The Japan Sumo Association says it will conduct a survey to examine the tradition of keeping women out of the professional sumo ring.
The Japan Sumo Association says it will conduct a survey to examine the tradition of keeping women out of the professional sumo ring.
The association announced the plan after an emergency board meeting on Saturday. It followed a series of incidents that sparked debate about the ban. Earlier this month, an association official repeatedly told women to leave the ring over a loudspeaker as they attempted to provide first aid to the mayor of the city of Maizuru who had collapsed during a speech. Also this month, the mayor of the city of Takarazuka was barred from giving a speech from inside the ring because of her sex.
