This photo taken from a Mainichi Shimbun helicopter shows the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO -- Ahead of sumo's first regional tournament in Japan for over a year, all members of the Japan Sumo Association have tested negative for the virus in polymerase chain reactions tests, with wrestlers and stablemasters set to be vaccinated over June 23 and 24, the association announced June 21.

       The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament beginning July 4 at Dolphins Arena in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi will be the first tourney held outside Tokyo for 16 months. "Taking thorough infection prevention measures is a prerequisite to entering Nagoya," said Shibatayama, the association's director of communications and former Yokozuna Onokuni.

       (Japanese original by Hironobu Murakoso, Sports News Department)

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