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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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).
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The Big Boys of Sumo
April 21st, 2021 | 40 mins 46 secs
big boys, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, ichinojo, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kaisei, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
We LOVE 'em big and tall. So, this week we're highlighting the biggest of the past and the biggest of them now - Ichinojo and Kaisei.
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Sumo Art
April 14th, 2021 | 42 mins 2 secs
art, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hinomaru sumo, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kototsurugi, manga, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, ukiyo-e
The week's episode is all about art, from the artist and sumo wrestler Kototsurugi to Ukiyo-e prints and modern manga.
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Kids in Sumo. Jake Book. The Hakuho Cup.
April 7th, 2021 | 38 mins 41 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho cup, improv comedy, jake book, japan, kaboom, kids, nhk, ohayo, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, youth
It's all about kids in sumo.
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March Basho Days 11-15
March 31st, 2021 | 57 mins 19 secs
basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, march, nhk, ozeki, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takayasu, terunofuji, tournament
Our special blend of March 2021 Basho commentary. Leslie's heartbreak. Laurie's excitement.
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March Basho Days 4-10
March 23rd, 2021 | 1 hr 2 mins
basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, haru, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, march, nhk, ozeki, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takayasu, terunofuji, tournament
So much good sumo! We give you an overview of days 4-10 of the March basho.
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March Basho Days 1-3, The Hakuho Full Circle
March 16th, 2021 | 1 hr 8 mins
asanoyama, comedy, daieisho, days 1 - 3, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, march basho, midorifuji, nhk, podcast, shodai, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, terunofuji, tournament
We covered a lot of ground here, because there's a lot of good sumo happening! We go full circle on Hakuho, break down our favorite matches and yet still can't seem to do the conversion of kilos to pounds.
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Sumo Brothers
March 10th, 2021 | 42 mins 31 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hidenoumi, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, royal family, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takanohana, tobizaru, tournament, wakanohana
Brothers competing in sumo at the same time isn't as unusual as you might think. This week we look at Wakanohana, Takanohana, Hidenoumi, and Tobizaru.
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Eros Armstrong and Sumo Trailblazers
March 3rd, 2021 | 43 mins 9 secs
armstrong, comedy, eros, female, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, olympics, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, trailblazer, wins, women
Eros Armstrong and sumo trailblazers. Yeah, we're talking about women in sumo. Because they rock.
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Black History Month
February 24th, 2021 | 31 mins 10 secs
black history, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, henri, henry, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, manny, manny yarbrough, miller, nhk, podcast, sentoryu, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tiny, tournament, yarbrough, yasuke
Black history in the world of sumo wrestling. We celebrate Yasuke, Henry Sentoryu Miller, and Tiny Manny Yarbrough.
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Love and Marriage. Sort of.
February 17th, 2021 | 43 mins 53 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, love, marriage, nhk, podcast, poetry, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo Love and Marriage. Sorta.
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Pre Bout Rituals
February 10th, 2021 | 35 mins 43 secs
abi, asashoryu, chin tap, comedy, crab walk, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, harumafuji, hokutofuji, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kotoshogiku, nhk, podcast, pre bout, prebout ritual, shuffle, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takakeisho, takamisakari belly thwacks, takayasu, terutsuyoshi, tochinoshin, tournament
What so sumo wrestlers do before each match? And why the heck are they doing it?
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Who's Tochinoumi? Confused about Special Prizes?
February 3rd, 2021 | 41 mins 54 secs
comedy, fighting spirit, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, outstanding performance, podcast, sansho, special prizes, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, technique, tochinoumi, tournament
Yokozuna Tochinoumi - who was he? And, are you confused about Special Prizes? We are too.
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January Basho, Days 11 - 15
January 26th, 2021 | 50 mins 44 secs
comedy, daieisho, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament
January basho days 11 - 15. The highlights. The best moves. The weird judging and great slo mo.