Michihiro Taguchi– Author –
Michihiro Taguchi is a sumo writer and ringside photographer. After years as an editor at Nikkei HR, part of one of Japan's leading business-media groups, he stepped away from the newsroom and gave himself over to the sport he loves — traveling to nearly every grand tournament in person, season after season. He is the writer behind Dohyo no Mokugekisha, currently the No.1-ranked sumo blog on Japan's largest blog network, and every photograph on The Sumo is an original image he shot at the venue himself.
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History
Tochinoshin’s Retirement Ceremony: A Georgian Ozeki’s Farewell
This was the retirement topknot-cutting ceremony of the former ozeki Tochinoshin, the Georgian-born wrestler, held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on February 4, 2024. Georgians filled the box seats draped in their national flag, and Tochinoshi... -
History
Kakuryu’s Retirement Ceremony: A Mongolian Yokozuna’s Farewell
The former yokozuna Kakuryu, born in Mongolia, held his retirement topknot-cutting ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on June 3, 2023, in heavy rain. The day closed one of the sport's highest careers, yet it left a question hanging over w... -
Basho
An Unexpected Finish: Kotozakura Wins His First Title
At the 2024 November (Kyushu) Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka, the ozeki Kotozakura won his first top-division championship at 14-1, when his co-leader Hoshoryu collapsed on a slipped grip in their final-day decider. Ozeki is the second... -
Basho
How Hoshoryu Won His First Title and Sealed Ozeki
On the final day of the 2023 July (Nagoya) Grand Sumo Tournament, the sekiwake Hoshoryu won his first top-division championship in a playoff over Hokutofuji. In the same instant, that victory clinched his promotion to ozeki. Sekiwake is ... -
History
Inside the Retirement Ceremony of Takakeisho
This was the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki (the second-highest rank, below only yokozuna) Takakeisho, held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in October 2025. His master made the final cut, and he stood to speak of never having reached y... -
Basho
Spirit Over Pain: Takerufuji Wins a Historic Debut Title
On an injured leg, in his very first top-division tournament, Takerufuji drove out Gonoyama on the final day to win the 2024 March Grand Sumo Tournament. It was the first debut-division championship — a title won in one's debut top-divis... -
Basho
The Fastest Ever: Onosato Wins His First Title in Seven Tournaments
At the 2024 May (Natsu) Grand Sumo Tournament, the new komusubi Onosato won his first top-division championship — and he did it in only his seventh tournament since turning professional, the fastest anyone has ever managed it. He sealed ... -
History
Inside the Retirement Ceremony of Yokozuna Terunofuji
This was the retirement ceremony of the former yokozuna Terunofuji, held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in early 2026. After his last dohyo-iri (ring-entering ceremony), his master made the final cut to the topknot, formally closing a career a... -
Basho
A Star Is Born: Aonishiki Wins His First Championship in Fukuoka
On the final day of the 2025 Kyushu tournament in Fukuoka, the 21-year-old Aonishiki won his first top-division championship — in only his fifth makuuchi tournament — by beating ozeki Kotozakura with an uchimuso and then defeating yokozu... -
History
The Onosato Streak: 17 Winning Tournaments and Counting
Since his professional debut, yokozuna Onosato has never once finished a tournament with a losing record. The January 2026 Hatsu basho stretched that run to 17 winning tournaments in a row — a streak that has survived every scare the spo...