On the morning of March 25, sumo favorite, Enho, clutched his smartphone to which he had been glued, tapping and scrolling the JSA's official site for its announcment of wrestlers promoted to the Juryo. Just before 10 a.m. two characters--En-ho--appeared at the very bottom of three names. ...

It's just like Little League. Remember the goody bags they give out to pee-wee athletes after the game is over? Everyone is excited to get them, but disappointed in the actual contents. ...

April 24, Saitama City, Tokyo. What a difference an ozeki rank can do. Haru yusho champ and re-installed ozeki, Kirishima, was celebrated throughout sumodom on his 30th birthday. Being that the jungyo was held near his Tokyo home, he brought his eight-month-old son whom he held high over his ...

April 24, Saitama City Jungyo. To celebrate Ozeki Kirishima's 30th birthday, Yokozuna Hoshoryu called in an agreement between them to wrestle before the summer honbasho. After splitting eight rounds evenly, Hoshoryu (26) felt sufficiently primed for his second ozeki of the day, Saitama Sakai alum...

April 23. Fuchu City, Tokyo. From his determined and multitudinous bouts in jungyo, Ura is ramping up his sumo and looking sharp while at it. After turning in 27 matches at the Tokyo Budokan, he punched out 18 rounds today, defeating Komusubi Atamifuji not just by power but with a deft shoulder...

Younger brother of Kotoshoho (Haru '26 Jun-Yusho winner and Nagoya '25 yusho champ)--KOTOEIHO-- has turned the corner by turning in his first winning top division score of 9-6 in Haru. "I feel more confident, and relieved, with that off my back," he admits. "I can now focus more intently...

April 21 and 22 Jungyo. It's considered an honor and certainly a rite of passage for a Makuuchi newbie to be called out for butsugari-geiko (collision training) by the Yokozuna or Ozeki, but it almost always seems brutal to me. Yokozuna Hoshoryu and Haru's Juryo champion, Wakanosho. (1/3)

April 21. Suffering double-digit losses in two consecutive tournaments (Jan and March) jolted URA who never imagined he'd hit such a low--not yet, not at 33, not at the height of his popularity, not when he still loves sumo so. Therefore, today, at the Tokyo Budokan Jungyo, sumo's fan-favorite...

In recognition for sumo's successful October 2025 London tour, Chairman Hakkaku has been selected to receive the Freedom of the City of London award at London's Guild Hall on April 24. Given each year to 2,000 individuals for contributions to public life, business, or arts--previous awardees ...

Former Komusubi Kakizoe (Ikazuchi Oyakata) whose furrowed brows seem permanently knitted together, actually unfurled his eyebrows and mustered a smile as his son officially joined sumo as Ikazuchi Beya's newest deshi. Haruku Kakizoe is another sumo "thoroughbred" thanks to his Komusubi dad...

It was a triumph for local boy WAKANOSHO--the March Juryo Division Champion--who's been invited to participate in the regional tournaments and on April 19th, in his hometown of Utsunomiya. Almost certain to be promoted to the premier division in May, he will be his prefecture's first Makuuchi ...

Because you're a Japanophile, you'll be lifted, moved and re-inspired by Japan's cultures and practices--while and after watching this wonderful short film (24 mins) "Itadakimasu." And, don't click off before the end credits! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nglb...

Not to overly focus on Fujiseiun, but on his 2nd day back from nasal surgery, he was selected by Ozeki Kirishima for 12 rounds, finishing w a score of 4 wins, 8 losses. Midway in the sanban-geiko, his nose began to bleed. Time out was called to stuff tissue in his nostril--and the games went on.

Fujiseiun who, after three-weeks post-op rest, has returned to active status after having nasal surgery to correct a badly deviated septum that, for more than a year, had him struggling just to take a breath. At the April 17 Jungyo , the Haru '26 Makunouchi debuntant, was chosen by ...

Haru's Kanto-Sho (fighting spirit prize) winner, Fujiseiun, is returning to the Jungyo after undergoing surgery to correct a deviated septum that affected his air flow and breathing, and which caused headaches, chronic congestion and sleep issues. "What puzzles me is that the official cause is ...

It's his shoulder again. Onosato has withdrawn from the Jungyo tour citing pain in his left shoulder that was dislocated in match vs Aonishiki in November 2025. The cancellation of a yokozuna is immensely disappointing to avid regional fans as it is to sumo's new tour director, Takadagawa, ...

In an especially candid interview with Gendai Media, the always controversial 65th Yokozuna Takanohana says a lot--so much so, this post consists of several pages. "The Great Yokozuna of the Heisei Era" begins by explaining sumo's growing popularity. Simply put, "There are lately more ...

230 boxers including 20 Olympians and several current World Boxing Champions are competing in the World Amateur Boxing Championship, March 28 to April 11, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. At the championships and photo-ed here are Gennady Golovkin, considered to be, pound-for-pound, one of the...

After the shuttering of Itsuzu Beya (2021), Kakuryu was reassigned to Michinoku, bringing with him his technical expertise. Although it is widely recognized that Kirishima benefited most from the yokozuna's tutelage, Kakuryu has always asserted that he coaches and advises every rikishi, but ...

The JSA has decided on a slap on the wrist to Terunofuji for for his assault with a deadly weapon (sake bottle) to the head of Hakunofuji. Wait, it gets even better: The JSA knows magic! According to its official report, Teru struck Hakunofuji with his fist. The bottle has all but vanished.

It's been pretty still in the sumo world--so much so that news of 11-year-sekitori Hidenoumi's retirement has all but commanded the news cycle. His career consists of 13 tournaments in Makuuchi and 53 in Juryo, but his biggest claim to fame is being older brother to the alluring Tobizaru who...

It's Easter Sunday for many of us, but just another day on the Jungyo (today, Nagano) for our Makunouchi wrestlers. "Accommodations for our top tier wrestlers are far from luxurious or even standard, beginning with a bus ride just to get showered after a Jungyo workout and appearance," wrote ...

You know you've made it when there's a box lunch styled and named after you--as returning Ozeki Kirishima is so honored. At tournaments held at Ryogoku Kokugikan, “Rikishi Bento” which are supervised by active Yokozuna and Ozeki are sold; however, since Kirishima was demoted at the ...

Ozeki Aonishiki's injury is confirmed as "a fracture of the base of the fifth toe on his left foot.” Pursuing a promotion to Yokozuna after his first championship as Ozeki, Aonishiki finished the spring tournament with a disappointing 7-8 record--his first losing tournament since entering sumo.

A staggering nine injury-related absences have hit the April Jungyo resulting with the popular Wakatakakage being sidelined with Ozeki Aonishiki whose exact injury has not yet been determined ... or made public. The youngest Onami brother is suffering an injury to his right triceps brachii...

March 31, Kobe. Ozeki Aonishiki has pulled out of the Jungyo and has returned to Tokyo for medical treatment on what is speculated as a fracture in his foot. The tour kicked off on the 29th for a long haul of nearly a month, concluding on April 26 in Iruma City, Saitama. "Depending on how...

In an effort to support ex-Ozeki Tochinoshin's recently opened (February) Tokyo restaurant "Georgian House" Hakuho reserved two tables for a large group of business associates when Tochi turned the tables on Hak by surprising him with a customized Yokozuna cake & singing "Happy birthday to youuuu."

This should be fun--and maybe dangerous if our veteran rikishi don't seriously train and get into shape: The Retired Rikishi Sumo Tournament --featuring older favorites (and a couple of titans) First row left to right-- Hidenoumi, Gagamaru, Toyonoshima, Shohozan Back left to right-- Daikiho, ...

The celebrity guest on NHK's Sunday March 29th noontime show "Nariyuji Kaido"which highlights specific Tokyo neighborhoods is TOBIZARU. They're in Ryokogu today touring the sumo museum, lunching on Japan's ketchup-based Neopolitan (big in the '50-'60s), and sampling freshly brewed craft beer. ...

There's no crying in sumo and no rest for its weary as the Jungyo begins (already) this Sunday, March 29 at the Ise Shrine Honozumo in Mie Prefecture. Yokozuna Onosato is on board after withdrawing on Day 4 of Haru due to pain in his not fully healed dislocated left shoulder.

The Terunofuji-friendly JSA announced today, March 26, of yet another Extraordinary Board Meeting--this time to discuss the 'extraordinarily' brutal asault by Terunofuji upon his disciple Hakunofuji. The meeting is now postponed to April 9. It goes without saying that, because the beating was ...

I'm still not sure why Kirishima opted for mawashi-only as his attire in his championship parade. He even commented being "cold" riding in the open-touring convertible on a drizzling, 55-degree F evening. All his Tokitsukaze Ichimon brothers changed into their montsuki haori and ... (1/2)

It's official. Kirishima has been re-instated to Ozeki. On senshuraku, Chief Shimpan Takadagawa requested an Extraordinary Board Meeting to consider Kirishima's re-promotion to Ozeki which all but guaranteed his return to sumo's second highest rank as there has never been a case ...

Sunday March 22. I'm reposting verbatim Moti Dichne's (Kintamayama) newletter regarding Chairman Hakkaku's distain for and disappointment in Yokozuna Hoshoryu's sumo: Chairman Hakkaku has criticized Houshouryuu, who has yet to win a yusho since being promoted to Yokozuna at last year's Haru Basho.

Leaving home each morning for the heya, Kirishima's five-year-old daughter would say to him, "Papa, win the yusho." Adding to his love for the apple of his eye-- and pressure on him--she practiced for a year the "Banzai" she struggled with two year earlier for his second Yusho in Kyushu 2023.

Ozeki Kirishima Kazuhiro with his family. Nicknamed, "Hercules" and the "Alain Delon of Sumo" he struggled to gain weight and enlisted the help of his then girlfriend and future wife Naoko to build strength and be less likely pushed out by yorikiri.

Acknowleging that momentum for Kirishima's repromotion to Ozeki is intensifying, Chief Shimpan Takadagawa (formerly Sekiwake Akinoshima), who oversees rikishi promotions, announced he will hold an emergency meeting on senshuraku to discuss the issue. Kirishima has recorded 11, 11, and 12 wins ...

On the 14th day of the "areru" Spring Honbasho, Sekiwake Kirishima suffered his second loss to Ozeki Aonishiki, while both Yokozuna Hoshoryu and M5 Kotoshoho (who were trailing him by two losses) also lost. This marks the first time since the six-tournament per year system began in 1958 that ...

Haru, Day 14. The fickle Haru Basho pulled a number on Hoshoryu whose long-cherished first Yusho as Yokozuna was viable. All he had to do was defeat Kotozakura who on this day, for some mysterious reason could, do no wrong. At the very moment of Hoshoryu's loss, Kirishima's Yusho was decided. END

YASUNORI OMORI, runner up in last year's All Japan Championships Sumo Division, (left) has joined Oitekaze Beya where he will be coached by Kitajin Oyakata (the former ENDO) who, in his day, was considered strikingly handsome. Also at Oitekaze is RYUSHO whose pic (right) I posted earlier this week.

Haru, Day 12. Sekiwake Kirishima's victory over Yokozuna Hoshoryu was not just about closing in on his third Yusho, it was the clincher for his repromotion to Ozeki. In their contest, both Kirishima and Hoshoryu displayed power and intensity before the Gyoji could complete his cry of Hakkeyoi! ...

In a major showdown, Yokozuna Hoshoryu faces off with Sekiwake Kirishima on Day 12 in what may be the most electrifying bout of the tournament. In his dressing room after his Day 11 victory over Sekiwake Takayasu, the buzz was all about the Yokozuna's Day 12 opponent. ...

Haru, Day 11. Over 100 alumni from Kansai University filled the cheap seats in the second floor stands of the Osaka Edion Arena to cheer Ozeki Aonishiki who lost for his second time to Kotoshoho. Despite this being his sixth loss of the tournament, the alumni unfurled their cheering towels ...

How about a little cheesecake today? This is Ms 15 RYUSHO who belongs to the erstwhile powerhouse Oitekaze Beya. The Nihon University grad stands 6'1" and weighs 265 lbs, has a strong back (he's thrown the utchari in tournament play) & with those l-o-n-g arms, is the envy of all Japanese rikishi.

Hoshoryu tells Hochi Sports of being confident and pleased with both his sumo and his state of mind as he marches on to his first championship as Yokozuna, an aspiration he's held since he was first promoted seven tournaments ago. Adding to his confidence was his spectacular Day 10 win...

Hello Beautiful to Wakamotoharu AND his last ditch rescue from being shoved out of the ring--his brilliant Utchari. Despite the crowd’s cheers over his spectacular kimarite, Wakamotoharu--who insists on using his signature left-handed grip--wore a stern expression in the dressing room. ...

In the battle of the Sekiwake, ozumo's most experienced fighter, TAKAYASU, faced off with the sport's finest wrestler, KIRISHIMA, in a one minute and 22 second display of power, strategy and endurance with Kirishima the ultimate winner. Today, Day 9-- the first day of the deciding week of...

Tall, swarthy and handsome Ozeki Wakashimazu has died at age 69. Nicknamed "Nankai no Kurohyo" Black Panther of the South Sea by fans who admired his lean dark looks and crafty fighting skills, he was a particularly tough man to throw down--at least, this was my impression in viewing his matches.

I'm not sure how he's going to do this, but Abi, out with a broken third lumbar of his vertebrae, is returning on Day 9 --scheduled to wrestle the crafty and hardy Churanoumi. Abi submitted a medical report on March 10 stating at least one week's rest, but who cares about doctor's orders anyway?

After suffering his third loss by Day 9 of Hatsu 2025, Hoshoryu's master, Tatsunami, advised him to "Relax and have fun with your sumo! You're over analyzing and taking it too seriously," which turned out to be golden guidance for Golden Boy who lost no more and claimed the Yusho. ...