Who we are and why this exists

What this site is trying to do

Maemichi Sumo started the way most things start honestly — not with a finished idea but with a gap that felt real and a decision to keep writing into it.

The gap is a communication problem, and one that is not unique to English-language coverage. Sumo itself, both inside Japan and beyond it, has not figured out how to bring its fanbase into an honest modern conversation about the sport. What exists tends to split between results and news on one side and the ceremonial and official on the other — both useful but neither is written for the fan who has watched long enough to have real opinions and wants writing that takes those opinions seriously rather than summarizing around them.

The site has basics — a voice, a set of standards, a critical framework — without yet being the finished thing those basics are supposed to produce. A rikishi who has just arrived at a beya doesn't show up with a signature kimarite. They show up with shiko, discipline, and years of repetition ahead of them. That is roughly where this site is. The writing will develop the same way sumo does — through training, through repetition, and in public.

Current development goals

Maemichi Sumo is under active development. This section tracks the site's current primary goal and what comes next — updated as milestones are reached. Anyone interested in following the site's progress can check back here.

About me

All editorial content on this site — analysis, opinion, basho coverage, and long reads — is written by me personally. I have lived interests in the technical and historical dimensions of the sport and am particularly drawn to sumo's relationship with Japanese cultural identity, the evolution of technique across eras, and the human stories behind major careers.

I am not a native Japanese speaker, which means my access to primary Japanese-language sources is limited. Where I have relied on translation or secondary English-language sources, I have tried to indicate that clearly. Corrections from readers with stronger Japanese-language ability are always welcome.

My favourite active rikishi in the Makuuchi division? All of them. Each wrestler at that level has earned their place through years of sacrifice and training that most people outside the sport cannot fully appreciate. I follow every bout and find something worth watching in every style — from the grinding belt wrestlers to the explosive oshi specialists to the unpredictable counter-attackers. If pressed for a confession: I particularly enjoy watching wrestlers whose technical identity is clear and committed, whatever that style happens to be.

AI use policy

This site uses artificial intelligence as a development and research tool. I want to be specific about what that means in practice, because vague AI disclosure statements are not useful to readers.

I believe AI disclosure should be specific rather than performative. The distinction that matters is whether AI is generating content presented as human writing — on this site, it is not. If that policy changes for any reason, this page will be updated to reflect it.

Sources and attribution

This site draws on a range of English and Japanese-language sources including books, the Japan Sumo Association's official records, sumo databases (principally Sumo Reference and Sumodb), NHK broadcast archives, and my own watching of sumo over many years.

Where a specific claim derives from a particular source, I try to indicate that either in the text or in the resources section at the bottom of each page. Statistics — particularly historical kimarite frequencies and bout records — are approximations based on available data unless otherwise stated, and I note where figures are estimates rather than verified counts.

If you believe a specific claim on this site is inaccurate or unsourced in a way that matters, please contact me. I take factual accuracy seriously and would rather correct an error than defend it.

Corrections policy

Errors will happen. Sumo history is complex, records from earlier eras are sometimes disputed, and my own knowledge has gaps. When a factual error is identified and confirmed, I will correct it promptly and note the correction at the bottom of the relevant page with the date it was made.

I will not silently edit factual errors without acknowledgement. If you've read something on this site and shared it, you deserve to know if the information turned out to be wrong. That's the minimum standard I hold myself to.

Corrections can be submitted via the contact address below. Please include the page URL, the specific claim you believe is incorrect, and a source or reasoning for your correction. I will respond to every correction submitted in good faith.

On the death of rikishi: Historical figures are written about in past tense with life dates noted. When a prominent active or recently active wrestler dies, a memorial article will be published in the analysis section under the Rikishi tag, and all existing references across the site will be updated to past tense. There are no special banners or callouts — the writing itself reflects the loss.

Revenue and the JSA

This site may generate modest revenue through affiliate links on book recommendations and, potentially, other commercial arrangements in the future. I want to be transparent about what happens to any profits generated.

The specific percentage and mechanism for donations will be determined once the site is generating consistent revenue. Until then, this is a statement of intent. If and when donations are made, the timing and recipient will be shared on this page.

Affiliate links — currently on book recommendations in the history section — are marked as such. They generate a small commission when you purchase through them at no additional cost to you. The books recommended are ones I genuinely believe are worth reading; recommendations are not paid for or influenced by publishers.

Contact

I welcome messages from readers — corrections, suggestions, sumo discussion, or interview inquiries. I cannot guarantee a response to every message but I read everything sent.

For factual corrections please include the page URL, the specific claim in question, and your reasoning or source. This makes it much easier to investigate and respond promptly.