'sumo' Category
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A testimony of tenacity
March 24, 2024Takerufuji toppled fellow rank-and-file wrestler Gonoyama today to win the Emperor’s Cup at the Osaka sumo basho. The 24-year-old from Aomori Prefecture became the first rikishi in over 100 years to win his first tournament upon promotion to the elite makuuchi division. Congratulations Takerufuji, and thank you for demonstrating that anything is possible.
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2022 Kyushu Basho: Amazing Abi
November 27, 2022 -
Tamawashi takes the tourney
September 25, 2022Congratulations to Tamawashi for securing your second Emperor’s Cup at the 秋場所 Autumn Sumo Tournament today ! At nearly 38 years old, this veteran rikishi must be one of the oldest to win a top division championship. Deep bow sir !
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Today I learned something about respect
September 9, 2022Maximum respect to Konishiki. Let me say that again. Maximum respect to Konishiki. Today my universes of sumo and venture capital collided. I was blessed with the opportunity to meet one of my childhood heroes. Innovator, ground-breaker, ceiling-shatterer, former sumo ōzeki, Konishiki introduced his new master course on Narō. Todd and Mariko at Narō graciously […]
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Greatest of all time
September 29, 2021It would be difficult to dispute that Hakuho has not reached the pinnacle of performance of all rikishi in the sport. Respect to you, Hakuho, for your dominance and poetry in the sport of sumo, and all the best in retirement.
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Sumo: Hakuho wins 44th
March 22, 2020There was something reassuring today about seeing sumo’s two yokozuna grand champions battle in the dohyo on day 15 for the Emperor’s Cup. Before the empty seats in the Osaka arena broke the nostalgia, it felt for a minute like we were back in the old normal before this new normal became normal. Hakuho wins […]
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Kibishii sumo
November 24, 2019What else is there left to say ? 厳しい sumo is the term some of the experts have used to describe Hakuho’s style, meaning strict or fierce sumo. Yokozuna Hakuho has won a record-setting 43 championships and boasts 1146 career match wins. Indisputably the best sumo rikishi in memory.
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Sumo natsu 2019: new faces and old controversy
May 27, 2019The 2019 natsu basho sumo tournament ending yesterday showcased some new faces, resuscitated some old champs, and generated a bit of controversy. Relatively far down in the banzuke standings at Maegashira #8, 25 year-old Asanoyama from the Takasago beya won the yusho Emperor’s Cup yesterday. This represents the first time a “rank-and-filer” as they’re known […]
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Hero of the Heisei
March 24, 2019Words cannot describe the heroics of yokozuna Hakuho, so I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves.
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Tamawashi on top
January 28, 2019Yesterday, sumo’s hatsu basho championship ended in Tokyo, with sekiwake Tamawashi winning the Emperor’s Cup. The lane to victory opened up when all three grand champion rikishi, one by one, pulled out of the tournament. First, Kisenosato retired. Then it was yokozuna Kakuryu’s turn to retreat due to injury. Finally, tournament leader and arguably most […]
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Kisenosato’s hospital pass
January 17, 2019Just this morning the term hospital pass came up in a conversation, a reference to the football pass that subjects the recipient to heavy contact and consequently a ticket to the hospital (the context was what Theresa May received from David Cameron, but that’s another topic…). Different sport, but the metaphor feels apt in the […]
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Sumo 2018: Year of the next generation
November 26, 2018When Mitakeumi won the Nagoya sumo tournament this past July, I suggested it heralded the next generation of sumo rikishi. Further evidence of this generational transition presented itself yesterday when 22-year-old Takakeisho from Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture secured the Kyushu yusho with a 13-2 record. I had the honor of observing Takakeisho up close back in […]