Competition
How a Sumo Tournament Moves from Opening Ritual to Final Bout
Follow a sumo tournament from ring ceremony to final bout, with clear cues for reading the daily schedule, pre-bout…
All the stories
All stories
Explore explanations and perspectives on eastern Asian sports, from game rules and competition formats to sporting traditions and playing spaces.
Regional Games
Sepak Takraw and Volleyball: Two Nets, Different Ways to Keep the Ball Moving
Sepak takraw and volleyball use a net in sharply different ways; learn how each game’s rules shape movement, teamwork…
Traditions
How Japan’s School Sports Day Became a Festival of the School Year
Japan’s school sports day grew from organized physical education into a school festival. See how its routines, public…
Rules
What a Kendo Match’s Points Do Not Tell You
Kendo match scoring makes more sense when you look beyond contact: learn how formal criteria guide judges and what to…
Playing Spaces
A First Visit to a Community Dragon Boat Race
A first visit to a community dragon boat race is easier to enjoy when you know where to stand, what to watch at the…
Our point of view
Sport makes sense in its own context
A game is more than its score. Its rules, setting and traditions help explain why people play and watch it as they do.