Tag: ozumo

Breaking sumo news-according to the Japanese version of Yahoo Sports, veteran rikishi Okinoumi, who withdrew from the January Tournament today on Day 6, will retire effective immediately. According to a translation of the article, the lingering effects of a leg injury suffered during the November 2022 Tournament is the reason. Okinoumi, ranked at Maegashira 12, was 0-5 coming into today.

Okinoumi (real name Ayumi Fukuoka), 37, debuted in March 2005 and reached a highest rank of Sekiwake during his career. He won one Makushita championship, 5 Special Prizes and 4 Kinboshi (Gold Star Victories, awarded when a Maegashira defeats a Yokozuna). His career record with today’s withdrawal leaves him with a 674-675-33 (win-loss-absent) record.

This will mark the second straight tournament with a retirement during the tournament, following Chiyotairyu in November 2022.

More as it becomes available. Today’s Day 6 results will be posted later tonight.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 5 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Tochinoshin (M11) by default/withdrawal
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Endo (M9) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Oho (M8)
Takanosho (M9) beat Ura (M7)
Ryuden (M5) beat Onosho (M8)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Hokutofuji (M6)
NIshikigi (M5) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Myogiryu (M6). The winning technique, uchimuso, (watch NHK World Japan’s Day 5 replay for translation) is a very rare one that reportedly hasn’t been seen in nearly a decade!
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Kiribayama (K)
Meisei (K) beat Shodai (S)
Kotonowaka (K) beat Takayasu (S)
Daieisho (M1) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Abi (M3) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Tamawashi (M2)
WITHDRAWAL: Tochinoshin (M11). Dislocated shoulder. Expected to be out 2 weeks, which would mean the rest of the tournament. That puts the Georgian (country in Europe, not US state) in a dilemma-sit out and risk dropping to Juryo at the equivalent of 2-13, try to rush back to get some late wins to avoid that, or if it’s bad enough consider retirement? Tochinoshin is a former Ozeki and top-tier mainstay so if he was going to fall to Juryo at this point I’d imagine he’d pull a Kaisei and retire. He’s also 35, which in sumo is old and he has around 15 years of wear & tear on him. We’ll see. It does mean we’ll have a Juryo man each day in the top tier starting tomorrow, and on Day 6 it’s Akua, currently at Juryo 1 but 0-5 so far. Also watch Takarafuji as he suffered an apparent hand/finger injury on Day 4 but came back to get a free win today. Probably will try to fight through it as he is 4-1 and withdrawal means certain demotion to Juryo without 8 wins.
Leader: Abi, Aoiyama, Kotoshoho (5-0)
Key match tomorrow: Abi-Takakeisho. It’s the last bout of the day and while it’s still early, Takakeisho probably needs this one to stay in yusho and perhaps Yokozuna contention. It’s also a rematch of the November 2022 playoff that Abi won for his first top-tier championship.

Juryo:
Asanoyama (J12) beat Kaisho (J13)
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Takakento (J12)
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Shimazuumi (J12)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Chiyosakae (J11) beat Hidenoumi (J8)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Gonoyama (J10)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Daishoho (J6)
Roga (J9) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Enho (J4) beat Daiamami (J2)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Hokuseiho (J2)
Oshoma (J3) beat Bushozan (J1)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Asanoyama, Roga (5-0)
Of note: Although there were a couple of scares when it looked like he might go down, Asanoyama pulled out another win somehow and that’s his 4th straight 5-0 start. Only at the 1/3 mark but in the last 2 tournaments his 6th match of 7 resulted in his first and only loss. It’s not too early to begin wondering if he can go 15-0, although it almost certainly would not get him back to the top tier from J12. I think he projects to be between J2-J5 should he manage at least 12 wins, recent history suggests winning the championship with that win total or more would vault him up to J3, putting the top tier within reach for May. The Russian Roga continues to have his best tournament to date and looks to be a strong contender. Starting tomorrow we’ll see a Makushita man each day as a Juryo man goes to the top tier. Tomorrow it’ll be November Makushita Champion Tamashoho, who sits at Makushita 1 and is 2-1 so far. He gets to come up to face Hakuyozan.
Key matches tomorrow: Asanoyama-Roga, Kinbozan-Enho. There still will be 9 days left but the winner of the 5-0 matchup will undoubtedly be the yusho favorite as the only unbeaten. A playoff rematch would not be a surprise. The winner of the second match will stay one off the pace. Fan favorite Enho took the sound advice of stablemaster Miyagino, the former Yokozuna Hakuho, and has put on about 11-12 pounds of extra weight for this tournament and it’s had a positive impact on his results so far. He’s still the smallest man in Juryo at roughly 231 pounds, and the only man in the top 2 tiers that may be smaller (but not by very much) is Midorifuji. At this pace Enho could finally make his long-awaited return to the top tier (his career best rank is Maegashira 2).

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 4 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Mitoryu (M15) beat Takarafuji (M16)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Tochinoshin (M11)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Onosho (M8) beat Endo (M9)
Takanosho (M9) beat Oho (M8)
Ryuden (M5) beat Ura (M7)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (K) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Wakamotoharu (K) beat Meisei (K)
Takayasu (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Tamawashi (M2)
Daieisho (M1) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Abi (M3) beat Shodai (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Leader: Hoshoryu, Abi, Onosho, Aoiyama, Kotoshoho (4-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tochinoshin (M11) is OUT heading into Day 5. Left elbow or shoulder injury, which he was favoring after his loss. This means Takarafuji, who seemed to injure his finger in his loss today, will get a free victory as long as he doesn’t withdraw. If Tochinoshin can’t return, he will finish with the equivalent of a 2-13 record, which could drop the Georgian & former Ozeki down to Juryo.

Juryo:
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Takakento (J12)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Kaisho (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Shimazuumi (J11)
Terutsuyoshi (J10) beat Hiradoumi (J9)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Roga (J9) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Daishoho (J6) beat Chiyonokuni (J7)
Enho (J4) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Kinbozan (J5)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Daiamami (J2)
Oshoma (J3) beat Akua (J1)
Bushozan (J1) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Leader: Asanoyama, Roga (4-0)
Of note: Another relatively easy win for Asanoyama as the former Ozeki is off to a 4th straight 4-0 start. In the lower tiers that’s a promotion but we’re not even 1/3 of the way through Juryo although that does put him halfway to promotion and getting closer to the top tier. I don’t think 15-0 will be enough but who knows. Also, the long nightmare for Terutsuyoshi is over as he stopped his 19-match losing streak dating back to September 2022. Among those struggling still is Akua, back on the verge of the top tier but 0-4, and Shimanoumi, who is in “here we go again” mode out of the gate with another weak start also 0-4.
Asanoyama is up first on Day 5 and will face Kaisho. Roga has Churanoumi. And unless there is another top-tier withdrawal, we’ll start seeing a Juryo man in the top tier each day beginning on Day 6 which would also mean a top-ranking Makushita man appearing in Juryo.

In the lower tiers, there is one return from injury as Obara, a pre-tournament withdrawal at Sandanme 22, is back today for Day 5 after 2 missed matches.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 3 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Takarafuji (M16) beat Azumaryu (M14)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Mitoryu (M15) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Tsurugisho (M15)
Tochinoshin (M11) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Kagayaki (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Endo (M9) beat Hiradoumi (M10)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Takanosho (M9)
Ura (M7) beat Oho (M8)
Onosho (M8) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Ryuden (M5)
Hokutofuji (M6) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Kiribayama (K) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Abi (M3) beat Meisei (K)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Mikakeumi (M2)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Shodai (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Takayasu (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Daieisho (M1)
Leader: 7 at 3-0
Of note: Shodai picked up his first win today, meaning he now needs to go 9-3 or better the rest of the way to get 10 wins and return to Ozeki. On the flip side, after 2 runner-up finishes the last 2 tournaments Takayasu is already out of it at 0-3. A lot of the reason is a neck injury suffered in the November playoff against Abi when he seemed to possibly suffer a concussion, but also an ankle injury now. He may not make it thorugh all 15 days. Hoshoryu is among the group at 3-0 and now should be just 8 wins away from reaching Ozeki, but if he can finish with more than 11 that will help. He has a big early match tomorrow against fellow 3-0 Tamawashi. Also in the 3-0 group is November Champion Abi, who has Shodai tomorrow.

Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Kaisho (J13)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Takakento (J12)
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Hidenoumi (J0) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Roga (J9) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Churanoumi (J6) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Daishoho (J6) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Chiyonokuni (J7)
Enho (J4) beat Oshoma (J3)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Bushozan (J1) beat Daiamami (J2)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Akua (J1)
Leader: Kinbozan, Roga, Shimazuumi, Asanoyama (3-0)
Of note: Another relatively easy win for the former Ozeki as Asanoyama is off to his 4th straight 3-0 start since returning from a 1 year suspension, but this time he has 12 matches to go instead of 4. Tomorrow’s opponent is Tsushimanada. Interesting to note there are 3 different countries represented at the top-Japan (Asanoyama, Shimazuumi), Kazakhstan (Kinbozan) and Russia (Roga). On the flip side. that’s now 19 straight losses for Terutsuyoshi. He’ll try to avoid making it 20 tomorrow against Hidenoumi.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 2 of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Takarafuji (M16) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Azumaryu (M15) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Kagayaki (M12)
Kotoeko (M13) beat Okinoumi (M12)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Hiradoumi (M10) beat Tochinoshin (M11)
Onosho (M8) beat Takanosho (M9)
Endo (M9) beat Oho (M8)
Ura (M7) beat Hokutofuji (M6)
Nishikigi (M5) beat Myogiryu (M6)
Nishikifuji (M4) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Ryuden (M5)
Abi (M3) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Meisei (K)
Mitakeumi (M2) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Daieisho (M1) beat Shodai (S)
Kiribayama (K) beat Takayasu (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Tobizaru (M1) beat Takakeisho (O)

Juryo:
Tsushimanada (J14) beat Shonannoumi (J13)
Kaisho (J13) beat Hakuyozan (J14)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Takakento (J12)
Roga (J9) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Gonoyama (J10)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Kitanowaka (J8)
Tochimusashi (J7) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Daishoho (J6)
Churanoumi (J6) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Enho (J4) beat Atamifuji (J3)
Oshoma (J3) beat Tohakuryu (J4)
Daiamami (J2) beat Akua (J1)
Hokuseiho (J2) beat Bushozan (J1)
Notes: In his second Juryo match, Asanoyama had a much easier time winning today than he did yesterday, pretty much walking over Chiyosakae. The former Ozeki is 2-0 and will try to go 3-0 tomorrow against Hakuyozan On the flip side, that’s now 18 straight losses for Terutsuyoshi, who hasn’t won since Day 14 of the September 2022 Tournament.

Lower tier notes: In the Makushita, a rare new Debut at Makushita 15 was scheduled for today as Ochiai, a new wrestler from Miyagino Beya (former Yokozuna Hakuho), was to be in action as the 3rd Ms15 debut since I began closely following sumo again at the start of 2021, but he wound up getting a freebie for his first victory because scheduled opponent Oki had withdrawn. His next chance for his “real” Debut will probably come on Day 4.
The last 2 Ms15 debuts were Kawazoe in September, who turned into a literal “human slinky” in his debut match against Asanoyama as he displayed almost inhuman flexibility in a loss, but gained a lot of fans for his efforts and has climbed up to Makushita 7 in his 3rd tournament, and Oshoma in November 2021 who is now at Juryo 3 and won the Juryo Championship in November. He’s reached the door to the top tier in just 8 tournaments and has just one losing record so far (technically 2 but the second was because of a withdrawal in July due to coronavirus protocols, he was 5-3 at the time and was recorded as finishing 5-3-7, the equivalent of 5-10 for rankings purposes but due to the circumstances he was not demoted).

Here are the quick results from the Opening Day of the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo

Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Takarafuji (M16) beat Chiyomaru (M16)
Tsurugisho (M15) beat Mitoryu (M15)
Azumaryu (M14) beat Kotoeko (M13)
Kotoshoho (M13) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Tochinoshin (M11) beat Chiyoshoma (M11)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Hiradoumi (M10)
Takanosho (M9) beat Endo (M9)
Onosho (M8) beat Oho (M8)
Myogiryu (M6) beat Ura (M7)
Hokutofui (M6) beat Nishikigi (M5)
Ryuden (M5) beat Nishikifuji (M4)
Midorifuji (M3) beat Sadanoumi (M4)
Abi (M3) beat Kotonowaka (K)
Tamawashi (M2) beat Kiribayama (K)
Mitakwumi (M2) beat Shodai (S)
Daieisho (M1) beat Takayasu (S)
Hoshoryu (S) beat Tobizaru (M1)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Meisei (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
WITHDRAWALS: Terunofuji (Y), Ichinojo (M7). Terunofuji is out a second straight tournament due to recovery from double knee surgery after the September Tournament, it may have been aggravated during training recently. The hope is he’s ready for March, if not there may start to be more pressure on him to return soon or consider retiring (while Yokuzuna can never be demoted, they can be pressured or forced to retire due to consistent poor performance or extended absences). Ichinojo is suspended the entire tournament for what is being called coronavirus protocol violations, but it’s really more due to bad conduct in public since his July 2022 Championship.
Of note: Shodai must get at least 10 wins to return to Ozeki in March, otherwise the process starts over from the beginning. Wakatakakage & Hoshoryu can get into Ozeki promotion consideration if one or both finishes with at least 11 wins. Some people online think Takayasu can get back to Ozeki with the same, but in reality the only way that’s going to happen here is a Championship. Takakeisho can solidify his Yokozuna case with a runner-up finish again or at least 12 wins, while a Championship would probably seal it.

Juryo:
Hakuyozan (J14) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Shonannoumi (J13) beat Kaisho (J13)
Asanoyama (J12) beat Takakento (J12)
Shimazuumi (J11) beat Chiyosakae (J11)
Gonoyama (J10) beat Terutsuyoshi (J10)
Roga (J9) beat Hidenoumi (J9)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Shimanoumi (J8)
Chiyonokuni (J7) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Daishoho (J6) beat Churanoumi (J6)
Kinbozan (J5) beat Kotokuzan (J5)
Tohakuryu (J4) beat Enho (J4)
Atamifuji (J3) beat Oshoma (J3)
Daiamami (J2) beat Hokuseiho (J2)
Bushozan (J1) beat Akua (J1)
Of note: It wasn’t easy, but the former Ozeki Asanoyama pulled out the victory in his Juryo return in his 4th tournament back after a one year suspension. At J12 there is no chance he returns to the top tier after this tournament, even if he goes 15-0. He’s scheduled to face Chiyosakae tomorrow on Day 2. On the other end, that’s 17 straight losses for Terutsuyoshi, who still can’t find his form outside of his standard epic salt throws pre-match, which are numbered because they don’t get to do all that in Makushita or below.

Lower-tier notes: Former top tier mainstay Ishiura is once again a pre-tournament withdrawal due to injuries. He was in the Sandanme this time around at Sandanme 30. He was among a number of pre-tournament withdrawals in the lower 4 tiers. This is his 5th straight missed tournament and could well drop him down to Jonidan if he can return in March, if ever.
Once again there are only 90 ranks in the Sandanme as the days of the traditional 100 may be over. There are 102 in the Jonidan and 16 (31 wrestlers total) in the Jonokuchi although 7 are already withdrawals and may not be making their debuts this time.

Finally, it was announced that on January 28, just under a week after the tournament concludes, the official retirement ceremony for the former Yokozuna Hakuho will be held, including the symbolic cutting off of his topknot. After retiring last year, Hakuho became Oyakata Makagi and now is the owner/master of Miyagino Beya and thus has taken the name Miyagino.

This is coming from a YouTube video I just saw so I can’t yet verify its accuracy (maybe we’ll know more next week when NHK World Japan does their regular Grand Sumo Preview special for the upcoming tournament), but it’s huge if true: July champion Ichinojo is OUT of the January tournament AND Isegahama, chief judge of sumo and stablemaster of Isegahama Beya, may be either demoted or removed from the sumo ranking board. That also would be huge for the banzuke and especially his wrestlers (pretty much anybody with “Fuji” at the end of their name). And one lower tier wrestler at the stable has been forced to retire over bullying allegations (it should be noted this stable boasts, among others, current Yokozuna Terunofuji).

Ichinojo’s issues seem to stem from poor conduct and missing training often, likely due to excessive drinking, and reportedly struck his stablemaster’s (Minato) wife once as she tried to escort Ichinojo home from a bar (and Ichinojo, the Mongolian who is the biggest top-tier wrestler at well over 450 pounds, and closer to 475, probably outweighed her by at least 350 pounds so that’s very scary). But this supposedly happened over 5 years ago so it’s “old news”. But this charge was reduced to breaking Covid rules (that’s what got former Ozeki Asanoyama suspended for a year, and November champion Abi suspended for 6 months). Minato (stablemaster of Minato Beya) is docked 20% pay for the next 3 months.

As for Isegahama Beya, a younger wrestler claimed he was beaten and had boiling chanko (stew) water poured on him, and those claims were found to be true. One of the guilty parties has retired, the other is out the next 2 tournaments. We may know who when the Nihon Sumo Kyokai updates the “Absent Rikishi Info” page on their website as the start of the tournament nears at the end of next week. Stablemaster Isegahama, the chief judge often seen prominently at sumo tournaments and as part of the awards ceremony, will likely be gone from that role completely and not seen at all.

The source of this news is the YouTube video below:

As their late Christmas Day gift to their fans outside Japan, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has announced the Banzuke (rankings) for the January 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament. Click below for a look at how the top 2 tiers shape up:

Continue reading “Sumo-January 2023 Banzuke Announced”

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) posted an announcement from the Board of Directors on their Japanese website announcing the approval of establishment os a new stable, Ajigawa Beya. Formed and led by Ryuji Ajigawa, the former rikishi Amanishiki, he is transferring from Isegahama Beya (which includes current Yokozuna Terunofuji) but is not taking any members with him. The stable will be based in Koto Ward in Tokyo and will be in a temporary location until moving to a permanent location in July.

Ajigawa, 44, reached a highest rank of Sekiwake during his sumo career as Aminishiki, earning a total of 12 Special Prizes in the top tier.

In other news, the Board also approved qualification for Tetduya Ochiai, 19, to possibly make his pro debut in the Makushita division rather than Sandanme or lower. Ochiai graduated high school in March and won the All-Japan Individual Championship in September. He currently works at Miyagino Beya, now owned & operated by former Yokozuna Hakuho.

The Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo Association) has announced a new retirement following the November 2022 Tournament: It received and accepted a retirement request from Yutakayama, making him the second rikishi to retire this month along with Chiyotairyu, who retired after Day 7.

Yutakayama, real name Ryota Oyanagi, was ranked at Juryo 4 in November and went 5-10 in what will be his final tournament. His highest ranking was Maegashira 1 and he won 2 championships in his career (1 Makushita, 1 Sandanme) along with 1 Fighting Spirit Prize in the top tier. He debuted in March 2016 and had a career record of 277-281-10 (win-loss-absent) and 165-215-10 in the top tier. This will leave his beya, Tokitsukaze, with just one rikishi in the top 2 tiers for now (Shodai, who will be demoted from Ozeki for the January tournament).