Latest news with #JapanSumoAssociation
Yomiuri Shimbun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Yokozuna Hoshoryu Pulls out of Nagoya Tournament; Tourney Was 1st Time in 5 Yrs to Feature 2 Yokozuna
The first sumo tournament featuring two yokozuna in five years lost one of its featured wrestlers after just five days. Yokozuna Hoshoryu submitted his notice of withdrawal from the ongoing Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament to the Japan Sumo Association on Thursday, a day after suffering a third consecutive loss through the first four days. It marks the second time Hoshoryu has pulled out midway through a tournament in three tourneys since earning promotion to the sport's highest rank. His fifth-day opponent in Nagoya, No. 2 maegashira Oho, earned a victory by default. His three losses were all to maegashira-ranked wrestlers, giving each a 'kinboshi,' a special award for a victory over a yokozuna. The promotion of Onosato for this tournament put two yokozuna on the ranking list for the first time since the Nagoya tourney in July 2020, which was actually held in Tokyo amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
JSA's 100th anniversary event is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for sumo fans
With several stunning upsets in the first few days of what has so far been an utterly captivating Nagoya Basho, it's not surprising that another significant bit of news mostly slipped under the radar. On Monday, the Japan Sumo Association announced details of a special event to be held in October to mark the organization's centenary. Dubbed the 'Centennial Tournament — Ancient and Modern Sumo' the event, which takes place at Tokyo's Kokugikan, will feature a number of rarely seen ceremonies. Included in the program will be a performance of sandangamae by Hoshoryu and Onosato. Seen only on special or auspicious occasions, sandangamae is a set of three movements performed by a pair of yokozuna. Most recently it was part of the JSA's 'Ozumo 2020' events held in the run up to the Tokyo Olympics. In 2016, it was Kakuryu and Harumafuji in the spotlight in front of an invited audience at Kokugikan, and in 2017, Kisenosato and Hakuho performed sandangamae at the same venue. Harumafuji was also part of another rarely seen sumo performance during the second of those Olympic-related events. A topknot tying demonstration during the a special JSA event in 2016. | John Gunning In a special kind of bout called goningakari, the yokozuna took on five opponents in quick succession. Though ostensibly a demonstration of the power of men at sumo's highest rank, each individual contest was more performative than a real fight. Rarest of all at the centenary celebration will be a reenactment of sumo from the Heian Period (794 to 1185) with those involved wearing the attire from that era. It's been three decades since ancient sumo was last performed at a JSA event, and the fact that all of these rarely seen events will take place on the same day makes October's event a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for sumo fans. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Aug. 23, but given recent history, it's almost certain that the event will be virtually sold-out beforehand in special presales offered to members of the JSA's official fan club. Applications for fan club members begin on Aug. 12, with successful applicants being informed on Aug. 21. In addition to the three rarely seen ceremonies, fans lucky enough to procure seats will get to experience a four-hour program that includes drumming, children's sumo, dance and several other elements. The special tournament will be the first time the JSA has held an event marking an anniversary in two decades. The previous occasion celebrating the 80th anniversary in 2005 had numerous opportunities to interact with top wrestlers in a variety of settings. Included on the day, and rarely seen by the general public, was a demonstration of how the platform supporting the clay ring is lowered into an underground chamber when Kokugikan is being used for non-sumo events. Although it has been some time since the JSA held an anniversary event, sumo's governing body did hold a fan festival in 2022. Interaction was the focus during that two-day event with fans able to engage in a number of fun activities with their favorite wrestlers in various locations around Kokugikan. Highlights included the opportunity to take on legendary former yokozuna Hakuho at chess, Tobizaru and Enho at table tennis, or Tamawashi and Ichinojo in a pushing game. Visitors could also sit with a wrestler in the open-top car used during championship parades or have their caricature drawn by sumo elders. Former wrestlers in the food business pitched up in special food vans to sell their wares, while Kabutoyama elder (the father of current top-division rookie Fujinokawa) led 400 festival attendees and rikishi in synchronized shiko (sumo leg raises) that earned a Guinness World Record. The 100th anniversary event will have a different focus, and won't be nearly as interactive, but the opportunity to see so many unique and rarely performed sumo ceremonies on the same day makes it a must for any sumo aficionado. Yokozuna pair Kisenosato (left) and Hakuho perform the rare 'sandangamae' ceremony during a special event in 2017. | John Gunning Whether it's ancient ceremonies or fun games with current wrestlers, there is no doubt that over the past decade the JSA has been stepping up its game when it comes to providing unique experiences for fans. That's something that the organization would be wise to lean into even more as it heads into its second century. Throughout almost all of its 2000-year-long history, sumo has had an up close and personal relationship with its fans. Even in the digital age, the JSA continues to run regional tours, bringing the live product to far-flung regions of Japan. These days, in sumo, just as in every sport, there is virtually unlimited access on a scale previously unimaginable. Thanks to modern technology fans don't have to leave their seats to get high resolution views of every part of sumo — often in real time. Still, it's the in-person events that stand out and provide the most value for fans and sporting organizations alike. The only unfortunate aspect of October's event is that it will be a one-off when there is certainly enough demand to host a week's worth of similar ceremonies. For those fortunate enough to be in attendance, it'll be a day unlikely to be repeated for many decades, if not a lifetime.
SoraNews24
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Burger King's new sumo burger thuds into Japan…but is it worth the hype?
The Baby Body Burger enters the ring for a limited time. Burger King never shies away from a food challenge and in Japan that fighting spirit is on full display right now with the introduction of the new 'Baby Body Burger'. Though the name might seem small, the burger is mighty as it's been officially approved by the Japan Sumo Association, and it's a debut collaboration that puts Burger King's mega-sized One Pounder series to shame. The sporadically produced One Pounders are the foodie equivalent of a final boss-level fight, and we've taken down many of them, from the Maximum Super One-Pound Beef Burger in 2020… ▼ …to the King Yeti in 2022. ▼ However, now we have…the Baby Body Burger! As you can see, this burger is no joke, with not four but FIVE beef patties ready to take you down to pain town. We're no strangers to pain when it comes to food challenges so we were primed and ready to take this burger on when it was released on 11 June, ordering it as part of as a set with fries and a drink. ▼ Every Baby Body Burger comes with a free sticker while stocks last. From the side, the burger looked enormous — it was as if it was shaking with the same powerful presence of a yokozuna, the highest-ranking class of sumo wrestler, about to enter the ring. Unfurling the wrapping revealed an outrageously over-the-top burger that made us tremble in fear. This baby weighs in at 668 grams (23.6 ounces), with a total kilocalorie count of 1,876, making it a fearsome warrior. ▼ Definitely a yokozuna-class burger. Before even tasting it, the sheer height of the burger made us feel like our jaw might dislocate. As we cowered in fear at the look of it, the burger seemed entirely confident, standing tall with a sturdy stance, as if urging us in to take a swipe at it. Nipping in for a bite, we quickly moved away to discover that the star of the show is the flame-grilled beef patties — it's shamelessly all about the meat, with the bacon and cheese acting as mere junior members to the team. The slightly tangy aurora sauce throws a few moves, enhancing the flavor of the meat, but the seasoning isn't too intense. If anything, it acts as a gentle accompaniment that lets you savour the meat in its purest form. Like a seasoned yokozuna, there was no need to pull any tricks or dodges here — it was all about clashing straight on. Bite after bite, we met the meat wall with childlike glee, feeling ourselves getting stronger as the Baby Body got smaller. By the end of it all, we were full to the brim and in need of a lie-down, with a strange urge to hold the 'I Did It' sticker high above our heads like a trophy. Needless to say, this is a super voluminous burger, so if you're going to step into the ring with it, you'll want to do so with an empty stomach. It's a heavyweight champion of a burger with all the dignity of a Yokozuna, and it's a bout you'll remember forever…much like Crown the One Pounder, which still gives us post-cheese nightmares to this day. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Five beef patties, four cheese slices, bacon, lettuce, tomato … Burger King's sumo of a burger enters the ring
Japan can legitimately claim to be home to some of the best food on the planet. But it usually has little appetite for supersizing it. That changed on Friday with Burger King's gargantuan but curiously named Baby Body Burger, tipping the scales at nearly 680g (1.5lb). As part of a collaboration with the Japan Sumo Association, whose July wrestling tournament has just started, the burger checks in at 1,876 calories. Sumo wrestlers would only need about four of these to get their average daily caloric needs; a mere mortal would need just one to one-and-a-half. And, at ¥2,590 (£13.05), it's nearly twice the price of a one-patty Whopper with cheese. Skipping breakfast, I went to my local Burger King at about 10.30am to get a jump on the lunch rush to ensure I'd secure one of the limited-edition heavyweights. I was half expecting to see a long queue. But nope, no wait. A few minutes after ordering at the self-service kiosk, my meal arrived. The burger stack is thick and impressive: five charbroiled beef patties, four cheddar cheese slices, bacon, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a sesame seed bun topped with mayonnaise, mustard and an umami-infused, tomato paste-based Aurora sauce. 'This could dislocate my jaw,' joked a woman splitting one with her family. Dripping with cheese and condiments, the burger makes for a savoury taste mix and looks enticing. But first, more napkins, as this can get messy. (I wore a dark-pink shirt to avoid dripped-condiment shame.) The first round of bites requires sinking the teeth in it at a 45-degree angle, not vertically. Even then, my nose kept acquiring a slathering of sauces until I got past the burger's edges. The staff will cut the sumo burger in half, if requested. The denseness and thickness of the five industrial patties, unfortunately, overwhelm the cheddar and sauces beyond the edges. The meat appears to have absorbed my cheese, too. And I had to check to see if there was any bacon. There was. Going towards the centre, it becomes drier. (My recommendation to Burger King would be to offer a side tub of the tangy thousand island-like sauce as a dip.) Sitting through the lunch service, I only saw one other person eating the sumo burger. But online reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with only some gripes about the high price and even one adding a Whopper side order. Oh, and I did eat it all, although over 30 minutes, along with a few fries and a Coke Zero to maintain my nutritional balance. I can now proudly display my Baby Body Burger sticker with the caption 'I did it' that comes with every order.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Five beef patties, four cheese slices, bacon, lettuce, tomato … Burger King's sumo of a burger enters the ring
Japan can legitimately claim to be home to some of the best food on the planet. But it usually has little appetite for supersizing it. That changed on Friday with Burger King's gargantuan but curiously named Baby Body Burger, tipping the scales at nearly 680g (1.5lb). As part of a collaboration with the Japan Sumo Association, whose July wrestling tournament has just started, the burger checks in at 1,876 calories. Sumo wrestlers would only need about four of these to get their average daily caloric needs; a mere mortal would need just one to one-and-a-half. And, at ¥2,590 (£13.05), it's nearly twice the price of a one-patty Whopper with cheese. Skipping breakfast, I went to my local Burger King at about 10.30am to get a jump on the lunch rush to ensure I'd secure one of the limited-edition heavyweights. I was half expecting to see a long queue. But nope, no wait. A few minutes after ordering at the self-service kiosk, my meal arrived. The burger stack is thick and impressive: five charbroiled beef patties, four cheddar cheese slices, bacon, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a sesame seed bun topped with mayonnaise, mustard and an umami-infused, tomato paste-based Aurora sauce. 'This could dislocate my jaw,' joked a woman splitting one with her family. Dripping with cheese and condiments, the burger makes for a savoury taste mix and looks enticing. But first, more napkins, as this can get messy. (I wore a dark-pink shirt to avoid dripped-condiment shame.) The first round of bites requires sinking the teeth in it at a 45-degree angle, not vertically. Even then, my nose kept acquiring a slathering of sauces until I got past the burger's edges. The staff will cut the sumo burger in half, if requested. The denseness and thickness of the five industrial patties, unfortunately, overwhelm the cheddar and sauces beyond the edges. The meat appears to have absorbed my cheese, too. And I had to check to see if there was any bacon. There was. Going towards the centre, it becomes drier. (My recommendation to Burger King would be to offer a side tub of the tangy thousand island-like sauce as a dip.) Sitting through the lunch service, I only saw one other person eating the sumo burger. But online reaction was overwhelmingly positive, with only some gripes about the high price and even one adding a Whopper side order. Oh, and I did eat it all, although over 30 minutes, along with a few fries and a Coke Zero to maintain my nutritional balance. I can now proudly display my Baby Body Burger sticker with the caption 'I did it' that comes with every order.
