October 2006

Shoryu Rocks:  What Else Is New?

The 600-Win Club

   
Shoryu Rocks:  What Else is New?
Miyabi Meets Criteria for Re-Promotion
by “Yukikaze" for SUMO SHIMPO

For the first time since the Taiho era, one rikishi is clearly showing prohibitive dominance over the world of professional sumo.

With his 26th birthday fast approaching, and absolutely no need to prove anything to anyone except the history of the sport, yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (Mongolia) continued his absolute, not-always-benificent reign over the dohyo’s sacred terrain.  A day 6 loss to komusubi-East KISENOSATO turned out to be just another small pebble on the rails of the unstoppable “Mongolian Express”.  He clinched a tie on day 14 despite falling to ozeki #1-West CHIYOTAIKAI, then disposed of fellow countryman (and most dangerous rival) ozeki #1-East HAKUHO on senshuraku to settle matters.  SHORYU’s 13-2 finish garnered him his 18th Emperor’s Cup in 35 Makunouchi Division tournaments.  The final day win over HAKUHO was top-division victory number 400, against 108 losses and 17 absences.

After winning the yusho in May, many were probably hopeful that HAKUHO would become a strong counterweight to SHORYU.  That might still happen; but a flat-looking 8-7 posting indicated that “Sleeping Thunder” still needs some seasoning before he can take that last step.  A 10-5 effort (including a win over SHORYU) showed that TAIKAI should not yet be dismissed as a spent force.  The “Sofia Skyscraper”, ozeki #2-West KOTOOSHU (Bulgaria) finally showed he was capable of putting up numbers worthy of ozeki rank:  he also finished with a 10-5.  #3-West TOCHIAZUMA has been having problems as of late, but managed to put them aside and punch out a 9-6 effort.  If any ozeki showed serious weakness, it was #2-East KAIO.  The “Human Juicer” got badly squeezed himself, with only one win in his first six torikumi before pulling out.  The resultant 1-6-8 puts the Tomozuna heyagashira into kadoban yet again.

Sekiwake-East MIYABIYAMA’s recent power run has slowed a bit.  After going 14-1 and 10-5 in his last two tourneys, he fell off just a hair and ended this basho with a 9-6 mark.  This still gives him a 33-12 record in his last three outings while in the sekiwake rank – which, by the rules currently in force, should earn him a re-promotion to ozeki.  The trouble is:  with five men already holding that rank, the promotion committee has been making noises about being sticky.  They shouldn’t be – the rules are there for all to see, and the former college champion has met the criteria.  KAIO and AZUMA are both showing signs of weakness and may both fall out in the coming year.  MIYABIYAMA should receive what he has earned.  The rest of the lower sanyaku did just enough to hold onto their paychecks.  Sekiwake-West KOTOMITSUKI finished with yet another 8‑7 mark.  Both men in the “killer rank” made 8-7 as well.  KISENOSATO’s win over SHORYU earned him the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize).  Pioneering “Eurikishi” KOKKAI (Georgia Republic) finally made the ranks of the joi-jin at komusubi-West, and will be able to enjoy it for at least two more months.  He is now eligible to purchase a toshiyori IF he becomes a Japanese citizen.

On day 6, maegashira #6-East AMA (Mongolia) who at 253 pounds could make middleweight in an amateur competition, was 6-0 and leading the yusho race.  Subsequent losses to HAKUHO, SHORYU and AZUMA still left the smallest man on the banzuke’s top row with an 11-4 mark and the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize).  He shares top maegashira performance honors with #3-West AMINISHIKI, who also went 11-4 and took the Gino-Sho (Technique Prize).  Other notable hiramaku showings:

#1-West ROHO (Russia) (10-5)
#5-West IWAKIYAMA (10-5)
#7-East FUTENO (9-6)
#7-West KOTOSHOGIKU (10-5)
#8-West KAKIZOE (9-6)
#10-East TAKEKAZE (10-5)
#13-East HOKUTORIKI (10-5)

In Juryo:  #3-East TOYOZAKURA and #8-East TAKANOWAKA finished with 11-4 records.  TAKA won the playoff for the yusho in professional sumo’s Triple-A division.  Other honorable mentions among the ‘contenders’:

#1-West KAKURYU (9-6)
#2-West USHIOMARU (9-6)
#4-West KITAZAKURA (10-5)
#5-East OTSUKASA (10-5)
#10-East OGA (9-6)
#11-East TOCHIOZAN (9-6)
#11-West WAKATOBA (9-6)

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The 600-Win Club

(updated after Aki 2006)

* Non-Japanese

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“Legendary” Yokozuna (10+ Yusho)

(updated after Aki 2006)

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

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SHUUBUN 2006
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

SHUUBUN (the Japanese term for the occasion of the Fall Equinox) debuted in 2002 with the sub-title “The Fall Housecleaning and Surplus Medal Close-Out Tournament.”  Since then, it (along with its Spring Equinox counterpart SHUNBUN) have become staples of the Southern California sumo calendar.  The basic idea is to hold it as close to the actual day as possible (although one year we didn’t hold it until late October).  The last two years it’s been a week late to accommodate the Georgia Sumo Open.  Both of these contests are always held at the “Dohyo of Dreams” in Garden Grove, California.

With Trent Sabo in Japan training for the World Championships, Troy Collins leaving for Osaka the next day, and no Mongolians prowling the area, the turnout for SHUUBUN 2006 was a little smaller than usual.  Still, with seven men and three little girls, we were well above the all-time low turnout for a DoD tournament of four contestants.  With this writer donning his black bow tie and whites and Matsuzaki-san serving as judge, action commenced with the little girls.  Some very good matches saw Judy Morrow prevail over Shannon Cochran and Hannah Crosby.

The men’s lightweight division saw Jason Gilbert and Art Morrow stage a replay of the California Sumo Championships with Jason again emerging as the victor.  The men’s middleweights saw Bradley Sutton upset Doug Cochran in the first match on his way to the championship.  Doug was second and Glenn Crosby (who is trying to get down to lightweight, but not there yet) took third.

Heavyweight action saw Dan Kalbfleisch take two in a row from Jim Lowerre.  Jim then had to face Art Morrow in Master’s Open action.  After a good struggle, Art was able to dump Jim on his back with a nice soto gake.  Between this and one of the falls he’d taken in one of his matches with Dan Jim had to bow out, giving a fusensho win to Glenn.  Glenn then beat Art for the Masters gold.

The men’s open saw its smallest lineup ever, with only four sumotori (Dan, Doug, Bradley and Glenn) answering the bell.  They finished in that order, as Doug was able to avenge his earlier loss to Bradley.

We thought that was going to be the end of the day, but the girls wanted more action, not against each other but versus Dan!  The first match saw Hannah and Judy go down or out, leaving Shannon to face the monster alone.  The monster lifted her over his head and carried her out of the ring.  Unfortunately for him, he was ruled to have stepped out backwards, giving the win to the girls.  In the next match, the monster scooped up all three girls and carried them out of the ring.  The rubber match saw the superior stamina and technique of the girls prevail as they forced the monster out of the ring for a decisive win.

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RESULTS OF SHUUBUN 2006 (The Fall Equinox Tournament)
(“Dohyo of Dreams”, Garden Grove, CA)

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