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SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 8, 2013

Kyushu Basho 2013 – a tale of two newbies

In Japanese sporting circles, mention of the name Endo has, for the past few years, come with images of national soccer team and Gamba Osaka player Yasuhito Endo. All that is about to change.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Sep 9, 2012

Aki Basho 2012: Time for ozeki Harumafuji to step up his game

When the Aki-basho starts today, all eyes will be on one man, and this time it is not yokozuna grand champion Hakuho. Rather the focus of sumo fans throughout Japan and around the world will be on ozeki Harumafuji. Looking to secure a second consecutive championship victory and thereby guarantee his...
Japan Times
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jan 24, 2012

2012 kicks off with a bang for Baruto

Before the New Year's Grand Sumo Tournament, most fans would have predicted that Hakuho, the reigning yokozuna, would claim his third successive Emperor's Cup, and 22nd title overall.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 30, 2011

Kisenosato promoted to ozeki, Hakuho on 21

When the Kyushu Basho down in Fukuoka drew to a close on Nov. 27, much of the conversation was centered on sekiwake Kisenosato and whether or not he deserved his all-but-publicly announced imminent promotion to the rank of ozeki.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Aug 1, 2011

Kaio calls it quits, while Harumafuji secures a shot at yokozuna promotion

From Day 1 at the recent Nagoya Basho the vultures were circling. Some went after the admittedly pathetically low attendances on the first few days of the basho as a sign that all is not well with the public's perception of sumo in the wake of the yaocho bout-buying scandal. Two of the first three days...
Reader Mail
Feb 13, 2011

Match-rigging scandal overblown

Regarding Jack Gallagher's Feb. 9 column, "Shut sumo down for the rest of 2011, put its future in private hands": I was fortunate enough to be part of the English-language sumo broadcast team at NHK for almost nine years. It remains one of my treasured memories of Japan. Early on I was taught by someone...
JAPAN
May 27, 2010

Stable masters gave front-row seats to mob

NAGOYA (Kyodo) Two sumo stable masters face disciplinary action after they were found to have given senior underworld figures front-row tickets for a tournament last year.
EDITORIALS
Feb 6, 2010

End of the line for Asashoryu

Yokozuna Asashoryu retired Thursday in the wake of controversy after he allegedly attacked a man while drunk, causing injuries that included a broken nose.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 8, 2009

Nagoya the testing stage once more — just as in 2008

As the long hot summer descends on Japan, and the people of Nagoya prepare for the annual visit of the Japanese Sumo Association, this year's basho, like that held last year, looks like being make-or-break basho for at least one rikishi in terms of reaching a career high.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Oct 17, 2008

Why is ousted Wakanoho dishing the dirt now?

In recent weeks, sumo has been taking hits left, right and center.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 28, 2007

Hakuho notches another as the ozeki raise eyebrows

This year's Kyushu Basho, which ended Sunday, saw Hakuho stride through the muck and grime to claim the fifth title of his career with a 12-win, 3-loss record. When push came to shove, his class shined through. Hakuho, who is looking more and more like the second coming of the great yokozuna Futabayama,...
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Nov 6, 2007

Game over for Kaio and Chiyotaikai?

As the Kyushu Basho, running Nov. 11-25, rumbles around once again, so does the regular talk of ozeki retirement.

Longform

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