What is The Japan Times?
The Japan Times is Japan's oldest English-language daily newspaper, published since 1897 — and, for readers outside Japan, the standard English source of record for sumo, which it covers through a dedicated desk.[1]
What does it cover?
Every honbasho day by day, banzuke changes, promotions to ōzeki and yokozuna, and the Japan Sumo Association's governance — alongside Japanese baseball, soccer and Olympic sport.[1] [2]
Why does it matter?
Because sumo's official records are published in Japanese by the Japan Sumo Association, and continuous English-language coverage of the ranking system — which is what makes a sumo result legible at all — is rare.[1] [2]
References
- The Japan Times. Accessed August 2026.
- The Japan Times — sumo. Accessed August 2026.