About the show
Sumo Kaboom!
A weekly podcast dedicated to our favorite sport - sumo wrestling. We chat about tournaments, current events, history and our favorite wrestlers.
We are performers, improvisers, and creators and have absolutely no sumo training. But, we are huge sumo fans.
Having lived in Japan, Leslie loves the history and traditions of sumo. She also has a deep love for sumo karaoke singers. Laurie is fascinated by sumo wrestler fandom, the sumo training regimen and physicality of the sport.
Together, we serve up exciting sumo treats for sumo-curious fans. We share an enthusiasm for sumo and like all sisters, we work amazingly well together. All of the time. There are never any issues. Ever.
We also occasionally send out sumo related content. It is NOT hard-hitting sumo journalism and is usually very silly. If you want to receive our writing about all things sumo or receive notification when Sumo BINGO cards are available, join our Substack below. We won't ever share your info, because we hate spam, too.
Sumo Kaboom on social media
Episodes
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The Wonderful World of Ushizumo
August 11th, 2021 | 32 mins 2 secs
bull sumo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kimarite, nhk, olympics, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, ushizumo, yokozuna
Ushizumo, or bull sumo, is a sport in Japan! Yes, sumo with bulls.
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Cannabis Sumo Scandals
August 4th, 2021 | 37 mins 17 secs
cannabis, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, pot, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takagenji, tournament
This week, we're chatting about the recent cannabis sumo scandal. We also discuss past cannabis scandals. Yep, there have been a few.
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What is Terunofuji Doing Now?
July 28th, 2021 | 29 mins 49 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, meiji, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament, tsuna, yokozuna
You say I'm a yokozuna? What happens now?
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July Basho Days 10-15
July 21st, 2021 | 59 mins 16 secs
bingo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, july, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament, yokozuna
What a basho and what a BINGO! Wow! We can't cover all the bouts but we talk about a few that stood out to us on days 10-15. Here are your BINGO and sumo winners.
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July Basho Days 3-9
July 13th, 2021 | 42 mins 34 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament
Our enthusiastic sumo watching at its best. Who fears Hakuho the most? Who Leslie wants to cuddle. So many movie references, and the best commentating slip ever.
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Meisei's Story. Ichiyamamoto's Story. Day 1 and 2 of the Basho.
July 5th, 2021 | 46 mins 59 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, ichiyamamoto, improv comedy, japan, july, kaboom, meisei, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament
We cover a LOT of ground today- Meisei, Ichiyamamoto and days 1 and 2 of the Nagoya Basho.
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What is Ura's story? Who is Chiyonoo?
June 30th, 2021 | 35 mins 26 secs
basho, chiyonoo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, july, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, ura
The July basho is almost here, so we thought we'd learn about some of the newer (returning) faces you will see in the highest division- Ura and Chiyonoo.
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US National Sumo Championship
June 23rd, 2021 | 45 mins 10 secs
captain americus, comedy, eros armstrong, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, heavyweight, improv comedy, japan, jose galindo, justin kizzart, kaboom, lightweight, middleweight, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
We were there to watch the best in the US compete for the title. Find out who won and what it was it like. Hear directly from wrestlers and fans.
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Wakatakakage - When Sumo Runs in Your Family
June 16th, 2021 | 42 mins 49 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, wakabayama, wakatakakage
This week, we learn about Wakatakakage's grandfather, Wakabayama, and his sumo family. The chankonabe runs deep in this family, from grandad all the way to his 3 grandsons.
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One Does Not Simply Become a Yokozuna
June 9th, 2021 | 49 mins 13 secs
asashoryu, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, haramafuji, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kakuryu, kisenosato, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takakeisho, terunofuji, tournament, yokozuna
What does it take to become a yokozuna?
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John Gunning Talks Sumo (and a bunch of other fun stuff)
June 2nd, 2021 | 58 mins 31 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, john gunning, kaboom, nhk, nhk world, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
You may know John Gunning from his sumo commentating, but did you also know that he was in a band called Libido? Ever wondered just who this guy is that's talking about sumo on NHK and in the Japan Times? This is your episode!
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May Basho Finish & BINGO winners
May 25th, 2021 | 47 mins 30 secs
2021, basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, may, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament
Wow! What a basho! We're dizzy from the ride but want to introduce you to our BINGO winners and break down the basho days 10-15.
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May Basho Days 4-9 & Hot Takes with Konishiki
May 18th, 2021 | 46 mins 30 secs
asanoyama, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kagayaki, may, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takakeisho, terunofuji, tournament
The May basho! Hot Takes with Konishiki! There's nothing better!
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May Basho Days 1-3
May 11th, 2021 | 49 mins
bingo, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
Let the sumo and BINGO begin!
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Konishiki
May 5th, 2021 | 55 mins 50 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, konishiki, nhk, ozeki, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
This week, we're chatting with Konishiki, the first non-Japanese born sumo wrestler to reach ozeki.
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The Small Boys of Sumo
April 28th, 2021 | 53 mins 44 secs
comedy, enho, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, mainoumi, nhk, podcast, short, small, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terutsuyoshi, tournament
This week's episode is all about the smaller men of sumo- the ones who desperately wanted to be taller and would do anything to get there, the oh-so-popular ones (Enho), and the mighty tough ones (Terutsuyoshi).