotaka Suyama could become the school's first graduate to enter the world of u014dzumo when he takes the Japan Sumo Association's entrance exam.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 6, 2022
Return of Hakuho Cup a positive development for aspiring wrestlers
For more than a decade, the tournament for elementary school students has offered overseas teams a chance to compete against some of Japan's top programs and interact with the sport's stars.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 30, 2022
Wakatakakage continues sumo's surprise-champion trend
The spring meet of 2022 has continued a trend of photo finishes and thrilling tournaments.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 23, 2022
Takayasu chases long-awaited first title at unpredictable Osaka Basho
With yokozuna Terunofuji out and most of the leading pack in Osaka having never tasted glory at a basho, the chances of a first-time title winner emerging in Kansai appear high.
Japan Times
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 16, 2022
'COVID factor' wreaks havoc on stormy Spring Basho
Unpredictability reigns at Edion Arena Osaka so far, with the impact of February's wave of infections possibly affecting performances.
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.

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Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
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By Kathryn Wortley

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