For sports journalists based in Japan's capital, no reminders are needed to know the last of the three annual non-Tokyo tournaments is just around the corner.
The decamping of the Japan Sumo Association to Fukuoka and its surroundings is lock, stock and barrel, meaning that if you want to watch training or talk face to face with a rikishi, you'll need to fly to Kyushu from the middle of October onward.
The wrestlers' absence has been particularly noticeable this year as there has been a flood of inquires from rugby players and journalists about watching sumo live, especially after teams have been eliminated and those involved finally have some free time.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.