Showing 1 - 10 of 23
Sumo diplomacy: Japan's heavyweight 'soft power' ambassadors
AFP, Published on 30/01/2026
» TOKYO - Two giants stare each other down before colliding with a dull thud. After years on the sidelines, sumo is back centrestage as part of Japan's soft power arsenal overseas.
Mongolia's circus performers fight to preserve their craft
AFP, Published on 06/10/2023
» ULAANBAATAR: Mongolian circus performers fly through a cavernous hall inspectors have warned could collapse any time, one of the few places left to train if they hope to travel the world with their country's spectacular big top shows.
Japan's 'crying baby sumo' festival returns after pandemic
AFP, Published on 23/04/2023
» TOKYO - Dozens of bawling Japanese babies faced off Saturday in a traditional "crying sumo" ritual believed to bring the infants good health, which returned for the first time in four years after the pandemic.
Life after sumo: retired wrestlers fight for new careers
AFP, Published on 29/04/2022
» KYOTO (JAPAN) - When Japanese sumo wrestler Takuya Saito retired from the sport at 32 and began jobhunting, he had no professional experience and didn't even know how to use a computer.
Japan sumo's death after heavy fall sparks criticism of medical care
AFP, Published on 30/04/2021
» TOKYO - A Japanese sumo wrestler has died a month after landing on his head during a bout and lying unattended for several minutes, raising fresh concerns about the care of fighters.
'UFO' off French coast: Japanese sailor Shiraishi eyes Vendee Globe win
AFP, Published on 30/07/2020
» LORIENT (FRANCE) - As far as Kojiro Shiraishi is concerned, a Japanese sailing the gruelling Vendee Globe round-the-world race is akin to a Frenchman taking up sumo wrestling.
EU struggles to agree virus recovery deal as global deaths surge
AFP, Published on 19/07/2020
» BRUSSELS: EU leaders battled to save a beleaguered 750 million euro ($860 million) virus recovery package at a summit on Sunday, as global deaths soared past 600,000 and Hong Kong raised the alarm about its growing outbreak.
Asia virus latest: Australia church sells bleach as Covid cure
AFP, Published on 13/05/2020
» Here are the latest developments in Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic:
Virus blow for Japan's sumo as wrestler tests positive
AFP, Published on 10/04/2020
» TOKYO - Japan's sumo association on Friday confirmed its first coronavirus case, in a new blow for the ancient sport, which has already been forced to move one tournament behind closed doors and postpone others.
IOC committed to Tokyo Games, wary of virus 'elephant': Pound
AFP, Published on 28/02/2020
» LOS ANGELES - Olympic chiefs will not consider cancelling or postponing this summer's Tokyo Games over the coronavirus unless the World Health Organisation or other regulatory body advises to do so, a senior IOC official said Thursday.