Sumo Kaboom

197: Days 10-15 of the January Basho

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We had another exciting basho with lots of drama - promotions, big losses, injuries, a play-off and pledges to do better. We love it, and we know you ...

196: Days 4 - 9 January 2024 Basho

23 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Injuries. So. Many. Injuries. We don't like it. But we're always game for a good Midorifuji win. We discuss what happens when a judge loses his clothi...

195: Days 1 - 3 of the January Basho, 2024

18 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Will Terunofuji make it through all 15 days? Will Kirishima get that white belt? Who got his very first kinboshi? How do these guys wrestle while inju...

194: The Rest of the Banzuke, January 2024

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's more news and fan gossip to share on several wrestlers, but really this is a love letter episode to Atamifuji, Onosato, and Shimazuumi. More a...

193: January Sanyaku and Ura

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The banzuke is so exciting that we decided to break it into 2 weeks. This first week, we'll chat about who is at the very top - the sanyaku. And, of c...

192: Sumo Fashion

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sumo wrestlers wear a lot of different things in different circumstances, so we're breaking this down into the mawashi, craftsmanship of what they wea...

191: Kelly Ann Ball and Her Historic Win

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Learn what it is like to go to another country to compete in international sumo. Kelly offers advice for anyone else who wishes to compete at the inte...

190: Days 11-15 Kyushu Basho 2023

28 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cheering on Ichyamamoto. Hoping that Ura could get that kachi-koshi. Loving the rise of Atamifuji. The sumo was good. As always! More about Sumo Kaboo...

189: Days 4-10 Kyushu Basho 2023

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our favorite moments from the sumo tournament. More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game: www.sumokaboom.com Big Sumo Fansponsors our BINGO game. Nee...

188: Days 1-3 of the November basho

14 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Here we go again! Yay! The boys are back, and the sumo is STRONG. Will Takakeisho win that yokozuna belt he has wanted for so long? Will one of the ne...

187: Newbies! Roga, Tohakuryu, and Chiranoumi

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do we know about these new guys in the top division? Sometimes, not much. But other times, A LOT. We'll tell you about the 4th man next week. New...

186: A Very Spooky Sumo Halloween

31 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We are starting a new holiday tradition. For Valentines Day and now Halloween, we are going distinctly lowbrow and ridiculous. With Halloween as our ...

185: Sumo Unions & Underdogs

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There was a time when sumo wrestlers fought for better pay, public oversight of funds, and much more. That's right. Even sumo wrestlers have gone on s...

184: Musashimaru and New Sumo Recruits

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The 67th Yokozuna, Musashimaru, coaches sumo today and just got a new recruit from Hawaii. So, what's Musashimaru's story and why this connection to H...

183: Sumo Lingo

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Some words immediately tell the listener that the speaker is a sumo wrestler. Certain phrases and slang describe body types, money, and love. We tried...

182: Retirement Rabbit Holes

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Curious minds want to know. Want to know more about all that salt throwing on Okinoumi at his retirement ceremony? Want to know how to make a yokozuna...

181: Aki Basho Days 11-15

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Now that the excitement and drama is over, we can talk calmly about who thrilled us, surprised us, and bored us at the professional sumo tournament in...

180: Aki Basho Days 4-10

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's too much sumo to cover in a single episode, so we can only mention our favorites. Oh the surprise losses! Oh the excitement! Our Sumo Kaboom ...

179: Days 1-3 Aki Basho 2023

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The boys are back and it's a true free for all. Hokutofuji! Atamifuji! Surprising losses! Amazing wins! And we're only on day 3! Newsflash Day 1: 6:47...

178: Nishikigi and the Slow Risers

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After lots of news, Leslie gives us some info on Nishikigi and his record as third slowest to rise to sanyaku. Which got us thinking... so, who was ev...

177: Sumo Scandals Part 4 - Violence

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This episode describes one of sumo's darkest moments - a death of a sumo wrestler in 2007. We discuss the incident and then focus on what the JSA says...

176: Sumo Scandals Part 3 - Drinking and Drugs

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

First, some of you got to meet The GOAT, Hakuho, so of course, we have to share some of your stories! It's not every day that you get to meet a piece ...

175: Sumo Scandals Part 2 - Match-Fixing

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of a multi-episode series on sumo scandals. The concept of "yaocho," or match-fixing, is nothing new in sumo. In this episode, we take a deep d...

174: Sumo Scandals Part 1 - Gambling and the Yakuza

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Between the years of 2007 and 2012, several scandals rocked the sumo world. We're diving into what happened. Part 1 explores gambling and its connecti...

173: Chiyonokuni's Retirement

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Chiyonokuni's life and career, how he might be remembered, and then a game of Random Facts About Chiyonokuni. All with Dave of Sumo Mainichi. More abo...

172: Days 11-15 of the July 2023 Basho

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hear who won our BINGO game and the nitty gritty and gross facts about mawashi wear. Plus, we'll break down our favorite moments from days 11-15 of th...

171: Days 4-10 of the July Basho

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ANYONE could win this July basho. We're at day 10 and loving the names on the leaderboard. Our Sumo Kaboom BINGO game is available to play with every ...

170: Shonnanoumi and Days 1-3 of the July Tournament

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're only on day THREE of the July 2023 tournament, and already there are surprises, YAYs and big OH NOOOs. We're watching the rookies, the competiti...

169: Gonoyama and Hakuoho

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the July 2023 tournament, three men brand new to the top division are stepping in to test their mettle. We're chatting about two of them today - Go...

168: Takarafuji and Tsurugisho

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We decided to take a deep dive into two men we didn't know that much about - Takarafuji and Tsurugisho. After some research, we still don't know that ...

167: The "Dead Body" Rule

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every once in a while, there's a real close sumo match. One person is declared a winner, and fans have feelings! WHO WON? WHAT THE...? WE'VE BEEN ROBB...

166: The Sumo Belly Touching Event

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The sumo association hosted their first Sumo Belly Touching event in June, 2023, and it was a HUGE hit. With us anyway. Mainly because it featured a l...

165: New Chapters for Kiribayama... I mean, Kirishima

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Kiribayama has a new name. Why? Because he is now an ozeki and begins a new sumo chapter. His life is changing. Same for two wrestlers who retired ove...

164: Day 11-15 of the May Basho

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We might as well call this the yokozuna, sekiwake and Hokuseiho hour, because that's what we talk about. A LOT. What can we say? We loved it. Congratu...

163: May Basho Days 4 - 10

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The sumo race is narrowing down to a few, and we are ON BOARD for it ALL. The wrestling is good, y'all. And I'm sure the BINGO game is heating up as w...

162: Days 1-3 of the May Basho 2023

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our favorite moments from days 1 - 3 of the May basho. More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game: www.sumokaboom.com Twitter @SumoKaboom Instagram htt...

161: Ichinojo Retires and Henka Stats

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Surprise! Ichinojo retired, and no one saw it coming. Hear the strange way it went down. Also, get your stats on the henka. Who REALLY is the Henka Ki...

Leslie Meets Gagamaru and the May Banzuke

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you are meeting a sumo wrestler, expect it to be awkward. Hear the story of Leslie meeting Gagamaru, and then listen to our chat about the latest b...

Kimarite Part 3: Yorikiri and Oshidashi with Bruce Henderson

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Battle Huggers vs. the Pusher Thrusters. How sumo has changed over the last few decades and why. There's a LOT of variety in these styles of sumo ...

Kimarite Part 2: the Henka with Bruce Henderson

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

After some news and sumo poetry, we launch into a discussion of kimarite with Bruce, who thinks we need more of them! To prove his point, he launches ...

Kimarite Part 1: How to Unwin Your Way to a Win

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of a multi-episode feature on kimarite, the techniques used in sumo. We start by learning how you can win a sumo match without using any techni...

Days 11-15 of the March Basho

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who we loved watching. Who we found fascinating. Who turned up their simmer stare. And who won the March 2023 sumo tournament in Osaka. We thoroughly ...

Days 4-10 of the March Basho

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Days 4-10 of the March basho. It's an exciting free for all sumo tournament. Breaking it down. We're loving it. Thanks be to the sumo gods! More about...

Let the Sumo Begin! Days 1-3

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Y'all. Try as we might, we still manage to bungle up names of sumo wrestlers. It happened in this episode. Wakatakamoto? Wakatakakento? Oof. WakaMOTOH...

Bushozan and Daishoho

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're chatting about another newbie to the highest division, Bushozan. What's his story? Also, remember Daishoho? Yeah, we coludn't either, so we look...

Hokuseiho and Kinbozan

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Fans are thrilled to see Hokuseiho and Kinbozan in the top division. As in, people haven't been this excited since the invention of sliced bread. Find...

Reading the Banzuke

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two parts to this episode. In part 1, we cover the history of the banzuke and how it is created. In part 2, Robert from Big Sumo Fan teaches us how to...

Sumo Love Part 2: Sexiest Rikishi of 2023

14 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We asked. You voted. The Sexiest Rikishi of 2023 as determined by YOU. More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game: www.sumokaboom.com Twitter @SumoKab...

Sumo Love Part 1

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Leslie gives you the skinny on the love lives of some of your favorite sumo wrestlers, and Laurie asks the AI Chatbot to write you some sum...

Hakuho's Retirement

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

If you're new to sumo, you may not know Hakuho, the man who officially retired over the weekend. The Greatest Of All Time. The Goat. Hakuho Sho. His r...

Hatsu, Days 11-15

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The January, 2023 sumo basho is over. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. We're breaking down our favorite moments of the final days of the tournam...

Hatsu Basho Days 4 - 10

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You can't deny that sumo is made up of dynamic athletcism, hilarious falls, and sex appeal. This basho has it all! And so does this episode - pugs, dr...

Hatsu Basho Days 1-3

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our breakdown of some of the best sumo from days 1-3 of the January basho, 2023. More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game: www.sumokaboom.com Twitter...

The January Banzuke

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There's a bit of cussing in this episode, so be aware if there are small ears around! For this episode of Sumo Kaboom, there are 3 distinct parts. BIN...

What's It Really Like?

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For our final episode of 2022, we interviewed Iwatori-zeki, an retired pro sumo wrestler, and Lynn Matsuoka, artist and sumo commentator for 15 years ...

A Look Back at 2022

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Incredible. Every basho in 2022 had a different winner. We look back at who won them and also remind ourselves of some of the other big stories from t...

November Basho Days 11-15

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Safe to say that this basho left us feeling unsettled. But, tune in to the GOOD NEWS of our November sumo BINGO winners! We break down our favorite m...

November Basho Days 4 - 10

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

New names on the leader board. Older sumo standards still without a win. This basho is a bit wild, isn't it? More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game...

November Basho Begins

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's BACK! And we are HERE for it! Breaking down some of our favorite moments of the Kyushu 2022 basho so far, and we're only 3 days in. More about Su...

Atamifuji and Tobizaru

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Classic Sumo Kaboom style breakdowns of everything we could find about sumo wrestlers Atamifuji and Tobizaru. From their history and sumo style to wha...

Murray Johnson Interview

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A chat with Murray Johnson. And, we asked YOUR questions. Murray Johnson was born and raised in Western Australia and has worked in many facets of bro...

The Halloween Episode with Cryptids of the Corn

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Spooky tales of cryptids, leeches, sumo, and salamanders. This one includes LOTS of talk about butts, so beware! For more on Cryptids of the Corn: Fin...

Celebrations and Riots

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

What does a celebration of welcome and a story about a riot have to do with sumo? Lots! Strangely, this even ties to the rock band Journey and dragon ...

Sumo Fan Events

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sumo tours and fan events! First, we talk about the history of jungyos (sumo tours), what they are, and how they work. Then we talk about the best vid...

Tamawashi

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tamawashi won the last basho, so we take a closer look at his life and fighting style. Plus, did you know that there's another famous sumo baker out t...

Aki Basho Days 11-15

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Meet our latest BINGO winners, and hear our breakdown of the last few days of the basho. We discuss everything from track suits to who we'd want to hi...

Aki 2022 Days 4 - 10

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Professional sumo time! It's day 4-10 of the Aki basho, 2022, and we are LOVING the leader board. Unusual and oh so exciting! More about Sumo Kaboom a...

Aki Basho Days 1-3

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking down days 1-3 of the September sumo tournament for you. Who we are loving. Who is surprising us. Who we love to watch lose. Along with discus...

Mitoryu and Kotonowaka

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We searched high and low for stories of two wrestlers this week - Mitoryu from Mongolia and Kotonowaka from Japan. Guess which wrestler was really goo...

Chiyotairyu and Hiradoumi

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

First, there is sumo news to share about Keisei, Kakuryu, and the next tournament. Then we focus on Hiradoumi (a new guy in the top ranks) and Chiyota...

Sumo Trivia!

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Games! Games! Bring on the games! Several rounds of sumo-related trivia await you today - each round getting a little bit tougher. See how well you do...

Ash Warren and The Way of Salt

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you are curious about Ash Warren and his book The Way of Salt, Sumo and the Culture of Japan, this is the episode for you! In The Way of Salt, Ash ...

Naruto and Gagamaru

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who is that tall man in the black robes who looks like he's from Eastern Europe? That's Naruto, formerly known as Kotooshu. And who is Gagamaru. Didn'...

Eastern European Wrestlers and Tochinoshin

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leslie tries to answer the question... WHY are there so many sumo wrestlers from Eastern Europe? And, Laurie takes a dive into the Tochinoshin pool. ...

Days 11-15 of the Nagoya Tournament and BINGO Winners

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Who won the sumo BINGO game? And, who won the Nagoya 2022 Sumo Tournament in Japan? All our thoughts and hopes and dreams and surprises are here for y...

Days 4-10 of the July Basho

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Breaking down the sumo and loving every minute of it. Hoping that Covid won't take every stable out of this competition. More about Sumo Kaboom and ou...

Days 1-3 of July's Basho with Grand Sumo Breakdown

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Wanna know more about the newest guy to the top division? Nishikifuji. We have the skinny. Also, we are joined by Mak from the Grand Sumo Breakdown an...

July Banzuke and The World Games

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ten minutes of sumo and BINGO news. 15 minutes of banzuke review. 30 minutes of The World Games. This week features the voices of 4 athletes going to ...

Lynn Matsuoka's Life in Art and Sumo

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sumo Kaboom interviews Lynn Matsuoka - reportage artist, sumo commentator, and so much more - who spent over 40 years in Japan during the golden age o...

Gyoji History According to Leslie and "Papa" Gyoji

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We receive many questions about gyoji, and though we can't answer them all, we do finally have a description of gyoji training for you. Learn about wh...

Asanoyama Returns and The Cowboy Cup Takes Off

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Remember Asanoyama? If not, we'll remind you, because he should be back soon. Also, the 1st Annual Cowboy Cup takes off and we give you a taste of the...

Retirement, Sopranistas and Demons

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This week, sumo takes us into the worlds of retirement, opera and heavy metal music... because WHY WOULDN'T IT? Tomotaka Okamoto on Twitter @TomotakaO...

The Plum Haters, Aminishiki and Hokutofuji

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aminishiki had his retirement ceremony this week, and if you don't know much about his career, give this episode a listen. Hokutofuji still wrestles i...

The Ending of the May Basho and BINGO

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sumo BINGO has gotten fierce, and we tell you about our 2 winners, the final 4 days of the May tournament, and answer a few questions from listeners. ...

May Basho Days 4 - 10

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We cover the sumo, "underperforming ozeki," whether we love or hate the henka, the "lobster claw technique," British accents, crumpets, shortbread and...

May Basho Days 1-3

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Funny fights. Surprising fights. Amazing fights. This basho already has it all, and it's only day 3. We break down our favorite moments and wonder ab...

Banzuke, Azumaryu and Midorifuji

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A banzuke and prediction episode. Plus, what little we could find about Azumaryu and Midorifuji, two men who are back in the top division. More about ...

Ask Us Anything

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There's a little something for everyone in this episode. Confusing sumo kimarite terms. Gyoji outfits. Would-you-rather. How much time do you spend re...

Back to the Basics

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We meet people all the time who ask "what is it about sumo? I don't get it." This is our answer. Uncomplicated. Without unfamiliar terms. Back to the ...

Kinboshi and $$$

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Leslie explores when and why wrestlers started getting paid for their wrestling. Laurie breaks down the different ways that a pro sumo wrestler might ...

Haru Days 11-15

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Y'all, Leslie may never recover from this one. We relive the emotional rollercoaster and recap days 11-15 of the March 2022 basho. More about Sumo Ka...

Haru Basho Days 4-10

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This tournament is an exciting one, y'all. Leslie is trying to not get too attached to the idea of her ex-boyfriend winning this one, and Laurie is ch...

Haru Basho Days 1-3

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We're watching the sumo and loving it! This is the time where we become fan girls and simply enjoy the show, and then we come chat about it here. Do ...

March Haru Banzuke and Jasper Kenneth/Kotokuzan

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Going over the banzuke for the March tournament refreshes our memory about what happened in the last basho. Also, Leslie gives you a quick spotlight ...

Asashoryu and Hoshoryu

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A primer on who these two wrestlers are, how they are related, and what people love about them. More about Sumo Kaboom: www.sumokaboom.com Twitter @Su...

The Sumo Elder Maze

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Oof. Sumo elders. We spent a week trying to understand the world of sumo elders, and we didn't get very far. It's a maze of information, changing rule...

Who is the Sexiest Rikishi?

15 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We asked. You answered. This episode is devoted to who YOU think is sexy. It's raucous, ridiculous and raunchy, so this episode is definitely for adul...

Part 2 -All About the Hair and Retirement

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The one and only Konishiki joins us to explain the significance of sumo retirement ceremonies. And to answer questions from listeners about sumo hair....

All About The Hair

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is devoted to hair and the tokoyama - the hair dressers of the sumo world. Who knew so much history is tied up in a simple top knot?! Mor...

January Basho Days 11-15 and BINGO winners

25 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our breakdown of the final few days of the tournament. Big congratulations to our BINGO winners and Hatsu 2022 sumo winners. Everyone rest up and heal...