73-Year-Old Jam Maker Now Leads Global Sumo Federation

Between perfecting her homemade preserves and judging country show competitions, 73-year-old Katrina Watts jets off to announce sumo wrestling championships around the world.

The Murwillumbah grandmother stumbled into the ancient Japanese sport by pure chance while teaching English in Osaka decades ago. She attended one match out of curiosity and fell completely in love with the traditions she witnessed ringside.

As a hobby photographer, Watts started capturing images of the wrestlers during training sessions. One accidental shot changed everything: a teenage sumo wrestler having his hair styled in traditional fashion while his companion played a Game Boy beside him.

That single photograph of old meeting new sparked a 25-year journey into the heart of Japanese sumo culture. Watts became a fixture at matches, recognizable by her meter-long braid and her homemade Anzac biscuits (never chocolate, though, as black is considered unlucky for superstitious wrestlers).

Her regular attendance caught the attention of Japan's national broadcaster. They needed an English-language commentator who truly understood the sport, and Watts had become an accidental expert through years of watching, photographing, and asking questions.

What started as guest commentary evolved into stadium announcing, interpreting, and eventually working with the sport's governing body. Watts became family to the sumo community, finding a fulfilling life she never expected.

When she returned to Australia in 2005, she couldn't leave sumo behind. She joined the Amateur Australian Sumo Wrestling organization as president and now serves as executive director of the International Sumo Federation.

Sunny's Take

Watts embodies the magic of following curiosity wherever it leads. She didn't set out to become a global authority on an ancient sport, she just showed up with genuine interest and homemade cookies. Her story reminds us that passion projects can transform into purpose when we stay open to unexpected paths.

This October, she'll announce the Sumo World Championships in Azerbaijan (currently brushing up on her Russian). If she makes it home in time, she'll enter her jams at the Murwillumbah Show in November, balancing two completely different worlds with equal joy.

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