2004 in sumo
Encyclopedia
Tournaments
- Hatsu bashoHonbashoA is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
, Ryogoku KokugikanRyogoku Kokugikan, also known as Sumo Hall, is an indoor sporting arena located in the Ryōgoku neighborhood of Sumida, one of the 23 wards of Tokyo in Japan, next to the Edo-Tokyo Museum. It is the third building built in Tokyo associated with the name kokugikan. The current building was opened in 1985 and has a...
, TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 11 - 25 January - Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, 14 - 28 March - Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 - 23 May
- Nagoya basho, Aichi Prefectural GymnasiumAichi Prefectural GymnasiumThe is an all purpose gymnasium in Aichi, Japan, built in 1964. Located on the site of the secondary enclosure of Nagoya Castle, it is host to numerous concerts and events...
, Nagoya, 4 -18 July - Aki basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 - 26 September
- Kyushu basho, Fukuoka International Centre, KyushuKyushuis the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, 14 - 28 November
News
January
- At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, achieving his first ever undefeated yushoYushoA Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
, Yokozuna Asashoryu wins his 5th championship. Runner-up is former sekiwake Kotomitsuki, who has fallen temporarily to a maegashira rank but produces a fine 13-2 score and wins the Fighting Spirit PrizeSansho (Sumo)Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.-Criteria:...
. Kakizoe wins 11 and is rewarded with the Technique Prize and promotion to the sanyaku ranks for the first time. Ozeki Tochiazuma, who was hoping for yokozuna promotion after winning the previous tournament, can only produce a disappointing 9-6 score. Former komusubi Wakanoyama wins the juryo division championship. The makushita championship is won by the 17 year old Hagiwara (now Kisenosato) with a perfect 7-0 record. Announcing their retirements are former komusubi Oginishiki and two former juryo veterans; the 38 year old Argentine Hoshitango and the 39 year old Mutsuhokkai, whose career spanned 23 years. - The retirement ceremonies of former sekiwake Akinoshima and former komusubi Daizen take place at the Kokougikan.
February
- Former ozeki Takanohana KenshiTakanohana KenshiTakanohana Kenshi 貴ノ花健士 was a sumo wrestler from Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, which he held for fifty tournaments. As an active rikishi he was extremely popular and was nicknamed the "prince of sumo" due to his good looks and relatively slim build...
, head of the Futagoyama stable, previously known as Fujishima stable, steps down due to ill health and passes control over to his son Takanohana KojiTakanohana Kojiis a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever...
, who renames the stable Takanohana stableTakanohana stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was known as Futagoyama stable until 2004.-History:Futagoyama stable was established in 1962 by former Yokozuna Wakanohana Kanji I, who branched off from Hanakago stable and converted his home near the Minami...
. - Former sekiwake Terao branches out from Izutsu stableIzutsu stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze group of stables.The stable was established in the Meiji era by former yokozuna Nishinoumi Kajirō I, the 16th yokozuna, who became the 7th Izutsu-oyakata. He was succeeded by Nishinoumi Kajirō II, the 25th yokozuna...
and opens his own Shikoroyama stableShikoroyama stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was established in its current form in February 2004 by former sekiwake Terao, who branched off from Izutsu stable. He did not take any established rikishi with him, recruiting all his rikishi himself instead. As...
. - The Sumo Association hold exhibition tournaments in South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, visiting SeoulSeoulSeoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
on the 14th and 15th, and Pusan on the 18th. Former top division wrestler Kasugao is from South Korea and is enthusiastically cheered on by the crowds. Asashoryu wins the exhibitions.
March
- At the Haru basho in Osaka, Asashoryu chalks up a second 15-0 championship in a row to take his 6th overall. His winning streak now stands at 30 matches. The ozeki KaioKaio HiroyukiKaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...
and ChiyotaikaiChiyotaikai RyujiChiyotaikai Ryūji , is a Japanese former sumo wrestler. He made his professional debut in 1992 and reached the top makuuchi division in 1997. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for 65 consecutive tournaments from 1999 until 2009, making him the longest serving ōzeki in the modern...
both have excellent tournaments and finish runners-up on 13-2. Tochiazuma, by contrast, drops out after only two days. The fourth ozeki Musoyama, who was in danger of demotion, retains his rank with a 9-6 score. Maegashira 12 Asasekiryu is the third runner-up on 13-2 and wins two special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique. Former sekiwake Kotonowaka, at the age of nearly 36, wins 11 matches and his fourth Fighting Spirit Prize. MongoliaMongoliaMongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n Hakuho wins the juryo championship after a playoff with Hayateumi and earns promotion to the top makuuchiMakuuchior is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
division. BulgariaBulgariaBulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Kotoōshū wins the makushita championship with a 7-0 score and is promoted to juryo along with Hagiwara and Toyonoshima. - The Takekuma stable, run by the former sekiwake Kurohimeyama, shuts down.
May
- At the Natsu basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu's winning streak is sensationally halted at 35 by maegashira Hokutoriki, who has never defeated a yokozuna before. Hokutoriki remains in contention for the title right up until the end of the tournament. Coming in to Day 15 on 13-1, one win ahead of Asashoryu, he is defeated by Hakuho (who scores 12-3 and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize in his debut top division tournament) and subsequently loses a playoff to Asashoryu, who wins his 3rd championship in a row, and his 7th overall. Hokutoriki is rewarded with the Outstanding Performance and Technique Prizes. Tochiazuma is still unable to compete and loses his ozeki status. Veteran former ozeki Takanonami, who has been fighting in the maegashira ranks for most of the last four years, announces his retirement, leaving the newly re-named Takanohana stable without any sekitoriSekitoriA sekitori is a sumo wrestler who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: makuuchi and juryo.Currently there are 70 rikishi in these divisions...
ranked wrestlers. Former komusubi Hamanoshima, in the makushita division for the last two years, and former maegashira Wakanojo, who has fallen all the way to the jonidan division, also retire. Mongolian Tokitenku wins the juryo division championship. Two EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n wrestlers, Baruto and Kitaoji, make their professional debuts. (Kitaoji quits after only three tournaments.)
July
- At the Nagoya basho, Asashoryu takes his 4th yushoYushoA Yūshō is a tournament championship in sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual honbasho or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most number of bouts. Yūshō are awarded in all six professional sumo divisions...
in a row with a 13-2 record. His wins include an extraordinary victory over Kotonowaka on Day 8, in a rematch after he was on the brink of defeat in the first bout.Runners-up are maegashira Miyabiyama and Toyozakura, who each score 12-3. Toyozakura wins the Fighting Spirit Award (no other prizes are given out this time). Kaio scores 11-4. Tochiazuma regains his ozeki rank by winning ten bouts, the fourth man to achieve this after Mienoumi, Takanonami and Musoyama. Hokutoriki, who was promoted to sekiwake after his fine performance in May, manages to win only three matches. Kotooshu wins the juryo championship with a 13-2 score and earns promotion to the top division.
August
- Former juryo wrestler Kanechika takes over the Miyagino stableMiyagino stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon or group of stables. It was founded by the 43rd Yokozuna Yoshibayama as Yoshibayama dōjō while he was still an active wrestler, before changing to its current name in 1960....
, replacing the former maegashira Chikubayama, mentor of Hakuho, who stays on as an assistant coach. The new Miyagino Oyakata has no connection to the stable, having wrestled for Kitanoumi stableKitanoumi stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It was set up in 1985 by former yokozuna Kitanoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable. It absorbed Hatachiyama stable in 2006, following the death of its head coach, former ozeki Hokuten'yū...
, but he has been adopted by the widow of a previous head of the stable.
September
- At the Aki basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu's chance for a clean sweep of the 2004 tournaments is dashed when he pulls off a poor 9-6 record and KaioKaio HiroyukiKaiō Hiroyuki is a former professional sumo wrestler from Nōgata, Fukuoka, Japan.He made his debut in 1988, reaching the top makuuchi division in 1993. He held the second highest rank of ōzeki or champion for eleven years from 2000 to 2011, and is the longest-serving ozeki of all time in terms of...
gets his 5th (and currently last) championship with a 13-2 record. Asashoryu's mediocre performance is attributed to a lack of training due to his wedding reception on 31 August. Tochinonada and Kyokushuzan finish runners-up on 11-4, with Tochinonada receiving the Outstanding Performance Prize, while Roho and Kotonowaka each score ten and share the Fighting Spirit award. Musoyama and Tochiazuma both drop out through injury and will be kadoban in November. AmaAma KoheiHarumafuji Kōhei , previously known as Ama Kōhei, is a sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in 2001 and reached the top makuuchi division in 2004. A relative lightweight noted for his technical skill, he has won ten special prizes for his achievements in tournaments...
wins the juryo championship with an 11-4 score. Tamaasuka wins the makushita title with a perfect 7-0 record and reaches the sekitori ranks for the first time. Hagiwara is promoted to the top division alongside Ama, changing his name to Kisenosato. At 18 years and 3 months he is the second youngest after Takanohana II to achieve this. - Former sekiwake Masudayama of the Kasugano stableKasugano stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. As of November 2007 it had 24 wrestlers. It is currently one of the most successful stables, with five sekitori wrestlers, including the Georgian Tochinoshin and the Korean born Tochinowaka, who uses the current head coach's...
leaves to open his own Chiganoura stable.
October
- 2: The retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki of the 67th yokozuna MusashimaruMusashimaru Kōyō, is a former sumo wrestler. He was the second foreign-born wrestler in history to reach the rank of yokozuna. He won over 700 top division bouts and took twelve top division tournament championships during his career. Musashimaru's sheer bulk combined with of height made him a formidable...
takes place at the Kokugikan.
November
- At the Kyushu basho, Asashoryu comes back with a 13-2 championship, his 9th overall. Kaio needed 13 wins to gain promotion to yokozuna but after losing to Kotomitsuki on opening day, Hakuho on Day 10 and Miyabiyama on Day 12 can only manage a runner-up score of 12-3 in his hometown tournament, just one win short. Musoyama announces his retirement on Day 3 and Tochiazuma is demoted once again after pulling out on Day 6, leaving Kaio and Chiyotaikai as the only ozeki. Maegashira 1 Hakuho is runner-up alongside Kaio and receives the Outstanding Performance Prize. Sekiwake Wakanosato records an impressive 11-4 and wins the Technique Award. The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Kotooshu who also scores 11 wins in his second makuuchi tournament. Ishide wins the juryo championship. Former maegashira Oikari retires.