Japan’s sacred sumo ring is off-limits to women, even its new prime minister (washingtonpost.com) Japan’s sacred sumo ring is off-limits to women, even its new prime minister By Naomi Schanen; Chie Tanaka 2025112205014600 Japan elected its first female prime minister last month. But, despite becoming the country's most powerful person, there is one place Sanae Takaichi is not expected to tread — inside a sumo ring.