While the Swiss watch industry isn’t as lucrative as it once was, last year saw a timely uptick in the value of exports, enabling watchmakers to save face at this year’s gathering of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) in Geneva. The latest figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry show a 7.1 per cent increase in the value of exports in the past year and Richemont, the world’s second-largest luxury-goods group, announced a 5 per cent rise in quarterly sales. The recovery marks a return to form after 2016 and 2017 where a slowdown of sales in China (following a clampdown on gifting) and a drop in watch-buying tourists visiting European cities (following terror attacks) hampered industry growth.

Sumo’s top brass have long been concerned about the dearth of Japan-born grand champions, or Yokozuna. So there was much delight when Kisenosato, a 177kg wrestler from Ibaraki, was elevated to sumo’s highest rank in 2017, the first Japanese Yokozuna in 19 years. Yesterday, however, Kisenosato’s run at the top came to end when he announced his retirement midway through sumo’s new year tournament in Tokyo. At a packed press conference, the bulky champion came close to tears as he thanked fans for their support, saying that a run of injuries meant he felt he couldn’t continue. With his departure there are now two remaining wrestlers with the title – but they are both from Mongolia. With young Japanese turning away from the sport, there could be a long wait for the next Japan-born champ.