Table of Contents
Japan has a new sumo champion. His name is Onosato. He is Japanese.
Before Onosato, many top sumo wrestlers were from Mongolia. Onosato is very heavy. He weighs 191 kilograms. He is the first Japanese champion since 2017.
Onosato spoke after winning. He wore a special Japanese clothing called a kimono. He said he will train a lot.
Onosato is 24 years old. His real name is Daiki Nakamura. He won two big sumo tournaments to become champion.
Onosato is from Ishikawa, Japan. This area had a bad earthquake in January. Many buildings were broken. Many people died. Onosato wants to make the people of Ishikawa happy.
Sumo is an old sport in Japan. It started over 1,000 years ago. Only Japan has professional sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers live in special homes. They follow old rules.
Onosato will wrestle Hoshoryu next. Hoshoryu is another champion from Mongolia. They will meet in July in Nagoya, Japan.
Vocabulary
- Sumo – A special kind of wrestling from Japan where big people push each other
- Champion – the winner 🏆
- Top – the highest point or rank; the best
- Wrestler – a person who does/plays wrestling
- Heavy – Weighs a lot; not light; opposite of light
- Train – To practice and get ready for a sport or job; exercise
- Tournament – a contest or competition with only one winner after many games/rounds
- Area – A place or part of a place; piece of land, or country; a particular part of a place; somewhere
- Earthquake – a natural event where the ground shakes and moves suddenly and strongly, caused by the movement of rocks deep beneath the earth’s surface
- Building – A structure like a house or a school
- Professional – someone who gets paid money to do their sport or job
- Follow a rule – Do what the rule says; To do what the guideline or instruction says
- Rule – A guideline or regulation; sometimes a law; A guide that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do
- Wrestle – To fight or “play fight” with another person, but no punching or kicking
Discussion Questions
- Onosato wants to make the people of Ishikawa happy after the earthquake. Do you think sports heroes can help people feel better after a bad event? Why or why not?
- Sumo is an old sport in Japan. Do you think it is important to keep old traditions and sports like sumo alive? Why?
- Onosato said it was hard to become a sumo champion. What do you think is the hardest part of being a sumo wrestler?
- Only Japan has professional sumo wrestlers. Do you think sumo should be a professional sport in other countries too? Why?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
Japan _____ a new sumo champion. His name is Onosato. He is _____ .
Before Onosato, many top sumo wrestlers _____ from Mongolia. Onosato is very heavy. He weighs _____ kilograms. He is the first Japanese champion since _____ .
Onosato spoke after _____ . He wore a special Japanese clothing called a kimono. He _____ he will train a lot.
Onosato is 24 _____ old. His real name is Daiki Nakamura. He won two _____ sumo tournaments to become champion.
Onosato _____ from Ishikawa, Japan. This area had a bad earthquake in _____ . Many buildings were broken. _____ people died. Onosato wants to make the people of Ishikawa _____ .
Sumo is an old _____ in Japan. It started over 1,000 years ago. _____ Japan has professional sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers _____ in special homes. They follow old _____ .
Onosato will wrestle Hoshoryu _____ . Hoshoryu is another champion _____ Mongolia. They will meet in July in Nagoya, _____ .
