Latest news with #Sumo
Spectator
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Magnificently bloodthirsty: 28 Years Later reviewed
First it was 28 Days Later (directed by Danny Boyle, 2002), then 28 Weeks Later (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2007) and now Boyle is back at the helm with 28 Years Later, which is, as I understand it, the first in a new trilogy. This post-apocalyptic horror franchise could go on for ever. As the last film was generally (and rightly) regarded as a desultory cash grab, there is much riding on this one. The verdict? It's entertaining but not outstanding. The biggest surprise is its tonal swerve into sentimentality. Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, however, bring character and heft and, just to put your minds at rest, yes, it's as magnificently bloodthirsty as ever. What you will most want to know is: 28 years after the 'rage virus' was let loose from a chimpanzee laboratory, where the hell are we? We're on an island off England's northeast coast where a group of survivors have retreated. The virus, we are told, has been contained in the UK while the rest of the world has abandoned us, which is mean. The film is also a family drama, with, at its centre, a dad (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a mum (Comer) and their son Spike (Alfie Williams). Spike is now 12 and must embark on a hunting trip to the mainland with his father to learn how to kill 'the infected'. This seemed like madness to me, but there you are. The 'infected' are not zombies as they've never been dead so can't be undead – I'm a stickler for this sort of thing – but they're certainly zombies to all intents and purposes, with their cravings for human flesh and blood. We have skinny, naked, screeching ones who lurch awkwardly (or sprint fast, best of both worlds) and fat, slow ones who crawl the forest floors like Sumo wrestlers with grievous psoriasis. 'There are some strange people on the mainland,' Spike's father tells him at one point. You don't say? There's jeopardy, jump scares and gory moments – such as intestines spilling out of mauled bodies – in freeze-frame. From what I could tell – through my fingers – one of 'the infected' gets an arrow straight to the penis, and while I'm not rooting for them, what an unpleasant way to go. I'd heard that 'the infected' had mutated to be more intelligent but I couldn't see too much evidence for that. The tonal switch happens midway through, when it stops being a father-son story and becomes a sentimental mother-son one. Which means they go on a quest together that brings them into the orbit of Fiennes's character. And while I daren't say too much it does look as if he's been Tango'd. The audience tittered when he first appeared but I hope they were appreciative (after Conclave, I can forgive him anything). Boyles's extensive use of an iPhone gives it the shaky look fans of the original will welcome, while the soundtrack features a brilliantly deployed, century-old recital of Kipling's poem 'Boots'. It could be smarter, with less of a kill-or-be-killed narrative, and I would have liked a crib sheet. Who gets to become a fat Sumo and who doesn't? The second film made a big deal of some people becoming contaminated without symptoms, and that's just gone away? But Comer and Fiennes bring depth – and you can sense some fun was had. The ending, alas, isn't an ending, but a set-up for the next one. I now realise the sequel was filmed simultaneously and is due for release in January. It's called 28 Years Later: Bone Temple. That's cheating, to my mind, and if it picks up where we leave off, shouldn't it be 28 Minutes Later? Get a grip, lads. Get a grip.
Kyodo News
7 days ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Hakuho reveals company, Toyota chairman heads amateurs' body
KYODO NEWS - 8 hours ago - 22:35 | Sports, All, Japan Former grand champion Hakuho announced the name of his new company on Saturday as he looks to promote the sport through the concept of a "world sumo grand slam" after leaving the Japan Sumo Association. Earlier in the day, the Japan Sumo Federation, which oversees the amateur side of the sport, unanimously elected the chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. and long-term Hakuho supporter Akio Toyoda as its new head. Hakuho's new company, Hakuho Dayan Sumo & Sports Inc. named after a Mongolian emperor, was unveiled at a party with some 200 of his supporters in Tokyo, including former Japan football star Keisuke Honda and former Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto. "I'm grateful," Hakuho said during the party after hearing of Toyoda's appointment. The Mongolian-born former yokozuna, who hopes sumo will one day become an Olympic sport, also indicated his intention of attending the sumo world championships in Bangkok in September. Toyoda, a supporter of the former grand champion since his wrestling days, was appointed for a two-year term at the federation after the 69-year-old expressed his interest in taking up the role this spring. The move follows Hakuho's decision to leave the JSA on Monday and promote the sport from outside the ruling body. Hakuho, who won a record 45 Emperor's Cups, left little more than a year after the indefinite closure of the Miyagino stable he had overseen as stablemaster, following revelations that one of his proteges had physically abused younger wrestlers. The 40-year-old has organized the Hakuho Cup, an international youth sumo tournament, since 2010 and his future interaction with the Toyoda-led federation could provide a new opportunity for the sport. Toyota Motor has an amateur sumo team and sponsors a national tournament. "It feels we've welcomed a strong leader," the federation's vice chairman Kozo Katsuda said. "We'll look into the idea (of collaborating with Hakuho) if there is such talk." Related coverage: Sumo: Kotozakura bids to get back on track by focusing on basics Sumo great Hakuho plans to promote sport from outside ruling body Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet
Kyodo News
14-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Hakuho reveals company, Toyota chairman heads amateurs' body
KYODO NEWS - 8 minutes ago - 22:35 | Sports, All, Japan Former grand champion Hakuho announced the name of his new company on Saturday as he looks to promote the sport through the concept of a "world sumo grand slam" after leaving the Japan Sumo Association. Earlier in the day, the Japan Sumo Federation, which oversees the amateur side of the sport, unanimously elected the chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. and long-term Hakuho supporter Akio Toyoda as its new head. Hakuho's new company, Hakuho Dayan Sumo & Sports Inc. named after a Mongolian emperor, was unveiled at a party with some 200 of his supporters in Tokyo, including former Japan football star Keisuke Honda and former Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto. "I'm grateful," Hakuho said during the party after hearing of Toyoda's appointment. The Mongolian-born former yokozuna, who hopes sumo will one day become an Olympic sport, also indicated his intention of attending the sumo world championships in Bangkok in September. Toyoda, a supporter of the former grand champion since his wrestling days, was appointed for a two-year term at the federation after the 69-year-old expressed his interest in taking up the role this spring. The move follows Hakuho's decision to leave the JSA on Monday and promote the sport from outside the ruling body. Hakuho, who won a record 45 Emperor's Cups, left little more than a year after the indefinite closure of the Miyagino stable he had overseen as stablemaster, following revelations that one of his proteges had physically abused younger wrestlers. The 40-year-old has organized the Hakuho Cup, an international youth sumo tournament, since 2010 and his future interaction with the Toyoda-led federation could provide a new opportunity for the sport. Toyota Motor has an amateur sumo team and sponsors a national tournament. "It feels we've welcomed a strong leader," the federation's vice chairman Kozo Katsuda said. "We'll look into the idea (of collaborating with Hakuho) if there is such talk." Related coverage: Sumo: Kotozakura bids to get back on track by focusing on basics Sumo great Hakuho plans to promote sport from outside ruling body Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet
Kyodo News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Kotozakura bids to get back on track by focusing on basics
KYODO NEWS - 8 hours ago - 19:39 | Sports, All Ozeki Kotozakura resumed wrestling practice Friday in preparation for next month's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, emphasizing a back-to-basics approach as he seeks to overcome a run of lackluster results. The 27-year-old has been devoting time to "shiko" stomping exercises and footwork drills since the May tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, where he scraped together a winning record of 8-7. "If you ask me what's needed, I think the basics come first," Kotozakura said. The sparring session at his Sadogatake stable in the city of Matsudo, in his native Chiba Prefecture, was a chance to apply the recent strength and agility training against opponents in the ring. "I'm doing it through trial and error," he said. Kotozakura took part in the rope-tying ceremony for newly promoted yokozuna grand champion Onosato at the end of last month. He acknowledged his frustration at being surpassed by the younger star, but did not elaborate further. "I can't really say anything about it," he said. "You can imagine my feelings." Having also gone 8-7 in March and compiled a forgettable 5-10 record in January, Kotozakura has not achieved a double-digit win total since lifting the Emperor's Cup last November. He will aim for a record worthy of his rank, and potentially take a step toward yokozuna promotion, at the first grand tournament to be held at Nagoya's new IG Arena from July 13. Related coverage: Sumo great Hakuho plans to promote sport from outside ruling body Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet Sumo: Onosato performs ring entry ceremony at Meiji Jingu shrine
Kyodo News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Kotozakura bids to get back on track by focusing on basics
KYODO NEWS - 34 minutes ago - 19:39 | Sports, All Ozeki Kotozakura resumed wrestling practice Friday in preparation for next month's Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, emphasizing a back-to-basics approach as he seeks to overcome a run of lackluster results. The 27-year-old has been devoting time to "shiko" stomping exercises and footwork drills since the May tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, where he scraped together a winning record of 8-7. "If you ask me what's needed, I think the basics come first," Kotozakura said. The sparring session at his Sadogatake stable in the city of Matsudo, in his native Chiba Prefecture, was a chance to apply the recent strength and agility training against opponents in the ring. "I'm doing it through trial and error," he said. Kotozakura took part in the rope-tying ceremony for newly promoted yokozuna grand champion Onosato at the end of last month. He acknowledged his frustration at being surpassed by the younger star, but did not elaborate further. "I can't really say anything about it," he said. "You can imagine my feelings." Having also gone 8-7 in March and compiled a forgettable 5-10 record in January, Kotozakura has not achieved a double-digit win total since lifting the Emperor's Cup last November. He will aim for a record worthy of his rank, and potentially take a step toward yokozuna promotion, at the first grand tournament to be held at Nagoya's new IG Arena from July 13. Related coverage: Sumo great Hakuho plans to promote sport from outside ruling body Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet Sumo: Onosato performs ring entry ceremony at Meiji Jingu shrine
