Japan’s new PM faces sumo-sized dilemma: will Takaichi defy the sport’s ban on women?

Women are banned from entering the ‘sacred’ dohyo, but as the country’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to present a trophy later this monthAnticipation is building among sumo fans...

By Justin McCurryin Tokyo · The Guardian World

Women are banned from entering the ‘sacred’ dohyo, but as the country’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to present a trophy later this month Anticipation is building among sumo fans in Japan as they wait to discover if the country’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi , will defy centuries of tradition and step into the sumo ring to present a trophy later this month. With 11 days of the current 15-day tournament in Fukuoka, south-west Japan, remaining, government officials have left the sport’s devotees guessing with vague comments over the likelihood of clash between Takaichi and the Japan sumo association. Continue reading...