The Sumo is the English-language home of one of Japan’s most-read sumo publications. It is the sister site of Dohyo no Mokugekisha (“Witness of the Ring”), which is ranked No.1 in the sumo category on Blogmura, Japan’s largest blog-ranking network. Every article is grounded in firsthand observation, and every photograph is shot ringside by the writer himself.
What The Sumo is
The Sumo brings deep, English-language coverage of grand sumo to international fans: profiles of the rikishi, clear explanations of the ranks and rules, and practical guides to watching live. Where most English sumo coverage stops at the headlines, we go into the careers, the records, and the human stories behind the wrestlers — drawn from years of firsthand reporting at the venue.
The writer: Michihiro Taguchi
The Sumo is written by Michihiro Taguchi. After a long career at Nikkei, one of Japan’s leading business-media groups, he retired at the age of 55 and turned to sumo writing as the passion of his later years. He travels to nearly every grand tournament in person, camera in hand, and over the years has built one of Japan’s most-followed sumo blogs — currently ranked No.1 in its category on Blogmura.
This is not commentary from a distance. It is the work of someone who is there, inside the arena, basho after basho — watching, photographing, and writing down what he sees with his own eyes.
Original ringside photography
Every photograph on this site is an original image, taken by Taguchi himself at the venue — never stock pictures or wire photos. The images are proof that the words come from someone who was actually there, and they are the heart of what sets The Sumo apart from other English-language sumo coverage.
Our editorial standards
Accuracy first. Facts come from firsthand coverage and official sources. We never invent statistics, records, or quotes.
Original photography. All images are shot ringside by the writer, and their copyright belongs to him.
No fabrication. We do not stage fake first-person stunts or pad articles with invented detail. If we cannot confirm something, we leave it out.