Michihiro Taguchi– Author –
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Heya: Life Inside a Sumo Stable
A heya (sumo stable) is the training house where wrestlers live, train, eat and sleep together under the authority of a stablemaster. It is part dormitory, part dojo, part family. Every wrestler in professional grand sumo belongs to one,... -
Kimarite: The Winning Techniques of Sumo, Explained
A kimarite is the officially named technique or decision by which a sumo bout is won. Each result is announced as one of the recognized kimarite, from a straightforward push-out to an intricate throw or a trip. The Japan Sumo Association... -
The Mawashi: Sumo’s Belt and the Rules Around It
The mawashi is the thick, heavy belt a sumo wrestler wears in the ring, and it is far more than clothing. Wound tightly around the waist and between the legs, it is the only thing a wrestler wears in competition, and it doubles as the si... -
Honbasho: Sumo’s Six Grand Tournaments
A honbasho is an official grand sumo tournament, the only kind that counts toward a wrestler's ranking. Six are held each year, one in every odd-numbered month — January, March, May, July, September, and November. Each runs fifteen days,... -
Toshiyori Kabu: How Wrestlers Become Sumo Stablemasters
In sumo, toshiyori-kabu — often called "elder stock" — is the share that lets a retired wrestler stay inside the sport as an oyakata, a coach and elder of the Japan Sumo Association. Each share is tied to one of a fixed set of traditiona... -
Ozeki: The Second-Highest Rank in Sumo Explained
In sumo, an ozeki is the second-highest rank a wrestler can reach, sitting directly below the grand champion, or yokozuna. Reaching it is a career landmark: promotion is customarily granted to a wrestler who wins around 33 bouts across t... -
Sumo Ichimon: The Stable Families That Run Sumo
Sumo Ichimon: The Stable Families That Run Sumo Sumo Ichimon: The Stable Families That Run Sumo An ichimon is a family-style grouping of sumo stables (heya, also pronounced -beya in compounds) that trace back to a shared root. Each wrest... -
Zensho Yusho: The Perfect 15-0 Championships in Sumo
Zensho Yusho: Sumo's Perfect 15-0 Championships Zensho Yusho: Sumo's Perfect 15-0 Championships A zensho yusho is a championship won without a single loss. In today's 15-day format that means a flawless 15-0; in earlier eras, when tourna... -
2026 Natsu Basho (May Tournament): Results and Story
2026 Natsu Basho Results: Wakatakakage Wins His Second Title in a Playoff at the May Tournament At the 2026 Natsu Basho, the May tournament held in Tokyo, komusubi Wakatakakage took the Emperor's Cup for the second time in his career. He... -
Asanoyama: The Rise and Fall and Rise of an Ozeki
In sumo, Asanoyama is a rikishi who has just been promoted to ozeki, the second-highest rank. His promotion was formally decided at the rankings-editing meeting and an extraordinary board meeting of the Japan Sumo Association. He fights ...
