2010 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...
, 10 January – 24 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 March – 28 March - Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 May – 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, 11 July – 25 July - Aki basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 September – 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 November – 28 November
January
- 12: At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, 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...
wins his 808th 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 bout by throwing down former ozeki Chiyotaikai, breaking the record set by Chiyonofuji in 1991. It is Chiyotaikai's third defeat in the first three days, leaving his hopes of getting promoted back to ozeki by scoring 10–5 or better virtually gone. - 13: Chiyotaikai announces his retirement from sumo. He will stay in the sumo world as a coach at Kokonoe stableKokonoe stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It was formed in 1967 and is located in Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo. As of April 2008 it had 16 sumo wrestlers.-History:...
, under the name Sanoyama Oyakata. - 19: The 65th Yokozuna Takanohana is told to leave the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stablesHeyaIn sumo wrestling, a heya , usually translated into English as stable, is an organization of sumo wrestlers where they train and live. All wrestlers in professional sumo must belong to one. There are currently 49 heya , all but four of which belong to one of five ichimon...
after announcing that he will run for a position on the board of Directors of the Japan Sumo AssociationJapan Sumo AssociationThe is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Rikishi , gyōji , tokoyama , and yobidashi , are all on the Association's payroll, but the organisation is run...
against the two officially sanctioned candidates for the group. Six of Takanohana's supporters, Otake (the former Takatoriki), Futagoyama (the former Dairyu), Otowayama (the former Takanonami), Tokiwayama (the former Takamisugi), Onomatsu (the former MasuraoMasurao Hiroois a Japanese former sumo wrestler, born in Itoda, Fukuoka Prefecture. Making his professional debut in 1979, he reached the top division in 1985. His highest rank was sekiwake and he won five special prizes in his top division career. He was one of the lightest wrestlers in the top division, and...
) and Magaki (the former Wakanohana IIWakanohana Kanji IIWakanohana Kanji II is a former sumo wrestler from Ōwani, Aomori, Japan. He was the sport's 56th Yokozuna. He is now the head coach of Magaki stable.-Early career:...
), are also kicked out of the ichimon. - 23: Yokozuna Asashoryu wins his 25th yūshōYushoA 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...
or championship by defeating ozeki Harumafuji by shitatenage or underarm throw. His score of 13 wins against just one loss means he cannot be caught by any of his rivals. He is now alone in third place on the all-time list of top division championships, behind only TaihoTaiho KokiTaihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...
and Chiyonofuji. - 24: On the final day of competition, Hakuho defeats Asashoryu to finish runner-up to his yokozuna rival on 12–3. Having lost only four regulation bouts in the whole of 20092009 in sumo-Tournaments:*Hatsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 January - 25 January*Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 15 March - 29 March*Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 May - 24 May...
, his three losses in this tournament (to Baruto, Harumafuji and Kaio) are the most he has suffered since May 2008. Baruto also finishes on 12–3, and wins his first Outstanding Performance Award. Had he achieved kachi-koshi, maegashira Goeido would have received a share of that prize as he defeated Asashoryu earlier in the tournament, but he loses to Aminishiki who receives the Technique Award. The third man on 12–3 is Toyohibiki, who wins the Fighting Spirit Prize. The jūryō division championship is won by GeorgianGeorgia (country)Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
Gagamaru. Two former maegashira who have been fighting in the third makushita division for some time, Tamarikido and Daimanazuru, both announce their retirements. Tamarikido is staying in sumo as Araiso Oyakata, but Daimanazuru is leaving. - 25: Asashoryu is warned over his conduct by Sumo Association head Musashigawa after reportedly punching one of his managers during a drunken night out after Day 6 of the basho.
- 27: The promotions to the jūryō division for the Haru tournament in March are announced. There are three newcomers: Masuraumi (formerly Kurosawa) and DaidoDaidō KenjiDaidō Kenji is a professional sumo wrestler or rikishi. He made his debut in 2005, reaching the top division four years later, debuting in the July, 2011 tournament...
(formerly Nakanishi), both from the Onomatsu stableOnomatsu stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, formerly one of the Nishonoseki ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in its modern form on 1 October 1994 by Masurao Hiroo, who branched off from the now defunct Oshiogawa stable. His first wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division was Katayama in 2005....
, and Sadanofuji from the Sakaigawa stableSakaigawa stableSakaigawa stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi group of stables. It was established in its modern form on 25 May 1998 by former komusubi Ryogoku, who branched off from Dewanoumi stable...
. In addition, Tokushinho from Kise stableKise stableKise stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It established in December 2003 by former maegashira Higonoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable. The stable's first top division wrestler was Ichihara , a former amateur champion, in January 2008...
returns to the jūryō division after two tournaments away. - 28: The weekly magazine Shukan Shincho hits the newsstands and claims that the man allegedly assaulted by Asashoryu was not his manager but another acquaintance in charge of a dance club where Asashoryu was drinking, who received a broken nose. Amid suggestions of a cover-up, the Sumo Association demand an explanation.
- 30: Musashigawa says that Asashoryu has reached an amicable settlement with the man he allegedly attacked, meaning the yokozuna will not face police charges, although the chairman has not seen written confirmation. He confirms that any punishment will not be decided on until the next board meeting on February 4.
- 30: The danpatsu-shiki or retirement ceremony of former maegashira Otsukasa takes place at the Kokugikan.
- 31: The retirement ceremony of former maegashira Ushiomaru is held at the Kokugikan. Asashoryu performs the dohyo-iri and takes a snip of Ushiomaru's hair.
February
- 1: The first contested elections to the Sumo Association's board of Directors since 2002 are held. Independent candidate Takanohana is elected with the necessary ten votes, replacing the 62 year old Oshima who can only manage eight. MichinokuKirishima KazuhiroKirishima Kazuhiro is a former sumo wrestler from Makizono, Kagoshima, Japan, who held the second highest rank of ōzeki from 1990 to 1992 and won one top division tournament championship...
and KagamiyamaTagaryu ShojiTagaryū Shōji is a former sumo wrestler from Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The highest rank he reached was sekiwake. In 1984 he won a top division yusho or tournament championship from the maegashira ranking...
are the other new members of the ten man board. Isenoumi did not run for re-election, as he is due to retire from the Association next year. Musashigawa retains his position as chairman. - 2: Ajigawa Oyakata, the former KoboKobo KenichiKōbō Kenichi is a former sumo wrestler from Kumage, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. His highest rank was maegashira 9.-Career:Kōbō made his professional debut in March 1989 at the age of 15...
, admits that he was one of the oyakata who switched his vote from Oshima to Takanohana, and says he will resign from the Sumo Association. He is however later persuaded to stay. - 2: Tomozuna Oyakata, the former Kaiki, who is heading a committee looking into the Asashoryu affair, says he has spoken to the yokozuna's personal manager (who has said he is standing down to take responsibility for his misleading statement that he was the one attacked) and his driver, who denied reports that Asashoryu punched the man or made threats against him. "The driver did not see Asashoryu slug the man. He said it was nothing like what was reported."
- 4: Following a meeting with the Directors of the Sumo Association, Asashoryu and his stablemaster Takasago announce the yokozuna's retirement from sumo. Asashoryu said, "I have caused a lot of trouble for so many people. I decided to step down to bring this to a closure." Musashigawa told reporters, "He felt compelled to resign for misconduct that was inexcusable, and the board accepted. I want to apologise to sumo fans and the injured person. We will work to ensure this kind of incident never happens again."
- 4: Kataonami Oyakata (former sekiwake Tamanofuji) swaps elder names with Tateyama Oyakata (former sekiwake Tamakasuga), who takes over the running of Kataonami stableKataonami Stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1961 by former sekiwake Tamanoumi Daitaro of the Nishonoseki Stable. Former sekiwake Tamanofuji took over the running of the stable upon Tamanoumi's death in 1987. In February 2010 he passed control over to...
. - 7: The 34th Japan Ozumo one-day knockout exhibition tournament takes place at the Kokugikan. Goeido wins the 2,500,000 yen prize, defeating BarutoBaruto KaitoBaruto Kaito is a professional sumo wrestler from Estonia. Making his debut in May 2004, he is one of only two Estonians ever to join the sport in Japan, and the first to reach the top division, in May 2006...
, Harumafuji, Hakuho (in the semi-final) and Kotooshu (in the final). He is the first Japanese winner since Musoyama in 2003. Masatsukasa takes the jūryō tournament. - 10: The 43rd NHKNHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
charity sumo tournament takes place.
March
- 1: The banzukeBanzukeThis article is about the banzuke document, for a list of wrestlers as ranked on an actual banzuke see List of active sumo wrestlersA , officially called is a document listing the rankings of professional sumo wrestlers published before each official tournament or honbasho. The term can also...
for the upcoming Osaka tournament is released. Asashoryu does not appear in the rankings, and the West Yokozuna position is left blank. There are three newcomers to the top division: Okinoumi, the first wrestler from Shimane PrefectureShimane Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to...
to reach the top division in 88 years, Tokusegawa, the first wrestler from Kiriyama stableKiriyama stablewas a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tatsunami ichimon of group of stables. It was set up in January 1995 by the former komusubi Kurosegawa, who branched out from the now defunct Isegahama stable and took with him the remaining members of the Onaruto stable which closed at the end of 1994....
to reach makuuchi, and Sagatsukasa, who has become the second wrestler after Toyonoshima to make the top division despite not meeting the Sumo Association's requirement to enter sumo of 173cm in height. - 9: Former maegashira Kitazakura announces his retirement at the age of 38. He becomes Onogawa Oyakata. The former Yotsukasa switches to the Sendagawa name vacated by the retirement of former ozeki Maenoyama, who has reached 65 years of age.
- 28: Hakuho wins his thirteenth yūshō with his fifth perfect 15–0 record, defeating Harumafuji on the final day. Baruto finishes runner-up on 14–1, his only defeat being to Hakuho on Day 11. He is awarded Fighting Spirit and Technique Prizes, and is guaranteed promotion to ozeki. Tochiozan is in third place on 11–4. Okinoumi wins his last three bouts to secure kachi-koshi in his debut. Tokusegawa also scores eight wins, but Sagatsukasa falls short with a 6–9, despite being at 5–3 after Day 8. In the jūryō division Kimurayama wins his second yūshō following a three way play-off after he, KoryuKōryū TadaharuKōryū Tadaharu is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator. His highest rank was maegashira 11. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing.-Early years and entry into sumo:...
and Tamaasuka all finish on 11–4. 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 Aoiyama wins the makushita division title at his first attempt with a undefeated 7–0 record. - 31: Baruto's promotion to ozeki is officially confirmed. The decision by the executive board of the Sumo Association was unanimous. He becomes the second European, and eighth foreigner overall, to reach ozeki.
- 31: Three promotions to jūryō for the next tournament are announced. The only newcomer to the division is Komazawa UniversityKomazawa UniversityKomazawa University is one of the oldest universities in Japan. Its history starts in 1592, when a seminary was established to be a center of learning for the young monks of the Sōtō sect, one of the two main Zen Buddhist traditions in Japan.The university in Tokyo campus comprises eight faculties...
graduate Yuya Matsutani of Matsugane stableMatsugane Stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1990 by Wakashimazu of the Futagoyama stable. It has produced three top makuuchi division wrestlers in that time; Wakakosho , Wakatsutomu and Harunoyama...
. Returning to jūryō are Oguruma stableOguruma Stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. In its modern form it dates from 1987 when it was founded by Kotokaze, a former Sadogatake stable wrestler. He gives all his new recruits shikona with the suffix "kaze" , taken from his own fighting name. The first wrestler...
's Mongolian rikishi Hoshikaze and Hakkaku stableHakkaku stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables.The stable was established on 27 September 1993 by former yokozuna Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi, who took with him four wrestlers from Kokonoe stable. The stable has so far produced nine sekitori, and three makuuchi wrestlers...
's Yoshiyuki Kanbayashi, formerly of Kinki UniversityKinki University, or , is a private non-sectarian and coeducational university based in Higashiosaka, Osaka, Japan with campuses in five other locations: Nara, Nara; Ōsakasayama, Osaka; Uchita, Wakayama; Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima; and Iizuka, Fukuoka....
. (Kanbayashi was last ranked in jūryō in November 2006.)
April
- The Spring tour or jungyo visits the following locations:
- 4: Ise ShrineIse Shrineis a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
, Mie PrefectureMie Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province.... - 5: TsuTsu, Mieis the capital of Mie Prefecture, Japan. The city of Tsu is located on Ise Bay, east of the city. Tsu is bounded to the north by Suzuka and Kameyama; to the west by Iga, Nabari, and Nara Prefecture; and to the south by Matsuzaka city.-History:...
, Mie Prefecture - 9: Yasukuni ShrineYasukuni Shrineis a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is dedicated to the soldiers and others who died fighting on behalf of the Emperor of Japan. Currently, its Symbolic Registry of Divinities lists the names of over 2,466,000 enshrined men and women whose lives were dedicated to the service of...
, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - 10: FujisawaFujisawa, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 407,731 and a population density of 5,870 people per km². The total area is 69.51 km²-Geography:...
, Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period... - 18: Iruma, Saitama PrefectureSaitama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...
- 24: Hadano, Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
- 4: Ise Shrine
- 19: Roho and Hakurozan's lawsuit contesting their dismissal from the Sumo Association over cannabis use is rejected by the Tokyo District CourtTokyo District Courtis a district court located at 1-1-4 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. -References:...
, which finds that the procedures followed and the punishments handed out were reasonable. The brothers' lawyer says they will appeal the ruling. - 26: The banzuke for the upcoming tournament in May is released. There are once again five ozeki, with Baruto in the Ozeki 3 West position. There are no newcomers to the top division but Kimurayama, Tochinonada, KoryuKōryū TadaharuKōryū Tadaharu is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator. His highest rank was maegashira 11. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing.-Early years and entry into sumo:...
and Wakakoyu all return. There are no rikishi making their sanyaku debuts for the sixth tournament in a row.
May
- 9–23: At the Natsu basho in Tokyo, Hakuho wins his 14th championship, equalling the total won by WajimaWajima Hiroshiis a former sumo wrestler and professional wrestler from Nanao, Ishikawa, Japan. He was sumo's 54th Yokozuna. He won a total of 14 tournament championships or yusho during his career and retired in March 1981....
. It is his second consecutive perfect 15–0 score and he is now on a winning streak of 32 matches; his second best run after the 33 he won from January to March 2009. In second place is rank-and-filer AranAran HakutoraAran Hakutora is a Russian sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in January 2007 and made the top division in a record eleven tournaments. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake...
on 12–3, who wins the Fighting Spirit prize. He shares the award with Tochinoshin, who defeated four ozeki. Kaio wins his 1000th career match, becoming only the second man after Chiyonofuji to reach this total. New ozeki Baruto finishes on 10–5. The jūryō championship is won for the second time by Bushuyama. - 20: Ozeki Kotomitsuki is accused by the Shukan Shincho of betting on professional baseball, which is illegal in Japan. Kotomitsuki denies the claims. Michinoku OyakataKirishima KazuhiroKirishima Kazuhiro is a former sumo wrestler from Makizono, Kagoshima, Japan, who held the second highest rank of ōzeki from 1990 to 1992 and won one top division tournament championship...
, head of the Sumo Association's Daily Life Guidance department, launches an internal investigation into the matter. - 27: Two coaches, Kise Oyakata (the former Higonoumi) and Kiyomigata Oyakata (the former Dairyugawa), are punished for being implicated in the selling of tickets for last year's Nagoya basho to some 50 yakuzaYakuza, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
gang members of the Yamaguchi-gumiYamaguchi-gumiis Japan's largest and most infamous yakuza organization. It is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi. Its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe pre-WWII....
crime syndicate. Kise is demoted two ranks in the Sumo Association's hierarchy and can no longer continue as the head of Kise stableKise stableKise stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Dewanoumi ichimon or group of stables. It established in December 2003 by former maegashira Higonoumi, who branched off from Mihogaseki stable. The stable's first top division wrestler was Ichihara , a former amateur champion, in January 2008...
, which is to be closed. Kiyomigata escapes with a reprimand. - 29:Former Sumo Association chairman Kitanoumi confirms that his 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...
will take charge of the 27 wrestlers formerly of Kise stable. This means his stable will now have 46 wrestlers, making it the largest in sumo. - 29: The retirement ceremony of former ozeki DejimaDejima TakeharuDejima Takeharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1996, reaching the top makuuchi division the following year...
is held at the Kokugikan.
June
- 15: The results of a survey conducted by the Sumo Association following the gambling allegations against Kotomitsuki show that 65 people in the sumo world have engaged in some form of gambling over the last five years. 29 bet on baseball while the rest were involved in gambling on other activities such as golf, mahjongMahjongMahjong, sometimes spelled Mah Jongg, is a game that originated in China, commonly played by four players...
and hanafudaHanafudaare playing cards of Japanese origin that are used to play a number of games. The name literally translates as "flower cards". The name also refers to games played with those cards.-History:...
games. Kotomitsuki, who has reversed his previous denials and admitted to betting on baseball, is suspended from the forthcoming Nagoya tournament in July following a request from his stablemaster. He was reportedly deep in debt and being blackmailed for "hush money" by members of the yakuza. The Sumo Association, who have turned the results of their survey over to the Japanese ministry of sportMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
, have issued a warning to all 65 of their members involved and will wait for the results of the police investigation into the affair before deciding on any further punishments. - 17: Otake Oyakata, head of the Otake stableOtake stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers.It was set up in 1971, as Taihō stable, by yokozuna Taihō Kōki on his retirement from wrestling. It passed on to his son-in-law Ōtake on his retirement...
, admits that he too has gambled on baseball. He and maegashira Toyonoshima are named in another Shukan Shinko article and are questioned by the Sumo Association's investigative team. - 18: Tokitsukaze Oyakata, Goeido and Toyohibiki are the latest to admit to involvement in illegal baseball gambling.
- 19: The retirement ceremony of former maegashira Tamarikido is held at the Kokugikan.
- 19: Former ozeki Miyabiyama, who belongs to the head of the Sumo Association's stable, admits to gambling on mahjong and other games, but not baseball.
- 20: Tokoike, a tokoyamaTokoyamaA tokoyama is a hairdresser employed by the Japan Sumo Association to cut and prepare sumo wrestlers' hair, which is done in a chonmage style...
at the Onomatsu stable, is the first non wrestler or stablemaster to admit involvement in baseball gambling. - 21: The Sumo Association announces that it will decide on July 4 whether the Nagoya tournament should go ahead. The list of names mixed up in the scandal continues to grow with Chiyohakuho now added, while Miyabiyama has reportedly admitted betting on baseball as well.
- 22: Kotoshogiku, Futeno and Kiyoseumi are latest sekitori to admit to gambling.
- 22: Nagatanien, a maker of noodles, rice mixes and soups, announces that it has cancelled its 12 million yen ($130,000) sponsorship for the Nagoya tournament due to the gambling scandal. A statement read, "We hope this traditional national sport will become clean."
- 24:A former makushita level wrestler, Mitsutomo Furuichi (known as Wakaryusei while active) is arrested on suspicion of extorting 3.5 million yen from Kotomitsuki, who indicated to those close around him in March that Furuichi had links to organised crime.
- 28:Ahead of an emergency board meeting, Otake Oyakata submits a letter of resignation to the Sumo Association. He now claims that the 5 million yen that Kotomitsuki attempted to collect from a gambling intermediary, that led to the extortion attempt, was in fact Otake's own winnings.
- 28: The emergency meeting decides to accept the recommendations of a special oversight panel and go ahead with the Nagoya basho on July 11. It indicates that Kotomitsuki and Otake Oyakata will both be fired from the sport, although a formal vote will not be taken until July 4. In addition, Tokitsukaze Oyakata will face demotion, while six makuuchi wrestlers (Toyonoshima, Miyabiyama, Toyohibiki, Goeido, Okinoumi and Wakakoyu), five from jūryō and two from makushita will be suspended for Nagoya. The panel has also recommended the suspension of Musashigawa and three other directors (Kokonoe, Michinoku and Dewanoumi) for the tournament, and the closure of the Otake and Tokitsukaze stables.
July
- 1: Fuji XeroxFuji Xeroxis a joint venture partnership between the Japanese photographic firm Fuji Photo Film Co. and the American document management company Xerox to develop, produce and sell xerographic and document-related products and services in the Asia-Pacific region...
becomes the latest company to announce it is dropping kensho sponsorship at the Nayoga basho. - 2: Japanese TV network NHKNHKNHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
says it is considering the unprecedented step of refusing to broadcast the Nagoya basho in response to the gambling scandal. - 4 Kotomitsuki and Ōtake are dismissed from sumo and given life bans. Kotomitsuki receives retirement benefits but Otake does not. Sumo Association head Musashigawa is suspended for the duration of the Nagoya basho and replaced by outsider Hiroyoshi Murayama. Board member Takanohana offers his resignation, but it is not accepted. The Otake and Tokitsukaze stables are spared closure, but Tokitsukaze Oyakata is demoted to the lowest rung on the Sumo Association's hierarchy and must remain there for five years. Mass apologies for the scandal by nearly 80 wrestlers, led by Hakuho, follow at a press conference.
- 5: The banzuke for the Nagoya tournament is finally released. It is the first time since 1946 that publication has been delayed. Kotomitsuki is still listed as ozeki as the Association did not have time to remove his name before the 400,000 copies were printed.
- 6: NHK announces that it will not broadcast the basho live, although it will show nightly highlights. About 70 percent of viewers who contacted the broadcaster were in favour of the coverage being dropped. It is the first time this has occurred since live TV broadcasts began in 1953.
- 7: Police raid the Onomatsu and Tokitsukaze stables as part of their ongoing investigations into the gambling scandal and its links to the yakuza underworld.
- 10: At the dohyo-matsuri (a ceremony open to the public the day before a tournament when the dohyoDohyothumb|A dohyōThe dohyō is the ring in which sumo wrestling bouts are held. A modern dohyo is a circle of rice-straw bales 4.55 meters in diameter, mounted on a square platform of clay 6.7m on a side, and 34 to 60 cm high. The surface is covered by sand.A new dohyō is built prior to each...
is sanctified) around 200 members of the Sumo Association, led by its temporary head, mount the ring bow heads and collectively apologise. - 11: The Nagoya basho begins, with eleven sekitori (not including the dismissed Kotomitsuki) kyujo or absent, breaking the record of eight seen in May 2000 and July 2002. McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
is one of the few sponsors to continue providing prize money for bouts. For the first time since its introduction in 1926, the Emperor's CupEmperor's Cup, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...
will not be awarded to the tournament winner. - 12: The former Kotomitsuki's home is searched by the police.
- 13:Sanoyama Oyakata (the former Chiyotaikai) denies betting on baseball and visiting an online casino, as claimed by the latest issue of the Shukan Shincho magazine, and says he intends to take legal action.
- 21: Kaio is forced to withdraw with a shoulder injury, leaving no Japanese wrestlers fighting from the yokozuna or ozeki ranks.
- 23: Aminishiki pulls out with an injured knee, meaning more foreigners than Japanese are competing in the top division for the first time ever.
- 24: Hakuho wraps up his fifteenth yūshō after rank-and-filer Homasho is defeated by Tokusegawa. The yokozuna defeats Harumafuji to extend his winning streak to 46 bouts, surpassing TaihoTaiho KokiTaihō Kōki is the 48th Yokozuna in the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period. He became a yokozuna in 1961 at the age of 21, the youngest ever at the time, and he won a record 32 tournaments between 1960 and 1971...
to stand alone in third place in the Showa and HeiseiHeiseiis the current era name in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor, Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne...
eras. - 25: On the final day Hakuho beats Baruto to become the first wrestler ever to win three consecutive tournaments with 15–0 records. Homasho, AranAran HakutoraAran Hakutora is a Russian sumo wrestler. He began his professional career in January 2007 and made the top division in a record eleven tournaments. The highest rank he has reached is sekiwake...
and Kakuryu all finish runners-up on 11–4. Homasho and Aran share the Fighting Spirit prize while Kakuryu gets his fifth Technique award. The jūryō championship is won by Masatsukasa while veteran Jumonji wins the makushita yūshō. - 27: Minato Oyakata (former komusubi YutakayamaYutakayamaYutakayama may refer to:*Yutakayama Katsuo, born 1937, a former sumo wrestler and former head of the Japan Sumo Association*Yutakayama Hiromitsu, born 1947, also a former sumo wrestler...
), head of the Minato stableMinato stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, part of the Tokitsukaze ichimon or group of stables. It was founded in 1982 by former komusubi Yutakayama, who branched off from Tokitsukaze stable. Minato Oyakata studied at the Tokyo University of Agriculture, and due to his interest in academia his stable was the...
, swaps toshiyori names with Tatsutagawa Oyakata (former maegashira Minatofuji), who takes control of the stable.
August
- 2: Three members of the Yamaguchi-gumiYamaguchi-gumiis Japan's largest and most infamous yakuza organization. It is named after its founder Harukichi Yamaguchi. Its origins can be traced back to a loose labor union for dockworkers in Kobe pre-WWII....
crime syndicate are arrested on suspicion of extorting 6 million yen from a former wrestler from the Onomatsu stable who acted as a middleman for Kotomitsuki and Otake. Another ex-wrestler, Mitsutomo Furuichi, is also rearrested for alleged extortion. - 6: The summer tour begins at Minamiuonuma, NiigataMinamiuonuma, Niigatais a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It has an area of 584.82 km² and a population of 62,733 .-History:*The city was established on November 1, 2004 in a merger of the towns Muikamachi and Yamato, both from Minami-Uonuma District, Niigata.*On October 1, 2005, the town of Shiozawa...
. - 7: The next stop on the tour is Niigata cityNiigata, Niigatais the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
. - 8: The tour moves on to FukushimaFukushima, Fukushimais the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
. - 10: The tour visits Akita cityAkita, Akitais the capital city of Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan.As of June 11, 2005, with the merger of the former Kawabe District , the city has an estimated population of 323,310 and density of...
. - 11: The tour stops at Kitaakita, AkitaKitaakita, Akitais a city located in Akita, Japan.The city was founded on March 22, 2005 from the merger of the former towns of Aikawa, Ani, Moriyoshi, and Takanosu, all from Kitaakita District....
. - 12: The head of the Sumo Association Musashigawa announces his resignation, citing both the recent scandals and his own health concerns. He had been hospitalised for much of the previous month after receiving treatment for stomach cancer. He is replaced by HananregomaKaiketsu MasateruKaiketsu Masateru is a former sumo wrestler, who reached the second highest rank of ōzeki on two separate occasions. He also won two top division tournament championships...
. - 12: Two more wrestlers, jūryō ranked Matsutani and sandanme ranked Wakarikido, both of the Matsugane stableMatsugane Stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Nishonoseki group of stables. It was founded in 1990 by Wakashimazu of the Futagoyama stable. It has produced three top makuuchi division wrestlers in that time; Wakakosho , Wakatsutomu and Harunoyama...
, are found to have gambled on baseball. Neither wrestler came forward during the Sumo Association's investigations and consequently they competed in the July tournament while others were suspended. The investigative committee will decide on disciplinary action on September 6. - 30: The banzuke for the Aki basho is released, showing many changes between divisions. All six suspended makuuchi wrestlers, plus Tamaasuka and Shotenro, drop to the jūryō division. Taking their places are the makuuchi veterans Tochinonada, Tosanoumi, Toyozakura and Kasugao, plus KoryuKōryū TadaharuKōryū Tadaharu is a Mongolian former sumo wrestler from Ulan Bator. His highest rank was maegashira 11. He was forced to retire from sumo in 2011 after being found guilty of match-fixing.-Early years and entry into sumo:...
, Masatsukasa and Kotokasuga and debutants Sokokurai and Kyokunankai. Tosanoumi becomes the oldest wrestler ever to earn promotion to the top division at 38 years eight months, while the 105 tournaments Kyokunankai took to reach makuuchi is the second slowest ever. All four suspended jūryō wrestlers lose their sekitori status along with Masuraumi and Kanbayashi. They are replaced by former makuuchi wrestlers Jumonji and RyuhoRyuho MasayoshiRyūhō Masayoshi is a sumo wrestler from Nakagami, Okinawa, Japan. His highest rank has been maegashira 16.-Career:...
, and four newcomers: Mongolian Shironoryu, Chinese Nakanokuni, former collegiate competitor Takarafuji and the Korean born TochinowakaTochinowaka MichihiroTochinowaka Michihiro is a sumo wrestler from Hyogo, Japan. His father is a Zainichi Korean and his mother is a Korean immigrant. He made his professional debut in 2007 and has steadily risen through the ranks and has begun to establish himself as a top division presence...
. There are two new sekiwake, Aran and Tochiozan.
September
- 8: The investigative committee announces that Sadogatake and Matsugane have been demoted two ranks; Sadogatake for failing to supervise Kotomitsuki and Matsugane for accepting lodgings in Osaka for the March tournament from a company president connected to the yakuza. Sandanme wrestler Furuichi and tokoyama Tokoike are formally dismissed, and Matsutani and Wakarikido are suspended for two tournaments.
- 18: At the Aki basho, Hakuho wins his 54th straight bout, surpassing Chiyonofuji's post-war record of 53 set in 1988. He is now behind only Futabayama in the modern era.
- 26: Hakuho's dominance continues as he wraps up his sixteenth yūshō by defeating Harumafuji. His 62nd consecutive win gives him his fourth zensho-yūshō in a row and eighth overall, tying the record jointly held by Futabayama and Taiho. Runner-up is rank-and-filer Takekaze on 12–3 who receives the Fighting Spirit prize, shared with stablemate Yoshikaze who finishes on 11–4. Tochiozan also scores eleven on his sekiwake debut and receives his second Technique Award. The best performing ozeki is Kotooshu on 10–5; Kaio secures his kachi-koshi to keep his ozeki rank once again. The jūryō championship is won by Toyonoshima (14–1) on his return from suspension, while the makushita yūshō is won by the 20 year old Akira Takayasu who is certain to become the first sekitori born in the Heisei era.
October
- 2: Chiyotakai's retirement ceremony takes place at the Kokugikan.
- 3: Asashoryu's retirement ceremony is held, with around 10,000 fans in attendance. The Prime Minister of Mongolia and the former Prime Minister of Japan are among those taking their turn to snip Asashoryu's hair, along with former yokozuna Chiyonofuji, Asashoryu's stablemate Asasekiryu and rivals Hakuho and Harumafuji. His stablemaster AsashioAsashio Taro IVAsashio Tarō IV is a former sumo wrestler from Muroto, Kochi, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki...
makes the final cut of his topknotChonmageThe chonmage is a form of Japanese traditional haircut worn by men. It is most commonly associated with the Edo Period and samurai, and in recent times with sumo wrestlers...
. - 4: The 69th All Japan Rikishi one day tournament is won by Baruto, who defeats Tochinoshin in the final and receives 500,000 yen. Hakuho is defeated in the first round by Aminishiki.
The Autumn Tour visits the following locations:
- 15: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki PrefectureIbaraki Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...
- 17: YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period... - 23: Amagasaki, Hyogo PrefectureHyogo Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
- 24–25: OtsuOtsu, Shigais the capital city of Shiga, Japan. The city was founded on October 1, 1898. As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 338,629 with an average age of 40.7 years and a population density of 905.28 persons per km²...
, Shiga PrefectureShiga Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established... - 26–27: Kagamino, Okayama PrefectureOkayama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
- 28: IzumoIzumo, Shimaneis a city located in Shimane, Japan. Izumo is known for Izumo soba noodles and the Izumo Taisha Shinto shrine.-Demographics:The modern city was founded on November 3, 1941....
, Shimane PrefectureShimane Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is Matsue. It is the second least populous prefecture in Japan, after its eastern neighbor Tottori. The prefecture has an area elongated from east to west facing the Chūgoku Mountain Range on the south side and to... - 29: Shobara, Hiroshima PrefectureHiroshima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
- 30: HiroshimaHiroshimais the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Hiroshima Prefecture
November
- 1: The banzuke for the upcoming Kyushu tournament is released. There are only two Japanese born wrestlers in sanyaku (Kaio and Tochiozan), the fewest ever, and the twenty foreign born wrestlers in makuuchi is the most in history. There are no newcomers to the top division, but five returnees: the gamblers Toyonoshima, Goeido, Miyabiyama and Okinoumi, plus Shotenro. There are however four newcomers to juryo: the Heisei born Takayasu and Masunoyama, plus Akiseyama (formerly Fukao) and veteran Tsurugidake, who becomes a sekitori at the age of 31 years 8 months. In addition, gambler Chiyohakuho returns to juryo.
- 15: On the second day of the Kyushu tournament, maegashira Kisenosato defeats Hakuho, stopping his winning run at 63. Despite falling short of Futabayama's all-time mark of 69, Sumo Association chairman Hanaregoma called Hakuho's streak "a very creditable record." Hakuho told reporters he "couldn't get any momentum today." He admitted that he may have "got too complacent. It's a shame but that's life."
- 18: The Tokyo High CourtTokyo High Courtis a high court in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The Intellectual Property High Court is a special branch of Tokyo High Court....
upholds a lower court ruling that Roho and Hakurozan's dismissal from sumo due to alleged cannabis use was valid. - 28: On the final day of the tournament, Hakuho wins his seventeenth championship, and fifth in a row, by defeating maegashira Toyonoshima in a playoff. He also finishes the year on 86 wins out of a possible 90, equalling the record he set last year. Toyonoshima, who followed up his 14–1 juryo yusho with the same number of wins this time out, receives special prizes for Technique and Fighting Spirit. Fellow returnee Goeido, who finished on 12–3, does not receive a prize. Instead Kisenosato who scored 10–5, gets the Outstanding Performance Award for his defeat of Hakuho. Kaio finishes on 12–3 (his best performance for six years), one win ahead of fellow ozeki Baruto. The juryo championship is won by the BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian KaiseiKaisei IchirōKaisei Ichirō is a professional sumo wrestler from São Paulo, Brazil. Making his debut in September 2006, he reached the top makuuchi division in May 2011. His highest rank has been maegashira 5.-Career:Born Ricardo Sugano in São Paulo, he did judo while growing up...
in a four way playoff after he, Toyohibiki, Tochinowaka and debutant Takayasu all finish on 11–4. The makushita championship is won by former juryo man Myogiryu in another playoff after six wrestlers finish on 6–1.
December
- 16: Tosanoumi announces his retirement from sumo after scoring only 4–11 last tournament, ensuring his demotion to makushita. The Doshisha UniversityDoshisha University, or is a prestigious private university in Kyoto, Japan. The university has approximately 27,000 students on three campuses, in faculties of theology, letters, law, commerce, economics, policy, and engineering...
alumni had more career wins and appearances than any other makushita tsukedashi entrant. He is staying in sumo as a coach at Isenoumi stableIsenoumi stableis a stable of sumo wrestlers. Part of the Tokitsukaze group of stables, it is one of the oldest active stables in sumo, dating back to the mid-eighteenth century. The legendary Tanikaze, one of the first Yokozuna, and his protégé Raiden, arguably the greatest rikishi ever, were both members of...
under the Tatekawa elder name. His retirement leaves Kaio as the oldest 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...
. - 21: The banzuke for the January 2011 tournament in Tokyo is released. Kaio is the top ozeki for the first time since July 2007. Toyonoshima moves up to maegashira 1, but is the first maegashira ever to win fourteen bouts and not make the titled sanyaku ranks in the next basho. Nionoumi and Fujiazuma make their juryo debuts, while Kiyoseumi and Yoshiazuma return to the sekitori ranks.
- 27: Miyagino Oyakata (the former juryo wrestler Kanechika) is forced by the Sumo Association to give up control of 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....
after a tape of him admitting involvement in alleged match-fixing in 2006 was obtained by a tabloid and played in a court case. The new head is Kumagatani Oyakata (former maegashira Chikubayama) who was previously in charge of the stable from 1989 to 2004 and has always been regarded as Hakuho's mentor.
Deaths
- 30 March: Former maegashira Dewaarashi, aged 39, of heart failure.
- 19 June: Former maegashira Narutoumi (also former Takenawa Oyakata), aged 84, of heart failure.
- 20 July: Former ozeki Kitabayama (also former Edagawa Oyakata), aged 75, of liver cancer.
- 6 August: Former ozeki Daikirin (also former Oshiogawa Oyakata), aged 68, of pancreatic cancer.