The Japan TimesMar 25
Kirishima will regain his ōzeki status, the sport's second-highest rank, after capturing his third championship in the March grand tournament that ended Sunday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/03/25/sumo/kirishima-ozeki-promotion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #kirishima #marchgrandsumotournament #japansumoassociation
Kirishima clinches return to <i>ōzeki</i> rank

Hampered by a neck injury, Kirishima was demoted after competing in the ōzeki rank for six tournaments from the July tournament in 2023.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 23
Kirishima's Osaka championship could prove pivotal, turning a strong run of results into a likely ōzeki return and restoring his place among sumo's top ranks. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/03/23/sumo/gunning-kirishima-osaka-ozeki/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #kirishima #springgrandsumotournament #japansumoassociation
Kirishima’s Emperor’s Cup likely seals dramatic return to <i>ōzeki</i>

The Osaka championship could prove pivotal for Kirishima, restoring his place among sumo's top ranks.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesMar 5
Why is there always so little surprise, but inevitably so much anger, when violence scandals break out in sumo? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/03/05/sumo/violence-in-sumo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #terunofuji #japansumoassociation #hakunofuji
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.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesJan 7
What’s in store for sumo in 2026? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/01/07/sumo/sumo-2026-preview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #newyeargrandsumotournament #japansumoassociation #onosato #aonishiki #hoshoryu
What’s in store for Japan’s national sport in 2026?

All that remains is Saturday’s ring purification ceremony before the battle to see who will be first to lift the Emperor’s Cup in 2026.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesDec 30
If the Japan Sumo Association issued yearly awards, who would emerge victorious and in what categories? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/12/30/sumo/sumo-awards-2025/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #onosato #aonishiki #ura #asanoyama #ajikawabeya #japansumoassociation
The Japan TimesDec 17
Another sumo stable's foray with YouTube shows that the way fans are engaging with the sport is continuing to evolve, even if the competition in the “dohyō” remains the same. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/12/17/sumo/otake-stable-youtube-channel/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #japansumoassociation #otakebeya #streaming #youtube #internet #television #sumo
YouTube proves vital for sumo in era of changing accessibility

At a time when first-person access to “genuine” sumo is increasingly difficult to find, many stables are looking to fill the gap with online platforms.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesNov 11
Now that Japan has its first female prime minister, the question hangs in the air: If Sanae Takaichi can stand at the center of power, why not in the center of the ring? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/11/sumo/takaichi-sumo-ring/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #sanaetakaichi #japansumoassociation #sumo
As Japan’s female leader rises, can she cross sumo’s sacred line?

Professional sumo’s ring remains off-limits to women and girls — not by law, but by centuries of belief and tradition.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesOct 22
With the Japan Sumo Association’s first trip to London’s in 34 years being far more successful than almost anyone could have expected, the possibility of a return visit has already been raised. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/22/sumo/sumo-albert-hall-london/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #london #japansumoassociation #uk #ukjapanrelations #sumo
London exhibition perhaps sumo's most successful trip abroad

Over the course of the tournament, sumo received wall-to-wall coverage in mainstream British media.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesOct 15
Sumo – a sport based on collisions – is set to have one of its most impactful ever weeks on the western consciousness as a showcase event gets underway at the Royal Albert Hall in London. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/15/sumo/gunning-sumo-london-tournament/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #london #japansumoassociation
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen

The British capital is playing host to the Japan Sumo Association’s first European exhibition in over three decades.

The Japan Times
The Japan TimesOct 8, 2025
Rarely seen traditions and plenty of light-hearted moments were on the menu for the Japan Sumo Association's well-received 100th anniversary event. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/10/08/sumo/jsa-celebrates-100-years/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #sumo #japansumoassociation #hoshoryu #onosato
Japan Sumo Association’s 100th anniversary bash mixes the ancient with the modern

A multitude of historical ceremonies and arcane aspects of the sport, each one rarely performed, were all on display over the space of a few hours at Tokyo’s Kokugikan.

The Japan Times