Female mayor battles men-only sumo

TOKYO - A female mayor at the center of a fierce debate over allowing women into the sumo ring vowed on Thursday never to back down as she lodged a formal protest.

"I won't give up this time around. ... I'm determined to make a petition every six months," Tomoko Nakagawa said before taking her case to the sumo authorities in Tokyo.

"I want them never to leave this issue vague. I want the association to hear this voice clearly and start a debate on a review."