Sumo Kaboom

Leslie and Laurie Collins, Texan sisters and diehard sumo fans, talk about all things sumo.

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

  • May Basho Days 1-3

    May 10th, 2022  |  55 mins 40 secs
    1-3, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, may, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Our favorite moments from days 1 - 3.

  • Banzuke, Azumaryu and Midorifuji

    May 3rd, 2022  |  37 mins 36 secs
    azamaryu, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, midorifuji, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Who we are picking to win this yusho. Will we be wrong? Most definitely!

  • Ask Us Anything

    April 20th, 2022  |  1 hr 38 secs
    ask me anything, ask us anything, bruce, bruce h, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tachiai blog, tournament

    We answer great questions from listeners with help from Bruce Henderson of the Tachiai blog.

  • Back to the Basics

    April 13th, 2022  |  48 mins 8 secs
    101, back to basics, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    For the sumo curious.

  • Kinboshi and $$$

    April 6th, 2022  |  37 mins 57 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    An episode inspired by the kinboshi, but we end up breaking down all the ways that pro sumo wrestlers might earn $$$.

  • Haru Days 11-15

    March 30th, 2022  |  59 mins 29 secs
    basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, recap, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takayasu, tournament, wakatakakage

    The Basho of Conflicted Feelings

  • Haru Basho Days 4-10

    March 22nd, 2022  |  52 mins 27 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, haru, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kotonowaka, mitakeumi, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, takayasu, tournament, wakatakakage

    Our best-of breakdown of days 4-10 of the March 2022 basho.

  • Haru Basho Days 1-3

    March 15th, 2022  |  49 mins 12 secs
    basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, haru, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    The unofficial breakdown of days 1-3 of the Haru basho 2022.

  • March Haru Banzuke and Jasper Kenneth/Kotokuzan

    March 9th, 2022  |  37 mins 58 secs
    banzuke, basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, haru, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, kotokuzan, march, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Haru basho breakdown and a quick spotlight on Jasper Kenneth (Kotokuzan)

  • Asashoryu and Hoshoryu

    March 2nd, 2022  |  36 mins 30 secs
    asashoryu, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hoshoryu, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Do you get these two mixed up?

  • The Sumo Elder Maze

    February 23rd, 2022  |  38 mins 2 secs
    comedy, elder, elders, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    We TRY to understand the maze of information that surrounds the world of sumo elders. We don't get far.

  • Who is the Sexiest Rikishi?

    February 15th, 2022  |  55 mins 32 secs
    comedy, erotica, grand sumo, grand sumo breakdown, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sexiest, sexy, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Find out who won this year's Sexiest Rikishi Poll.

  • Part 2 -All About the Hair and Retirement

    February 9th, 2022  |  45 mins 46 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hair, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, konishiki, nhk, podcast, retirement, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Hair and retirement. There's only one person to ask about these topics -Konishiki.

  • All About The Hair

    February 2nd, 2022  |  59 mins 5 secs
    comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hair, improv comedy, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament, yokohama

    The history behind that signature top knot and the men who spend their lives doing sumo hair.

  • January Basho Days 11-15 and BINGO winners

    January 25th, 2022  |  46 mins 39 secs
    2022, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, improv comedy, january, japan, kaboom, mitakeumi, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Who won BINGO? Who won the sumo tournament?

  • January Basho Days 4-10

    January 19th, 2022  |  1 hr 3 mins
    2022, basho, comedy, grand sumo, grand sumo highlights, hatsu, improv comedy, january, japan, kaboom, nhk, podcast, sumo, sumo kaboom, sumo wrestling, tournament

    Who is looking surprisingly agile? Who is flexible and feisty? What sports would we like to see Ura do?