Sumo tourney to be held without spectators

Mar 02, 2020 | News On Japan

Mar 02, 2020 (NHK) - The coronavirus outbreak is now affecting one of Japan's favorite sports, sumo. Officials from the Japan Sumo Association say the spring tournament in Osaka will be held without any spectators. The event is scheduled to start on March 8.

Japan Sumo Association Chairman, Hakkaku, said at a news conference on Sunday, "Based on the government's request, and considering that all of society is fighting the spread of the new coronavirus infection, we have made this decision."

This comes as the government is calling for major sports and cultural events to be canceled, postponed or scaled down. It will be the first time a sumo tournament is held without spectators.

The association chairman added that if any of wrestlers are found to be infected, the tournament will be canceled, even if it has already started.

One of sumo fans said, "I think sumo wrestlers will feel lonely without spectators. But I think the fans will cheer in front of their TVs."

Pre-ordered tickets for the event have been sold out.

The association says it will consider ways to refund the money.

Typhoon No. 12 Brings High Waves to Okinawa Before China Landfall

Typhoon No. 12 (Noul) is strengthening over the South China Sea and is forecast to make landfall in southern China on Sunday, July 26, while swells generated by the storm bring high waves to Okinawa's Sakishima Islands.

Japan Life Expectancy Rises for Both Men and Women

Average life expectancy in Japan rose for both men and women last year for the first time in two years, with Japanese women retaining the world's top ranking for the 41st consecutive year.

'White Taxis' Rampant at Kansai Airport

A 37-year-old Chinese woman has been arrested and referred to prosecutors on suspicion of operating an unlicensed taxi service that transported travelers from Kansai International Airport to a hotel in Kyoto.

JAXA Conducts Epsilon S Engine Firing Test

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency conducted a ground firing test of the second-stage engine for its Epsilon S small solid-fuel rocket at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on July 23.

Why Kuwana Reached a Record 40.6 Degrees

Kuwana in Mie Prefecture recorded 40.6 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature anywhere in Japan this year, as a powerful high-pressure system and hot downslope winds combined to produce dangerous heat across a wide area.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Japanese Red Army Militant Dies in Lebanon

Kozo Okamoto, a member of the Japanese Red Army who took part in a 1972 mass shooting at an Israeli airport, has died at age 78 in Lebanon, where he had lived for decades under political asylum.

Kyoto Musician Arrested for Rocking Around the Clock

A 61-year-old unemployed man has been arrested after allegedly subjecting a quiet Kyoto neighborhood to years of relentless radio broadcasts and amplified guitar music, leaving nearby residents with sleep disorders and other health problems.

Japan Weighs Mandatory GPS Tracking for Stalkers

The Japanese government is considering requiring certain stalking offenders to wear GPS tracking devices under a new system that would alert victims when an offender approaches their home, workplace or another protected location.

Dramatic Video Shows Police Shooting Knife-Wielding Robbery Suspect

A police officer shot and wounded a 21-year-old man who allegedly robbed a convenience store in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, and then approached officers with a kitchen knife on the evening of July 22.

U.S.-Made One-Ton Bomb Found in Osaka Residential Area

An unexploded U.S.-made bomb believed to date from World War II has been discovered at a housing construction site in a residential district of Minoh, Osaka Prefecture, potentially requiring the evacuation of nearly 5,000 people during its disposal.

First Arrest for Capturing Endangered Butterfly

A 55-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly capturing an endangered butterfly in the Norikura Highlands of Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, marking Japan's first arrest involving the protected species.

Policeman Refuses Breath Test After Crashing Into Utility Pole

A 27-year-old police officer arrested after crashing into a utility pole in Hiroshima was found to have been driving under the influence, with a blood test detecting nearly three times the legal alcohol limit.

Japan Introduces Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving

Japan began applying a new numerical alcohol threshold for dangerous driving offenses on July 21, introducing a clearer standard for cases involving impaired driving that could lead to fatal accidents.

< 2 3 4 5 >