TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Brunello, Giorgio
AU  - Yamamura, Eiji
        TI  - Desperately Seeking a Japanese Yokozuna
        PY  - 2023/Oct/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 16536
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp16536
        AB  - Using data on wrestlers and tournaments since the early 1970s, we study promotion practices in Sumo, a Japanese traditional sport. We show that, especially since 2010, foreign-born wrestlers trying to attain the second highest rank in Sumo were treated less favorably than Japanese born wrestlers. Similar practices, however, do not apply to foreign-born wrestlers competing for the top rank, probably because of the much higher public scrutiny attracted by promotions to this rank. Together with the 2010 Reform that effectively restricted access to foreign-born wrestlers, existing promotion practices may favor the return of Japanese born players to the top rank of the game.
        KW  - promotion
KW  - Sumo
KW  - sports
KW  - Japan
        ER  -