As fans wait to hear whether there will be a Spring Grand Sumo Tournament next week, a group of young sumo hopefuls gathered for their first test on Saturday, where stablemasters in protective masks added to a tense atmosphere.Having passed their mandatory physicals at an Osaka hospital, the 45 "shin deshi" or new sumo apprentices were shepherded by sumo elders and officials -- all required to wear masks. While the world around them worries about the potential of a global epidemic, the aspirants shared their views as they entered a new phase in their lives.Because March is the end of Japan'…READ FULL ARTICLE
