|
Musashimaru
is Large and In Charge
Takes
Ninth Yusho in Strong Fashion
by
“Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO
|
By the standards
of most serious sumo fans, the 2001 edition of the Aki Basho had
been thin soup indeed. One
yokozuna had given away FIVE kinboshi – a modern record – and
won only nine of his 15 contests.
The other yokozuna had not even appeared due to serious
knee injury and resulting surgery.
Between injuries and generally poor performance, the ozeki
ranks had been thinned from five down to three – and two of
those were under the dark shadow of kadoban.
Oh, but what a difference two months made!
This writer does not know what went on behind the |
…AND STAY OUT! –
Komusubi-East ASASHORYU makes his point loud and clear by giving
maegashira #10-East TAKANONAMI the ‘bum’s rush’ on Day 11 of the
Kyushu Basho. It was the
Mongolian sensation’s kachi win: he
slammed out a strong 10-5 while the former ozeki went 9-6.
(Photo:
Ken Coller – SUMO NOW!) |
walls of Musashigawa
Beya during that jungyo period – but yokozuna-East MUSASHIMARU came down
to the Kokusai Centre in Fukuoka fully charged and ready to rumble.
And the “Big Kahuna” did just that, rumbling through his first
nine torikumi to take the lead in the yusho race.
He slipped on day 10 and gave a gold star to old warrior,
maegashira #6-East DAIZEN, but won his next three to keep the lead and
force a showdown with his closest pursuer, sekiwake-East TOCHIAZUMA, on
day 14. Tamanoi Beya’s top
deshi had won three of the five previous head-ons they’d fought this
year. But not this one:
he went down hard under the grand champion’s powerful attack, and
the Hawaiian had his ninth Emperor’s Cup firmly in hand.
MUSASHIMARU’s final 13-2 was, beyond any doubt, a
yokozuna-calibre performance.
Yokozuna-West TAKANOHANA
appeared at AKEBONO’s danpatsu-shiki on September 29, but did not
participate in the final dohyo-iri for his retiring former rival because
of his surgically-repaired knee. It
is projected that he won’t be in position to add to his hoard of 22
Tenno-Hai and 685 Makunouchi victories until Haru 2002.
During the Aki contest, MUSOYAMA had been the only ozeki to put on a
showing worthy of the rank. This
earned him the #1‑East slot for the Kyushu contest.
His November performance showed that September was no fluke: he won 5 of his first 6 matches, lost two, then won 3 in a
row to go kachi-koshi on day 11 and finish with an acceptable 9-6.
#2-East KAIO was the hometown favorite.
At the outset, Fukuoka’s home cooking did not seem to help
Tomozuna’s top man much: after
taking 5 of his first 7 he lost three straight to stand even at 5-5.
But he regained control against TOCHIAZUMA and won his remaining
torikumi (including a senshuraku win over MUSASHIMARU) to go 10-5.
The spectre of demotion that had been hovering over his head is
dispelled, but he is a long way from where he’d been earlier this year
when one good basho could have meant yokozuna promotion.
#1-West CHIYOTAIKAI was on the Public Injury shelf alongside
TAKANOHANA: his performance at Hatsu 2002 will be crucial if he wants to
follow in his mentor’s giant footsteps.
With DEJIMA relegated to
the hiramaku and sekiwake #2-West MIYABIYAMA’s return to ozeki status
problematic, TOCHIAZUMA might have felt as legendary samurai chieftain
Tokugawa Ieyasu did once he learned of the death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi –
mainly, that the time had finally arrived for him to ‘seize the day’.
The son of Tamanoi Oyakata came out of the blocks in full charge,
winning his first 7 torikumi. He
was 9-1 after ten days, but fell to KAIO on day 11.
Wins over maegashira #10-East TAKANONAMI and maegashira #4-East
KOTONOWAKA kept him within striking range of MUSASHIMARU.
When the dust settled he possessed a jun-yusho 12-3 and the Gino-Sho
(Technique Prize). In the last three tournaments TOCHIAZUMA compiled a 34-11
win-loss record - and the Nihon Sumo Kyokai responded in due fashion with
his long-expected ozeki promotion (see related article). KOTOMITSUKI had gained the sekiwake #1-West position on the
strength of his yusho-winning 13-2 record in Tokyo. But having soared like an eagle in September, Sadogatake
Beya’s current heyagashira floundered like a wounded duck this time.
It wasn’t until day 14 that he had his eighth victory to assure
himself another two months in the joi-jin ranks:
he finished at 9-6. MIYABIYAMA
was on Kosho Seido.
The
two rikishi in the ‘killer rank’ had worked very hard to gain their
sanyaku paychecks - and both fought hard to keep them with mixed result.
Having been in the yusho chase last basho, komusubi-East ASASHORYU
put out another strong effort to become the first Mongolian rikishi to
hold the Tenno-Hai.
Losses to TOCHIAZUMA, maegashira #1-East WAKANOSATO and KAIO
stopped his title hopes cold; but his 10-5 means he will most likely
become the first sumotori from the East Asian steppes to reach sekiwake.
He also won a share of the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize).
Komusubi-West KAIHO’s shonichi match was against MUSASHIMARU.
When they met last at the Kokugikan, this matchup had resulted in a
kinboshi for the diminutive Hakkaku Beya heyagashira.
But this time the Hawaiian used his massive left hand to slap the
smaller man (then again, everyone is smaller than
MARU) to the clay. KAIHO won
his next 4 torikumi, but finally could not stand against the storm that
rages against those at this rank. Seven
of his next eight matches yielded kuroboshi (‘black stars’) and he
ended his sanyaku experience with a 5-10 record that will put him on the
‘erebeta’ back to the maegashira ranks.
WAKANOSATO, #9-East
KYOKUSHUZAN and #13-West BUYUZAN all went 10-5 to share the top mark among
the hiramaku. WAKANOSATO and
BUYUZAN also shared the Kanto-Sho. Former
ozeki TAKANONAMI finished at 9-6. DAIZEN’s
kinboshi could have won him the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize)
had he finished kachi-koshi; but since he did not, this prize was not
awarded this basho.
The Juryo division
championship went to #3-East OIKARI on the strength of an 11-4 showing
which should return him to top division action.
#12-West TAKAMISAKARI (who, with the retirement of AKEBONO, is the
new heyagashira of Azumazeki Beya) went 10-5.
Joining OIKARI in a return to Makunouchi will be #1-West ASANOWAKA,
who knocked out a 9-6. #8-East
TOWANOYAMA also posted a 9-6 record, as did former komusubi HAMANOSHIMA
whose toes were ‘on the precipice’ at #13-West.
Tochiazuma
Promoted to Ozeki
by
"Yukikaze" for SUMO SHIMPO
On November 28, 2001, the
Nihon Sumo Kyokai announced that sekiwake TOCHIAZUMA will be ranked at
ozeki for the 2002 Hatsu Basho. He is the first deshi from Tamanoi Beya to
earn promotion to sumo’s second-highest rank.
The son of the current
Tamanoi Oyakata (who, as a moto-sekiwake, bore the same shikona), the
Tokyo native (civilian name: Daisuke Shiga) entered professional sumo at
the 1994 Kyushu Basho. He
rose rapidly through the ranks, winning the yusho in each of sumo’s four
junior divisions to ensure promotion to the next-higher division the
following basho. He crossed
the barrier into the sekitori ranks in May of 1996, won the Juryo yusho
and made his debut under the ‘bright lights’ later that year in
Fukuoka. He was a factor in
the yusho chase with a 10-5 record in his first Makunouchi tournament, in
which one more win would have put him in the playoff while two more would
have won it for him outright. His
progress up the hiramaku ladder was also fast:
he made his sanyaku debut at Nagoya in 1997.
TOCHIAZUMA became a steady sanyaku performer, but
shoulder injuries would send him back down to the maegashira more than
once. And it was in the
hiramaku ranks that he started 2001, coming off the Public Injury list
ranked at maegashira #4. He
went 10-5 in Tokyo and was back in the sanyaku at komusubi in March.
Consecutive 9-6 postings moved him back up to sekiwake.
And then, in the second half of 2001, he won 34 of his 45 matches
and was jun-yusho twice. With
DEJIMA dropping back to the hiramaku and MIYABIYAMA demoted pending a
Hatsu 2002 comeback, there was room for another ozeki and TOCHIAZUMA had
proven himself qualified for the slot.
TOCHIAZUMA’s record in
30 Makunouchi tournaments is 253 wins, 159 losses and 48 no-contests.
He has won the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) 3 times,
the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) twice and the Gino-Sho (Technique
Prize) 6 times. He has 4
kinboshi to his credit.
Terao
Sets Longevity Record, But Sits Out Due to Injury
by "Yukikaze"
for SUMO SHIMPO
The 2001 Kyushu Basho marked TERAO’s 105th
appearance on the banzuke ranked as a sekitori.
This eclipses the previous record of 104 sekitori basho set by
moto-sekiwake Takamiyama (now Azumazeki Oyakata) and represents more than
17 years in the paid ranks.
TERAO (civilian name:
Yoshifumi Fukuzono) first appeared on the banzuke for the 1979
Nagoya Basho, when he was 16 years old.
He reached Juryo five years later at the 1984 Nagoya Basho and
ascended to the Makunouchi the following March in Osaka.
He reached his top rank of sekiwake at the 1989 Haru Basho.
At one point, both he and his older brother Sakahoko (now Izutzu
Oyakata) were ranked at sekiwake for the same tournament.
This was the first instance where brothers held the same sanyaku
rank in the same basho (it would later be eclipsed by the TAKA-WAKA
sibling tandem).
The 38-year old Kyushu native spent his
record-setting tournament on the Kosho Seido shelf.
NUMBER OF
CONSECUTIVE TOURNAMENTS RANKED AS A SEKITORI
(Juryo and/or Makunouchi divisions)
Rikishi
|
Basho
|
Start
|
Finish
|
Top Rank
|
|
TERAO
|
105
|
7/84
|
Active
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Takamiyama
|
104
|
3/67
|
5/84
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Mitoizumi
|
99
|
5/84
|
9/00
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Fujitsukasa
|
92
|
1/70
|
3/85
|
N/A
|
|
Chiyonofuji
|
90
|
7/76
|
5/91
|
Yokozuna
|
|
Kirinji
|
89
|
1/74
|
9/88
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Kurama
|
87
|
5/75
|
9/89
|
Sekiwake
|
|
AKINOSHIMA
|
87
|
7/87
|
Active
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Tochihikari
|
86
|
3/73
|
5/87
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Ozutsu
|
86
|
3/78
|
5/92
|
Sekiwake
|
|
Kotoinazuma
|
86
|
5/85
|
7/99
|
Komusubi
|
“Dohyo
of Dreams” Hosts 2001 California Championships
by
"Yukikaze" for SUMO SHIMPO
It
has been over three years since a competition has been held on the "Dohyo
of Dreams". The requirement of using the rubber tawara from the Southern
California Sumo Kyokai’s indoor dohyo was one reason among many for the
long hiatus.
But
on October 14, with its new permanent tawara clearly delineating the
official 15-foot circle, the SCSK’s Garden Grove training facility
played host to the 2001 edition of the California State Sumo Championship.
The weather was just right for the comfort of both the competitors
and the surprising number of spectators who came to watch in the afternoon
sunshine. Three major
competitive groups were present: the SCSK, the LAPD wrestling team and the California Sumo
Association (CSA) from UCLA. Unfortunately,
no female competitors came.
The
first contest was in the Masters or “Old Boys” division.
Since the only two competitors in this bracket were SCSK oyakata
Harry “Tonkatsu” Dudrow and jun-oyakata Jim “Yukikaze” Lowerre, it
went to a best-2-of-3 with two-time world lightweight champion Svetoslav
Binev officiating. The
results were:
Match
1: Lowerre d. Dudrow, 4.30
seconds
Match 2: Lowerre d. Dudrow,
5.64 seconds
There
was a brief break in the action as “Tonkatsu” changed into uniform to
officiate the remaining action.
The
main drama in the lightweight division (<187 lbs.) action was whether
anyone could pull a major upset by toppling Mr. Binev.
The four competitors fought a round-robin:
the results were then used to seed a single-elimination bracket
with a repechage for the bronze. Form
prevailed in the results:
Gold:
Svetoslav Binev (CSA)
Silver: Alex Smith (CSA)
Bronze: Fernando Mora (LAPD)
The
middleweights (187 to 253 lbs.) figured to be dominated by the LAPD team,
which had made a strong showing in the North American Sumo Championships
earlier in the year. There
were four competitors in this class as well, so it also went to
round-robin followed by single-elimination w/repechage.
After the dust cleared this was the result:
Gold:
Troy Collins (LAPD)
Silver: Mark Mireles (LAPD)
Bronze: Joe Davis (CSA)
Before
they began their action, the three heavyweight (>253 lbs.) competitors
informed the referee that, by mutual consent, they would stand by the
results of their round-robin and would not contest a bracket.
This was seen as a blatant move to conserve stamina resources for
the coming Open competition, but there was no objection.
The results were:
Gold:
Marcus “Hokkyokuguma” Barber (SCSK)
Silver: David “Akumu”
Knight (SCSK)
Bronze: Jim “Yukikaze”
Lowerre (SCSK)
The
ten competitors signed up for the Open competition were placed in two
5-man brackets. As last year’s Open division champion, David Knight
received a first-round bye. Svetoslav
Binev received the pass in the other bracket on the strength of his
overall record. Each bracket
was fought as a single-elimination with repechage:
the winner in each bracket would meet to fight for the gold medal
while the two repechage survivors would battle for the bronze. The final matches went this way:
Bronze
Medal match: D. Knight (Hvy)
d. M. Mireles (Mid), 5.68 seconds
The
first gold medal match between S. Binev (Lt) and T. Collins (Mid) was too
close to call, so a torinaoshi was called.
Gold
Medal re-match: Binev d.
Collins, 4.27 seconds
Gold:
Svetoslav Binev (Lt)(CSA)
Silver: Troy Collins (Mid)(LAPD)
Bronze: David Knight (Hvy)(SCSK)
Overall
the competition was very spirited, with excellent yotsu work in the
lighter weight divisions and a good show of power in the heavies and
opens.
Results of the California Sumo Open
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO
On November 4, 2001, the
California Sumo Association hosted the “California Sumo Open” (not to
be confused with the California Open Sumo Championship) at the Blue Room
in the Wooden Center at UCLA. This
was a follow-up to their “USA Open” which was held in August.
As advertised, there was no KONISHIKI, no taiko, no media and no
fee for spectators, just sumo.
Twelve men and two women
competed in four men’s divisions and one women’s division. The results of the spirited competition were as follows:
Women’s Open
1st: Mashid
Tarazizadeh
2nd: Mary Chung
Men’s Lightweight
(<187 lbs.)
1st: Jason Maron
2nd: Eric Trencher-Smith
3rd: Shinsuke Ayaki
Men’s Middleweight
(187-253 lbs.)
1st: Joe Davis
2nd: Troy Collins
3rd: Mark Mireles
Men’s Heavyweight
(>253 lbs.)
1st: Harry Dudrow
2nd: Jim Lowerre
Men’s Open
1st: Troy Collins
2nd: Joe Davis
3rd: Mark Mireles
[back to
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Sumo shimpo home]
JUNIOR
DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS
SEKITORI
BIRTHDAYS for December and January
|
|
|
|
|
ASANOWAKA
|
Wakamatsu
|
12/11/69
|
|
DAIZEN
|
Nishonoseki
|
12/14/64
|
|
KITAZAKURA
|
Kitanoumi
|
12/15/71
|
|
TAMAKASUGA
|
Kataonami
|
01/07/72
|
|
MASUTSUYOSHI
|
Mihogaseki
|
01/22/74
|
Fun
With Japanese
by
"Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO
As
many of our readers know, this writer likes to make up shikona.
He thinks it is fun to play word games with Nihongo.
It is his understanding that the Japanese do as well.
Sometimes what seems like a good idea runs afoul of certain
characteristics of the language...for instance, our idea to translate
American Indian names into Japanese.
Such
names as "Red Cloud," "Crazy Horse," "Standing
Bear" and others seemed like the stuff of good shikona.
However, when we ran some of these past Mr. Matsuzaki we ran into
some snags. Lets take "Red
Cloud" for an example. He
was a Lakota chief who conducted a war in 1866 known as "Red Clouds
war." This would seem to
translate easily, Aka (red) Kumo (cloud).
So, what's the problem? The
problem lays in the fact that many Japanese words are pronounced the same
way and spelled the same way in Roma-ji.
Only the kanji or the context tells you which.
For instance, kumo can also mean spider.
So, instead of "Red Cloud" we could have "Red
Spider"!
One
way past this dilemma is the fact that the Japanese have different words for
the same thing. Red Cloud could
be written Seki (red) un (cloud), but seki can also mean "cough"
and "seat." Un can
mean "fate" or "luck."
Unless you can read kanji, you can't tell.
At
least we had better luck with "Standing Bear."
That renders as “Tachi (standing) Kuma” (bear).
Of
course, some names wouldn't make good shikona for other reasons.
"Sitting Bull" wouldn't do at all. In fact bulls, who fight on four feet, aren't a good choice
for sumo anyway. Bears, and
even roosters, are better choices because they fight on two feet. I'm not sure about Sitting Bull's nephew who's name was
"Bull Bear"!
Honor
for Another LAPD Sumotori
by
“Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO
Lightweight
sumo competitor Fernando Mora has been honored as the LAPD’s senior (30+)
Athlete of the Year.
This
honor was built on his accomplishments in freestyle and Greco-Roman
wrestling. His stats for 2001
are as follows:
June 2001 World Police and Fire Games
5th place, freestyle, 76 kgs
August 2001 California Summer Police and Fire Games
1st place, Greco-Roman 76 kgs; 1st place, freestyle, 76 kgs
September 2001 Nevada Police and Fire Games
1st place, freestyle, 165 lbs; 3rd place, Greco-Roman, 181 lbs
October 2001 Arizona Police and Fire Games
1st place, freestyle, 165 lbs; 1st place, Greco-Roman, 165 lbs
“Freddie”
placed fourth in the lightweight division at the North American Sumo
Championships and took bronze in the recent California State Sumo
Championship.
He shared the gold medal in the NASC team competition with fellow
LAPD officers Troy Collins and Mark Mireles.
TV
Japan Update
In
addition to Dish Network, readers in Southern California can get TV
Japan’s sumo broadcast on the following cable companies: Time Warner South
Bay (Torrance/Gardena) 310-618-9485. Cox
Communications (Rancho Palos Verdes) 310-377-1800.
Adelphia (Redondo Beach, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica.
877-523-3574.
As
we indicated in a previous article, you have to subscribe to TV Japan, so it
is pretty costly unless you like other Japanese programming.
Local
Tournament Update
WHAT:
The 5th Goltz
Sumo Tournament
WHEN: Saturday,
January 19, 2002. Check-in
begins at 8:30AM; matches at 10:00AM
WHERE: Alexander
Hughes Recreation Center, 1701 Danbury Road, Claremont, CA 91711 (see map
below)
WHO:
Amateur sumotori and judoka of both genders, in all ages and weight
classifications from anywhere in the world
COST:
Spectators admitted FREE:
$5.00 entry fee for competitors
[back to top] [back to
Sumo shimpo home]
Gaijin
Rikishi Data and Results
Data from
Moti Dichne’s Sumo Homepage (www.dichne.com)
Shikona
|
Origin
|
Heya
|
Age
|
Highest
|
Nov.
Rank
|
Nov.
Record
|
|
Musashimaru
+
|
Hawaii,USA
|
Musashigawa
|
30
|
Y
|
YE
|
13-2 *
|
|
Asashoryu
|
Mongolia
|
Wakamatsu
|
21
|
K ^
|
KE
|
10-5 *
|
|
Kyokutenho
|
Mongolia
|
Oshima
|
27
|
M 1
|
Mw 5
|
8-7 *
|
|
Kyokushuzan
|
Mongolia
|
Oshima
|
28
|
K
|
Me 9
|
10-5 *
|
|
Sentoryu
|
Missouri,USA
|
Tomozuna
|
32
|
M 12
|
Jw 3
|
8-7 *
|
|
Kuniazuma
|
Brazil
|
Tamanoi
|
26
|
J 4 ^
|
Jw 4
|
7-8
|
|
Asasekiryu
|
Mongolia
|
Wakamatsu
|
20
|
Mk 7 ^
|
Mke 7
|
3-4
|
|
Kasugao
|
South Korea
|
Kasugayama
|
24
|
Mk 8 ^
|
Mkw 8
|
2-5
|
|
Wakaazuma
|
Brazil
|
Tamanoi
|
25
|
J 13
|
Mke 16
|
3-4
|
|
Hoshitango
+
|
Argentina
|
Michinoku
|
36
|
J 3
|
Mkw 23
|
3-4
|
|
Kyokutenzan
|
Mongolia
|
Oshima
|
28
|
Mk 17
|
Mkw 34
|
5-2 *
|
|
Ryuuou
|
Mongolia
|
Miyagino
|
18
|
Sd 27 ^
|
Sdw 27
|
3-4
|
|
Hakuba
|
Mongolia
|
Michinoku
|
18
|
Sd 34
|
Sdw 40
|
4-3 *
|
|
Ama
|
Mongolia
|
Ajigawa
|
17
|
Sd 42 ^
|
Sde 42
|
4-3 *
|
|
Fudouyama
|
Mongolia
|
Takashima
|
18
|
Sd 44 ^
|
Sdw 44
|
1-6
|
|
Azumaou
|
Brazil
|
Tamanoi
|
23
|
Sd 11
|
Sde 49
|
3-4
|
|
Daibanjyaku
|
Mongolia
|
Asahiyama
|
20
|
Sd 67
|
Sdw 84
|
1-6
|
|
Musashiryuu
|
Mongolia
|
Musashigawa
|
19
|
Sd 91 ^
|
Sdw 91
|
4-3 *
|
|
Hoshihikari
|
Mongolia
|
Hakkaku
|
17
|
Sd 95 ^
|
Sdw 95
|
2-5
|
|
Daionji
|
Mongolia
|
Asahiyama
|
19
|
Sd 99 ^
|
Sde 99
|
3-4
|
|
Ryukiyama
|
South Korea
|
Hanakago
|
18
|
Sd 99 ^
|
Sdw 99
|
3-4
|
|
Kokkai
|
Georgia
|
Oitekaze
|
20
|
Joni 3 ^
|
Jonie 3
|
7-0 * @
|
|
Takao
|
China
|
Naruto
|
31
|
Sd 41
|
Joniw 6
|
2-5
|
|
Moukonami
|
Mongolia
|
Tatsunami
|
17
|
Joni 10 ^
|
Joniw 10
|
4-3 *
|
|
Kitakasuga
|
Mongolia
|
Kasugayama
|
19
|
Joni 11 ^
|
Jonie 11
|
2-5
|
|
Hoshizakura
|
Mongolia
|
Hakkaku
|
17
|
Joni 16 ^
|
Jonie 16
|
3-4
|
|
Oorora
|
Russia
|
Kitanoumi
|
18
|
Joni 17 ^
|
Jonie 17
|
3-4
|
|
Daiounami
|
Mongolia
|
Tatsunami
|
18
|
Joni 27 ^
|
Jonie 27
|
3-4
|
|
Senshou
|
Mongolia
|
Shikihide
|
17
|
Joni 47 ^
|
Jonie 47
|
3-4
|
|
Kouryuu
|
Mongolia
|
Hanakago
|
17
|
Joni 28
|
Jonie 49
|
6-1 *
|
|
Daiyuuchi
|
Mongolia
|
Shibatayama
|
18
|
Joni 51 ^
|
Joniw 51
|
5-2 *
|
|
Minaminoshima
|
Tonga
|
Musashigawa
|
18
|
Joni 33
|
Joniw 53
|
6-1 *
|
|
Hakuhou
|
Mongolia
|
Miyagino
|
16
|
Joni 55 ^
|
Jonie 55
|
4-3 *
|
|
Ako
|
Mongolia
|
Ajigawa
|
18
|
Joni 51
|
Jonie 56
|
5-2 *
|
|
Bontenshyou
|
Mongolia
|
Magaki
|
21
|
Joni 37
|
Jonie 63
|
5-2 *
|
|
Daishouchi
|
Mongolia
|
Shibatayama
|
17
|
Joni 73 ^
|
Jonie 73
|
6-1 *
|
|
Daitenzan
|
Mongolia
|
Magaki
|
20
|
Joni 74 ^
|
Joniw 74
|
4-3 *
|
|
Taika
|
Mongolia
|
Shikihide
|
21
|
Joni 71
|
Joniw 87
|
5-2 *
|
|
Hisanoumi
|
Tonga
|
Tagonoura
|
18
|
Joni 74
|
Joniw 92
|
4-3 *
|
|
Daitenshou
|
Mongolia
|
Takashima
|
17
|
Joni 94 ^
|
Jonie 94
|
2-5
|
|
Kuninofuji
|
South Korea
|
Minato
|
17
|
Jono 10
|
Jonow 21
|
4-3 *
|
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
183-156
|
|
M = Maegashira
|
@
= Division yusho
|
|
J
= Juryo (division)
|
^
= Reached highest-ever rank this basho
|
|
Mk
= Makushita (division)
|
*
= Kachi-koshi (winning record)
|
|
Sd
= Sandanme (division)
|
~
= Made sumo debut this basho
|
|
Joni
= Jonidan (division)
|
9-J
= Kosho Seido (Public Injury)
|
|
Jono
= Jonokuchi (division)
|
+
= now has Japanese citizenship
|
The
AGGREGATE PERFORMANCE REPORT for the 2001 sumo year
Compiled by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO
For performance evaluation
purposes, only the 28 rikishi listed on the Makunouchi Division banzuke
for all six 2001 basho were considered here.
Any man relegated to Juryo (even if only for one basho) or promoted
from Juryo at any point during the year was not factored into these
calculations.
To compile the following
data, each qualifying rikishi’s wins in the six 2001 basho were added to
arrive at a TOTAL.
(Y) denotes a yusho winner; (K) marks a Kosho Seido timeout
(0‑0‑15). AVG
is the average number of victories per basho (TOTAL/6): a yokozuna
should average 11.0 or better while an ozeki should ‘weigh in’ with no
less than 9.0. Unlike
baseball (where the number of at-bats will vary from player to player)
every Makunouchi rikishi has 90 official torikumi per year - and that is
cast in stone! PCT
is the rikishi’s victory percentage (TOTAL/90)
for the year.
The record aggregate
performance for a single year is 82-8 (.911), which was set by Kitanoumi in 1978. TAKANOHANA
went 80-10 (.889) in both 1994 and 1995.
Chiyonofuji’s best
aggregate score was 80-10 in 1985.
The aggregate champion for
2001 is:
|
RIKISHI
|
HAT
|
HAR
|
NAT
|
NAG
|
AKI
|
KYU
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PCT.
|
|
MUSASHIMARU
|
14
|
12
|
13
|
12
|
9
|
13Y
|
73
|
12.17
|
.811
|
MARU put on strong performances most of the year, culminating in taking
the Kyushu yusho for his ninth Emperor’s Cup.
His 9-6 lapse in September (in which he gave out a record five
kinboshi) left many long-time fans scratching their heads, but his
November bounce-back put most of those doubts to rest.
With Akebono retired, he
should be the one to beat until TAKANOHANA’s return to action in either
March or May of 2002.
The runner-up is:
|
RIKISHI
|
HAT
|
HAR
|
NAT
|
NAG
|
AKI
|
KYU
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PCT.
|
|
TOCHIAZUMA
|
10
|
9
|
9
|
10
|
12
|
12
|
62
|
10.33
|
.689
|
TOCHI started 2001 in the
maegashira ranks recovering from a shoulder injury, and posted strong
marks the entire year to move back into the sanyaku.
He went 34-11 in the last three contests of the year while ranked
at sekiwake: especially tough
since he has no stablemates in the top division.
The reward for his hard work and fighting spirit arrived at Tamanoi
Beya on November 28. At that
time, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai notified him and his parents that he had been
promoted to ozeki for Hatsu 2002 – the 233rd rikishi to hold the rank
since 1757.
Since an 8-7 record
constitutes kachi-koshi for a tournament, a mark of 48-42 ((8-7)x6)
logically constitutes kachi-koshi for the full year.
This translates to a PCT
of .533 (48/90). The
following rikishi exceeded that PCT
figure to earn a spot among the ‘rest of the best’:
|
RIKISHI
|
HAT
|
HAR
|
NAT
|
NAG
|
AKI
|
KYU
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PCT.
|
|
MUSOYAMA
|
9
|
12
|
9
|
10
|
10
|
9
|
59
|
9.83
|
.656
|
|
ASASHORYU
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
10
|
10
|
53
|
8.83
|
.589
|
|
KOTOMITSUKI
|
4
|
10
|
9
|
6
|
13Y
|
9
|
51
|
8.50
|
.567
|
|
KAIO
|
10
|
13Y
|
4
|
13Y
|
K
|
10
|
50
|
8.33
|
.556
|
|
WAKANOSATO
|
10
|
6
|
8
|
9
|
7
|
10
|
50
|
8.33
|
.556
|
MUSOYAMA had the strongest
record among those already ranked at ozeki, but he is making no apparent
progress toward yokozuna promotion and the sands in his glass are slowly
running out. With TOCHIAZUMA
‘fleeting up’ to ozeki, ASASHORYU should be ranked at sekiwake in
Tokyo (and should get his own postage stamp back home in Mongolia) on his
solid improvement this year. KOTOMITSUKI’s
September performance showed his promise for the future, but he needs to
steady up his game before he can ever hope to assume the historic Kotozakura
shikona. KAIO has all the
tools to be a yokozuna (as demonstrated by his two Tenno-Hai this year)
but until his lower back problems are alleviated his stablemates won’t
be braiding a tsuna anytime soon.
WAKANOSATO has the strength and skill to be a sanyaku fixture (a la
Kotonishiki) but he’ll need to
push his game up by more than a few notches to have any chance of walking
in the footsteps of Takanosato.
The scores for the
remaining Makunouchi veterans of 2001 are:
|
RIKISHI
|
HAT
|
HAR
|
NAT
|
NAG
|
AKI
|
KYU
|
TOTAL
|
AVG.
|
PCT.
|
|
KYOKUTENHO
|
10
|
3
|
6
|
8
|
9
|
8
|
44
|
7.33
|
.489
|
|
TOSANOUMI
|
6
|
10
|
7
|
8
|
8
|
5
|
44
|
7.33
|
.489
|
|
KYOKUSHUZAN
|
8
|
1
|
11
|
7
|
6
|
10
|
43
|
7.17
|
.478
|
|
CHIYOTENZAN
|
8
|
7
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
9
|
42
|
7.00
|
.467
|
|
KAIHO
|
4
|
8
|
6
|
9
|
10
|
5
|
42
|
7.00
|
.467
|
|
KOTONOWAKA
|
5
|
6
|
9
|
8
|
7
|
7
|
42
|
7.00
|
.467
|
|
TOCHINONADA
|
9
|
8
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
7
|
42
|
7.00
|
.467
|
|
AKINOSHIMA
|
7
|
5
|
8
|
4
|
9
|
8
|
41
|
6.83
|
.456
|
|
TAMAKASUGA
|
7
|
9
|
6
|
8
|
5
|
6
|
41
|
6.83
|
.456
|
|
TAKANOWAKA
|
4
|
8
|
5
|
9
|
8
|
6
|
40
|
6.67
|
.444
|
|
TOKITSUUMI
|
8
|
6
|
4
|
11
|
9
|
2
|
40
|
6.67
|
.444
|
|
TAKANOHANA
|
14Y
|
12
|
13Y
|
K
|
K
|
K
|
39
|
6.50
|
.433
|
|
TAKANONAMI
|
6
|
6
|
8
|
5
|
5
|
9
|
39
|
6.50
|
.433
|
|
HIGONOUMI
|
7
|
6
|
11
|
3
|
5
|
4
|
36
|
6.00
|
.400
|
|
DEJIMA
|
7
|
8
|
4
|
3
|
5
|
7
|
34
|
5.67
|
.378
|
|
MIYABIYAMA
|
8
|
7
|
9
|
7
|
3
|
K
|
34
|
5.67
|
.378
|
|
HAYATEUMI
|
K
|
6
|
9
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
33
|
5.50
|
.367
|
|
WAKANOYAMA
|
9
|
6
|
2
|
K
|
8
|
6
|
31
|
5.17
|
.344
|
|
TOCHISAKAE
|
4
|
8
|
7
|
4
|
K
|
7
|
30
|
5.00
|
.333
|
|
CHIYOTAIKAI
|
2
|
K
|
12
|
11
|
4
|
K
|
29
|
4.83
|
.322
|
|
KOTORYU
|
9
|
1
|
K
|
8
|
9
|
1
|
28
|
4.67
|
.311
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Before his knee injury in
May, TAKANOHANA had won 39 contests and the Hatsu and Natsu titles.
On that pace, he would have won 78 torikumi this year and may have
taken at least one more yusho.
If you take TAKANOHANA off
this list, you can see that there was at least one instance in every basho
where one of the men on this portion of the list won 10 bouts or more.
You can also see the ‘erebeta’ in action for many of these men.
NOTE: the two former ozeki from Musashigawa Beya – DEJIMA and
MIYABIYAMA – had the same aggregate score.
How do we refer to KOTORYU
– as the “anchor man” (as at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis) or
the “Red Lantern” (as in the Iditarod sled-dog race)?
Or do you have a different idea?
Send me a note at info@sumoshimpo.com.
Chronological
data supplied by the Steven Gelow sumo page (http://w1.858.telia.com/~u85811045/).
CALENDAR
OF SUMO EVENTS
(compiled
by the SUMO SHIMPO staff)
Goltz Sumo V presented by
the Goltz Judo Club
Alexander Hughes Community Center, Claremont, CA (see map)
January 19, 2002: check-in
begins at 8:30AM
2002 Hatsu Basho:
Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke: December 25, 2001
Shonichi: January 13, 2002
Senshuraku: January 27, 2002
2002 Haru Basho:
Municipal Taiikukan, Osaka
Banzuke: February 25, 2002
Shonichi: March 10, 2002
Senshuraku: March 24, 2002
2002 Natsu Basho:
Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke: April 24, 2002
Shonichi: May 12, 2002
Senshuraku: May 26, 2002
2002 Nagoya Basho:
Prefectural Taiikukan, Nagoya
Banzuke: June 24, 2002
Shonichi: July 7, 2002
Senshuraku: July 21, 2002
2002 Aki Basho:
Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke: August 26, 2002
Shonichi: September 8, 2002
Senshuraku: September 22, 2002
2002 Kyushu Basho:
Kokusai Center, Fukuoka
Banzuke: October 28, 2002
Shonichi: November 10, 2002
Senshuraku: November 24, 2002
|
