Michihiro Taguchi– Author –
-
Maegashira: The Rank-and-File of Sumo’s Top Division Explained
In sumo, the maegashira are the rank-and-file of the top division, makuuchi — every wrestler in the division who does not hold one of the titled ranks of yokozuna, ozeki, sekiwake or komusubi. They are listed by number, from Maegashira 1... -
Sekiwake and Komusubi: The Junior Sanyaku Ranks in Sumo Explained
In sumo, sekiwake and komusubi are the two junior titled ranks of the top division, sitting directly below ozeki and above the rank-and-file maegashira. Of the two, sekiwake is the higher: the order from the top runs yokozuna, ozeki, sek... -
Asakusa and Ryogoku: A One-Day Plan for Old Tokyo and Sumo
Tokyo's east side, where the Sumida River curves through the old downtown, lets you fold two very different sides of the city into a single day: the temple-town atmosphere of Asakusa and the sumo world of Ryogoku, the sumo town. Think of... -
Ryogoku: A Visitor’s Guide to Tokyo’s Sumo Town
Ryogoku is the Tokyo district where sumo lives. On the old-Tokyo east side near the Sumida River, it is the neighbourhood built around the national sumo arena, the stables where wrestlers train, and the hot-pot that feeds them. If you ar... -
How to Get Sumo Tickets and What a Tournament Day Looks Like
Watching sumo live in Japan is easier to plan than many first-time visitors expect, once you know the calendar, the seat types, and where to buy. This is a practical planning guide for anyone hoping to sit in the hall for a grand tournam... -
Sumo Etiquette: What to Know Before Watching Live at the Kokugikan
Watching sumo live at the Ryogoku Kokugikan is welcoming and easy for a first-timer, but a handful of customs keep the hall running smoothly. Move to and from your seat only between bouts, stay quiet and still while a bout is underway, a... -
Myogiryu’s Retirement Ceremony: A Last Bout With His Sons
The former Myogiryu held his retirement topknot-cutting ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 5, 2025, marking his succession to the Furiwake elder name. It fell the day after the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho... -
Ichinojo’s First Championship at the 2022 Nagoya Tournament
On the final day of the 2022 July (Nagoya) Grand Sumo tournament, Ichinojo won his first top-division championship. No playoff settled it. Ichinojo had finished his work at 12-3, and the title was sealed when the yokozuna Terunofuji lost... -
Okinoumi’s Retirement Ceremony: An Oki-Island Farewell
The former Okinoumi held his retirement ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on September 30, 2023, an event whose formal title marked both his retirement and his succession to the Kimigahama elder name. The afternoon's rarest moment came w... -
Kaisei’s Retirement Ceremony: The Brazilian Who Reached Sekiwake
On October 1, 2023, the former sekiwake Kaisei held his retirement topknot-cutting ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Brazilian-born, Kaisei rose to sekiwake — the third-highest rank in sumo — and went further than any Brazilian wrestler...
