Listener stories, sumo news, and a bit of sumo history. Sumo is headed to France for a sumo tour, and we are awaiting all the Eiffel Tower rikishi photos. Until they start to appear on social media, we talk about Kitanoumi, the "hatefully strong yokozuna."

A proper sumo fan needs to know some sumo history, and with that in mind, we present Kitanoumi, a HUGE sumo star from the 1970s. Dominant, terrifying, humorless but absolutely dedicated to sumo, he was a yokozuna, oyakata, and head of the Japan Sumo Association throughout his life.

BINGO! More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game at http://www.sumokaboom.com We play Sumo BINGO every basho, and it's always free. We give away sumo merch to our winners with the help of our sponsors Big Sumo Fan and Cheeky Sumo.

• http://Bigsumofan.com is an online sumo merch store based in US, and they ship to over 30 countries. http://www.bigsumofan.com

• Cheeky Sumo is an online sumo-inspired apparel and merch company that aims to celebrate, educate, and support the sumo community with cheeky designs and training gear. Laugh at their fun graphics and proudly rep your sumo spirit - because sumo's got more than just power - it's got personality! http://www.cheekysumo.com

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• Ever wonder where we get our research? Check out the Show Notes section of our website.

Discover the thrilling moments from the May 2026 Basho, including poetry, bingo winners, and sumo insights. Perfect for sumo enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

One of the most fun ways to celebrate the beloved rikishi, Wakatakakage, is through poetry. Our listeners often participate in a "sexiest rikishi" poll, sharing their thoughts in poetic form. We share a few selected pieces.

These poems showcase the affection fans have for this talented sumo wrestler, bringing an artistic twist to our discussions.

During the May Basho, we hosted an exciting Sumo Bingo game that attracted 491 players globally. Our winners were from Japan, Singapore, and Scotland, and their bios highlight the diverse backgrounds of sumo fans and how the sport transcends borders, uniting enthusiasts from all walks of life.

In this basho, several prominent rikishi were sidelined due to injuries, so the competition was wide open, leading to some surprising outcomes.

Question: What makes Wakatakage so popular?

Wakatakakage is considered a master of sumo technique, having won the Technique Special Prize 7 times. After winning his first yusho, he suffered a major knee injury and was demoted to the makushita (unpaid) division of sumo. After healing, he climbed back through the ranks to reach the highest levels of sumo again. His impressive skills and dry personality have endeared him to fans, as reflected in the poetry shared during our discussions.

BINGO! More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game at http://www.sumokaboom.com We play Sumo BINGO every basho, and it's always free. We give away sumo merch to our winners with the help of our sponsors Big Sumo Fan and Cheeky Sumo.

• http://Bigsumofan.com is an online sumo merch store based in US, and they ship to over 30 countries. http://www.bigsumofan.com

• Cheeky Sumo is an online sumo-inspired apparel and merch company that aims to celebrate, educate, and support the sumo community with cheeky designs and training gear. Laugh at their fun graphics and proudly rep your sumo spirit - because sumo's got more than just power - it's got personality! http://www.cheekysumo.com

Way of Salt on Amazon or purchase at Big Sumo Fan and support a smaller business!

• Support us Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/sumokaboom

Twitter @SumoKaboom

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sumokaboom/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SumoKaboom/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/SumoKaboomPodcast

• Check out our Sumo Kaboom tshirts and sweatshirts at Bonfire.com/sumokaboom

• Ever wonder where we get our research? Check out the Show Notes section of our website.

Days 5 - 10! Days 5 - 10! So. Many. Injuries. And ANYONE could win this one.

BINGO! More about Sumo Kaboom and our BINGO game at http://www.sumokaboom.com We play Sumo BINGO every basho, and it's always free. We give away sumo merch to our winners with the help of our sponsors Big Sumo Fan and Cheeky Sumo.

• http://Bigsumofan.com is an online sumo merch store based in US, and they ship to over 30 countries. http://www.bigsumofan.com

• Cheeky Sumo is an online sumo-inspired apparel and merch company that aims to celebrate, educate, and support the sumo community with cheeky designs and training gear. Laugh at their fun graphics and proudly rep your sumo spirit - because sumo's got more than just power - it's got personality! http://www.cheekysumo.com

Way of Salt on Amazon or purchase at Big Sumo Fan and support a smaller business!

• Support us Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/sumokaboom

Twitter @SumoKaboom

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sumokaboom/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SumoKaboom/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/SumoKaboomPodcast

• Check out our Sumo Kaboom tshirts and sweatshirts at Bonfire.com/sumokaboom

• Ever wonder where we get our research? Check out the Show Notes section of our website.