'sumo' Tag
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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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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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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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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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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 […]
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Kakuryu
March 25, 2018Kakuryu always struck me as the underdog yokozuna — never have I heard him cited publicly as someone’s favorite rikishi — and yet he has now delivered championship wins to earn four Emperor’s Cups, more than many other more popular yokozuna. Of all the Mongolian-born sumo wrestlers, Kakuryu has also apparently mastered Japanese language the […]
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Harumafuji, you will be missed
November 29, 2017It’s a sad moment for sumo that one of the greatest yokozuna was forced into early retirement today. Perhaps this represents the only honourable conclusion to an unfortunate incident. Nonetheless, your agile style of sumo will be sorely missed, Harumafuji. Peace be with you.
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Hooray for Harumafuji
September 25, 2017This month’s aki basho sumo tournament in Tokyo looked as though it would be an underwhelming yawner in the early days. Three of the four grand champion yokozuna pulled themselves out due to injury, followed shortly thereafter by two of the three ozeki (Takayasu and Terunofuji). With yokozuna Harumafuji and ozeki has-been Goeido as the […]
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Respect to Hakuho
July 26, 2017Some readers noticed how I omitted writing about sumo over the last two tournaments and wondered if I had something against (consecutive victor) Hakuho. Not at all ! On the contrary, I admire Hakuho, the yokozuna who won the sumo championship in May and then again this week. I admit, Harumafuji is my preferred sumo […]
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Sumo in Osaka: Time for Spring Renewal
March 26, 2017Since I’ve started the habit of posting on sumo championship days, I figure why not keep the momentum. This Osaka basho was especially significant for a few reaons: First, it was Kisenato’s first tournament as a newly-minted grand champion Yokozuna. The first Japanese native Yokozuna in 19 years, “Kise” set out to prove to the […]
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Hatsu basho: Kisenosato finally breaks through
February 7, 2017It feels appropriate to bring the relief of closure to a topic that I’ve referenced in recent pieces: the fate of Japanese sumo rikishi Kisenosato. In Goeido’s perfect sumo tournament: when talent and consistency converge and Sumo in Kyushu: the lesson of killer instinct, I drew some broader lessons about the qualities of diligent work […]