Despite the fact that it has existed for over two millennia and is famously heavily laden with tradition, modern sumo has embraced many aspects of 21st-century sporting culture.
That may seem incongruous at first glance but a closer examination reveals that Japan¡¯s national sport has, at various points in its history, been at the forefront of innovation.
Perhaps the most notable example came when the Japan Sumo Association introduced instant replay in the late 1960s ¡ª decades before it became commonplace in rugby, soccer or football.
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