Female mayor visits JSA, seeks end to male-only sumo tradition

The female mayor of a city in western Japan visited sumo's governing body Thursday and asked it to reconsider its longstanding policies excluding women and embrace gender equality.Takarazuka Mayor Tomoko Nakagawa, who was barred from entering a sumo dohyo ring on the grounds of gender, met with the Japan Sumo Association's public relations chief Shibatayama and asked that the "nyonin kinsei" (no females allowed) policy be tabled for discussion."Mr. Shibatayama said he heard me as a member of the (JSA) board and said they will hold discussions. I hope that this takes us forward and tradition…READ FULL ARTICLE