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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Sumo and Comedy
May 20th, 2020 | 30 mins 28 secs
byamba, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, shobushi, shokkiri, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo and comedy are a good match. This is the perfect week to honor two wrestlers who excelled at them both, Shobushi and Byamba. Also, we explain the comedy sumo routine - shokkiri.
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Yokozuna in the Shadows
May 13th, 2020 | 47 mins 31 secs
comedy, google translate, google translator, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kakuryu, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, yokozuna
This week, Laurie and Leslie talk about yokozunas in the shadows (insert echo effect here). We talk about great and not so great yokozunas throughout history who have been overshadowed by other great yokozunas. We take a deep dive into the awesomeness that is Kakuryu and TRY to pronounce his real Mongolian name. Ya'll, we are terrible at pronouncing Mongolian.
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US Sumo, Justin Kizzart
May 6th, 2020 | 42 mins 19 secs
comedy, dark circle sumo, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, justin kizzart, nhk, shiko, sumo, sumo training, sumo wrestling, tournament, us sumo federation, us sumo nationals
We talk with a US National Sumo gold medalist about training and the state of sumo in Texas and beyond.
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The Tachiai
April 29th, 2020 | 47 mins 45 secs
banzuke, comedy, covid, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kabuki, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tachiai, tournament
The tachiai- what it is and how it's changed. Along with the latest news and questions about sumo wrestling, of course!
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Kanreki and the JSA
April 22nd, 2020 | 36 mins 38 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, japan sumo association, jsa, kanreki, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
What's a Kanreki dohyo-iri and what is the Japan Sumo Association?
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3 Sumo GOATs
April 15th, 2020 | 45 mins 31 secs
chiyonofuji, comedy, goat, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, mawashi, nhk, sumo, sumo humor, sumo wrestling, taiho, tournament, translation, yokozuna
We talk about 3 Greatest Of All Time sumo wrestlers and the grossest thing we've ever heard about mawashi.
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Ladies of Sumo
April 8th, 2020 | 39 mins 27 secs
amateur sumo, comedy, female sumo, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, onna-zumo, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, women in sumo
From the historical to the cheeky. From the onna-zumo to the fierce female wrestlers of today.
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Babies, Bodies and Babes
April 1st, 2020 | 45 mins 10 secs
april, babies, baby crying festival, comedy, fat, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, marriage, nai sumo baby crying festival, nhk, physique, science, sexy, sexy sumo, single, sumo, sumo wrestler, sumo wrestling, tournament, tradition
Why are there so many pictures of sumo wrestlers with babies? Why do sumo wrestlers look like they do? And, why do ladies find them sexy?
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March Basho Day 8 - 15
March 25th, 2020 | 1 hr 1 min
aoiyama, comedy, coronavirus, dohyo-iri, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, improv comedy, japan, kakaryu, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament, yokozuna showdown
Our breakdown of the second week of the March basho 2020.
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March Basho Through Day 7
March 18th, 2020 | 51 mins 21 secs
comedy, coronavirus, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hakuho, haru basho, highlights, improv comedy, japan, kakuryu, kyujo, mitakeumi, nhk, nishikigi, osaka, quiet, spring in japan, sumo, sumo wrestling, takakeisho, takayasu, tokushoryu, tournament, yokozuna
March sumo highlights, crickets, sweet Takayasu and a Hakuho Love Fest
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Sumo Techniques
March 11th, 2020 | 38 mins 36 secs
bout, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, historic bout, historic sumo, improv comedy, japan, kamasutra, kimarite, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Winning moves, breakdowns of historic bouts, and sumo squats. Sumo and the kamasutra.
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March 2020 Basho Preview
March 10th, 2020 | 34 mins 53 secs
basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, grand tournament, improv comedy, japan, march 2020, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Coronovirus. Cherry blossoms. A single Ozeki. Who to watch at the March basho starting March 8th.
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Extra NHK Charity Sumo Event
March 10th, 2020 | 21 mins 18 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Sumo wrestling, karaoke, and little dogs, oh my! What sumo wrestlers do between grand tournaments.
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Sumo Ranking
March 10th, 2020 | 39 mins 45 secs
comedy, goeido, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, ozeki, ranking, social media, sumo, sumo tradition, sumo wrestling, tournament, yokozuna
Sumo news, yokozuna, and the wonderful world of sumo ranking.
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Episode 1: Intro to Sumo Kaboom
March 4th, 2020 | 20 mins 22 secs
comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, nhk, sumo, sumo wrestling, tournament
Introducing Sumo Kaboom, the brainchild of Laurie and Leslie Collins.