Photo by © Nikkan Sports via
The Japan Times Sports
Pre-reading questions:
- What is your favorite sport and why?
- What kind of sports would you like to try in the future and why?
Vocabulary:
- retire /ri-tahyuhr/
- tournament /toor-nuh-muhnt/
- professional /pruh-fesh-uh-nl/
- maintain /meyn-teyn/
- injury /in-juh-ree/
[verb] to stop taking part in a race or competition because of illness or injury
Mr. Park decides to retire from archery because of his poor eyesight.
[noun] a competition involving many competitors in a single sport or game
The father is very proud that his son is winning the tennis tournament.
[adjective] having the type of job that is respected because it involves a high level of education and training
Lionel Messi is a professional football player.
[verb] to continue to have; to keep in existence
They try to maintain a good working relationship in the office.
[noun] physical harm or damage to someone’s body caused by an accident or an attack
She cannot walk properly due to her knee injury.
Kisenosato Yutaka, a sumo grand champion, decides to retire right after three straight losses in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. It was a 15-day tournament held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Hall in Tokyo. He lost to komusubi Mitakeumi, and maegashira Ichinojo and Tochiozan.
He became a professional sumo wrestler in 2002 and reached the top in makuuchi division in 2004. In 2017, he was the first Japanese-born wrestler promoted to yokozuna after 19 years. However, he failed to maintain his title after losing eight succeeding matches because of his injuries.
He became a professional sumo wrestler in 2002 and reached the top in makuuchi division in 2004. In 2017, he was the first Japanese-born wrestler promoted to yokozuna after 19 years. However, he failed to maintain his title after losing eight succeeding matches because of his injuries.
Comprehension Questions:
- Who is Kisenosato Yutaka?
- When did Kisenosato become a sumo wrestler?
- How many matches did he lose before he decided to retire?
- Why did he fail to maintain his title?
- When did he become a yokozuna?
Discussion Questions:
- Have you watched a sumo wrestling match? Tell something about it.
- Who is the most famous sumo wrestler in Japan?
- Do you like sumo wrestling? Why or why not?
- What kind of sports don’t you like and why?
- In your opinion, is playing sports a good exercise? Why or why not?