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July 01, 2026
 

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John Gunning
Tsurugisho throws salt at a one-day sumo event at the Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jun 24, 2026
Remembering the wrestlers who rarely make the headlines
The quiet retirement of Tsurugisho is a reminder that sumo’s rank-and-file veterans deserve more recognition for the pain, sacrifice and resilience their careers demand.
<i>Yokozuna</i> Hoshoryu waves to reporters during a news conference at the Japanese Culture House of Paris on June 11.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jun 17, 2026
Cultural aspects dominate coverage as sumo enthralls Paris
Sumo’s trip to Paris offered a vivid reminder that the sport’s rituals and symbolism can resonate as strongly as the action in the ring.
Hoshoryu attends a Japan Sumo Association event in Tokyo in September 2025.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jun 10, 2026
Could Hoshoryu be the last Mongolian yokozuna?
Recent results suggest that a remarkable era of dominance may finally be starting to wind down.
Sumo wrestlers stand during the opening ceremony of The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 18.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jun 3, 2026
Paris sumo tournament should deepen existing ties and open up new frontiers
The upcoming Paris sumo exhibition is unlikely to match London’s hype, but it may do more to expand its reach in Europe.
Wakatakakage receives the Emperor&#039;s Cup from Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku on Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 27, 2026
Rare komusubi title win bodes well for Wakatakakage’s future
Wakatakakage is just the 11th man since 1931 to claim sumo’s most important prize while ranked at komusubi.
Kirishima (right) defeats Daieisho by <i>oshidashi</i> at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Saturday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
May 20, 2026
Injuries dampen excitement for wide-open Emperor’s Cup race
With 10 wrestlers still alive in the title race after day 10, the Summer Basho remains wide open — even as injuries threaten to overshadow everything else.
Kirishima (top) defeats Yoshinofuji by <i>tsukiotoshi</i> at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Monday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
May 13, 2026
Kirishima’s hot streak saves summer tournament from disastrous start
Three days into the Summer Basho, Kirishima is the clear favorite as injuries and poor form strip the tournament of many of sumo’s biggest stars.
Yokozuna Hoshoryu will be in the spotlight as the favorite during the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
SUMO
May 8, 2026
Path to glory opens for Hoshoryu after injuries to rivals Onosato and Aonishiki
Yokozuna Onosato and ozeki Aonishiki withdrew from the Summer Basho due to injuries.
Seagulls players celebrate after their win over the Panasonic Impulse during the 2026 X League season opener at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Football
May 7, 2026
Off-field challenges remain for the X League as on-field product improves
The opening day of the X League’s new era was an unqualified success — but will the buzz last?
Kirishima (then Kiribayama) in the Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020. Should Kirishima repeat March’s Emperor’s Cup-winning performance in the upcoming meet, he’ll immediately become one of the most successful <i>ōzeki</i> of all time.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
May 6, 2026
What should the expectations be for sumo’s current trio of ōzeki?
A recent promotion puts Kirishima at sumo’s second-highest rank, alongside Kotozakura and Aonishiki.
Kirishima points to his name in the <i>ōzeki</i> section of the newly released <i>banzuke</i> rankings at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Monday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Apr 29, 2026
Kirishima back at ōzeki in sumo’s latest banzuke rankings
The latest rankings also reflect a broader reshuffling as new contenders edge closer to the top.
Bill Christopher Li, now known as Honoikazuchi, at the All-Japan championships at the Kokugikan on Nov. 30
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Apr 22, 2026
Professional sumo awaits three potential new stars
The next generation is arriving fast, with three highly rated young wrestlers set to debut and potentially challenge the sport’s current leaders.
Chiyomaru during the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at the Kokugikan in Tokyo on May 9, 2016
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Apr 15, 2026
Chiyomaru’s next act shines light on sumo’s unsung roles
A new role as wakamonogashira may bring overdue attention to the little-known veterans who help keep sumo running.
Jonathon Templeton (second from right) with members of Sumo na hEireann
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Apr 8, 2026
Sumo creates unity on an island famed for division
In Ireland, an amateur sumo federation spanning north and south is navigating identity, politics and funding while building an inclusive sport from the ground up.
Eight retired wrestlers at the announcement of a new tournament for former <i>rikishi</i> in Tokyo on Monday
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Apr 1, 2026
Smiles, not stoicism, at new tournament for retired sumo stars
A new tournament for former sumo wrestlers promises a far more relaxed atmosphere than the sport usually allows.
Kirishima (left) receives the Emperor’s Cup from Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku at the Edion Arena in Osaka on Sunday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Mar 23, 2026
Kirishima’s Emperor’s Cup likely seals dramatic return to ōzeki
The Osaka championship could prove pivotal for Kirishima, restoring his place among sumo’s top ranks.
Yoshinofuji (left) defeats Aonishiki on March 9, the second day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, at Edion Arena in Osaka. 　
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Mar 18, 2026
Aonishiki’s busted yokozuna bid disappointing, but not concerning
For Aonishiki, the Osaka meet is likely to go down as just a stumbling block on his journey toward the sport’s highest rank.
Onosato displays a look of frustration after being defeated by Fujinokawa at the Edion Arena in Osaka on Tuesday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Mar 11, 2026
Onosato’s withdrawal evokes painful reminder of stablemaster’s fate
Sumo fans are wondering whether history might be repeating itself.
Aonishiki pictured at Ajigawa stable in Tokyo on Feb. 2
SUMO
Mar 6, 2026
March basho opens with Aonishiki on verge of historic promotion
With injured yokozuna, a possible Aonishiki promotion and a shifting hierarchy at the top, the spring basho in Osaka could reshape sumo’s balance of power.
Terunofuji pictured at Isegahama stable on Jan. 29, 2024
SUMO
Mar 5, 2026
Violence in sumo provokes anger but little surprise
Amid a wave of reproachful articles and reports, as well as emotionally charged fan responses online, few people appear to be surprised by the revelation from Isegahama stable.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay&#039;s Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team&#039;s loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Yen hits 40-year low against the dollar, breaking ¥162 level
Japan&#039;s currency broke ¥162 to the dollar on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Japan falls in gut-wrenching fashion as Brazil strikes late to win World Cup clash
Brazil&#039;s Gabriel Martinelli (right) shoots past Japan defenders Shogo Taniguchi (left) and Takehiro Tomiyasu to score in the second half of a match in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston on Monday.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
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