Sumos have struggled for years to type text messages, e-mail

TOKYO - After years of fat-fingered struggles to type e-mails and text messages on tiny mobile phone keypads, Japan's sumo wrestlers have been given Apple's iPad to pound with their jumbo-sized digits.

With the sport's reputation tarnished by recent scandals, the Japan Sumo Association is distributing about 60 iPads among all the 51 training stables and top association officials from this week to help improve communication.