Inside Sport Japan

Former ozeki Asahikuni, also a trailblazing stablemaster, dies at age 77 - The Japan Times

Foreign wrestlers add international flair to All Japan Women’s Sumo Championships

Practically it would almost certainly include those jump-or-get-pushed 'voluntary' retirements.

Eligibility of former ozumo rikishi (professional sumo wresters) to participate in IFS sanctioned amateur sumo events: Tier 1 (Makuuchi) experience Tier 2 (Juryo) experience (6 months after retirement) Tiers 3 & 4 (Makushita / Sandanme) (3 months after retirement) Tiers 5 (Jonidan) and below (1 month after retirement) Rikishi of any level dismissed from the JSA

Akebono's human side eclipsed his incredible sumo achievements - The Japan Times

They already tried that The first rijicho (96 years ago) was a general in the army with no sumo background.

From an old issue of Sumo World magazine. John Jacques also commented on his passing on Facebook with photos. LINK HERE

The International Sumo Federation has issued the statement below to its members regarding a recent event held in the United States. A similar promotion run by many of the same people two decades ago resulted in multiple year (or lifetime) bans from IFS events for certain wrestlers and officials. NOTICE:The event unrelated to IFS held in US Regarding ‘the World Championship Sumo’ held in the USA this month, this was NOT related to the IFS at all, as it was organized by a different organization. We have requested them to change the name of this competition, as it is confusing and misleading to the Sumo World Championships, which we officially organize. The IFS is not involved in this competition and does not know all the details of how it is run. We do not ban IFS members to participate in this event at the moment, but we are not pleased about this competition being held under a confusing name. We would like IFS members to perform to the best of their strength at our official event, the Sumo World Championships. Look forward to seeing you at SWC 2024 in Poland in September. With best regards, International Sumo Federation

All-time great Hakuho hopes to help girls realize their sumo dreams - The Japan Times

Hiro, Murray, and John review 2023 in sumo, and have some wild ideas about how the banzuke will look next year. Full NHK World video at this link:

Stablemaster Shikoroyama's lasting sumo legacy

With there being next to no money in international amateur sumo and athletes having to crowdfund to get to tournaments, a meet in Saudi Arabia, just a couple of weeks after the World Championships in Tokyo, was always likely to struggle for numbers. This is just the third edition of the World Combat Games - and the first in a decade - meaning it lacks the cachet of the World Games (which has replaced the SWC on occasion). Although with sumo now out of the latter the WCG may take on greater importance for that sport.

‘Sumo's Olympic dream requires fresh approach’ - Japan Times