USA, VIERRA WIN AGAIN
By Tonkatsu (Harry Dudrow)

With the exception of a disappointing turnout in the lightweight division, the third annual North American Sumo Championship, held at Hollywood Park Casino, in Inglewood California, June 26th & 27th, was the best yet. The U.S.A. again took the team championship; and Wayne Vierra not only repeated as heavyweight champion, but added the open crown as well. New champions were crowned in the lightweight and middleweight divisions.

Lightweights
(up to 187lbs)
Due to injuries, job conflicts, and a plane foul up, there were only three competitors in the lightweight division. In a round- robin preliminary, Andy Ruggerrio (USA) beat Danny Mistichelli (USA). Nick Yonezuka (USA) beat Danny Mistichelli (USA). Andy Ruggerio (USA) beat Nick Yonezuka (USA). In the championship match, Nick Yonezuka (USA) beat Andy Ruggerio (USA) to reverse last years medal finish and dethrone the two time champion.

Middleweights
(up to 253lbs)
There were ten competitors in the middleweight division, divided into two three man pools and two man pools, with winners to advance to the semi-finals. The three man pools were round-robin; the two man pools the best of three matches. Pool A: Heath Johnson (USA) beat Dan Gribbon (Canada). Rene Marte (Jamaica) beat Dan Gribbon (Canada). Rene Marte (Jamaica) beat Heath Johnson (USA). Rene Marte (Jamaica) advanced to semi-finals. Pool B: Jacob Heffernan (USA) beat Roger Heffernan (USA) 2-0. Jacob Heffernan advanced to semi-finals. Pool C: Craig Montgomery (Puerto Rico) beat Harvey Wong (USA). Craig Montgomery (Puerto Rico) beat Chris Saunders (Canada). Chris Saunders (Canada) beat Harvey Wong (USA). Craig Montgomery (Puerto Rico) advanced to semi-finals. Pool D: Kena Heffernan (USA) beat Jeff Barber (USA) 2-0. Kenna Heffernan (USA) advanced to semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Jacob Heffernan (USA) beat Rene Marte (Jamaica) and Kenna Heffernan (USA) beat Craig Montgomery (Puerto Rico), to set up an all Heffernan final. In the finals, Craig Montgomery beat Rene Marte to take the Bronze and Kena Heffernan beat his younger brother to take the Gold. 

Heavyweights
(over 253lbs)
There were twelve competitors in four three man pools. Pool A: Wayne Vierra (USA) beat Kevin Carter (Puerto Rico). Kevin Carter (Puerto Rico) Beat Jim Lowerre (USA) (SoCal). Wayne Vierra beat Jim Lowerre (USA) (SoCal). Pool B: Alex Vega (USA) beat Mike Peru (USA). Poli Liua (USA) beat Mike Peru (USA). Alex Vega (USA) beat Poli Liua (USA). Alex Vega (USA) advanced to semi-finals. Pool C: Elmer Gale (Canada) beat Harry Dudrow (USA) (SoCal). Joel Brutus (Haiti) beat Harry Dudrow (USA) (SoCal). Joel Brutus (Haiti) beat Elmer Gale (Canada). Joel Brutus (Haiti) advanced to semi-finals. Pool D: Harry Wa'a (USA) beat James Perry (Puerto Rico). James Perry beat Mike Munford (Jamaica),Munford injured. Harry Wa'a (USA) beat Mike Munford (Jamaica) by forfeit. Harry Wa'a advanced to semi-finals. In the semi-finals, Wayne Vierra (USA) beat Alex Vega (USA) and Joel Brutus (Haiti) beat Harry Wa'a (USA). In the finals, Harry Wa'a beat Alex Vega to take the Bronze medal, and Wayne Vierra beat Joel Brutus, for his second heavyweight championship.

Open Division
All weight classes
Twenty one competitors contested the open division, in a single elimination contest. Round 1: Tony Scinocco (CAN) (600) beat Jim Lowerre (USA) (285). Andy Ruggerio (US) (187) beat Heath Johnson (US) (255). Jeff Barber (US) (255) beat Mike Peru (US) (410). James Perry (PR) (410) beat Roger Heffernan (US) (245). Craig Montgomery (PR) (255) beat Poli Liua (US) (300). Round 2: Emanuel Yarbrough (US) (728) beat Danny Mistichelli (JA) (187). Kevin Carter (PR) (280) beat Tony Scinocco (CAN) (600). Jeff Barber (US) (255) beat Andy Ruggerio (US) (187). James Perry (PR) (410) beat Rene Marte (JA) (250). 

Kenna Heffernan (US) (235) beat Craig Montgomery (PR) (253). Chris Saunders (CAN) (220) beat Harvey Wong (US) (240). Harry Wa'a (US) (275) beat Nick Yonezuka (US) (187).Wayne Veirra (US) (330) beat Elmer Gale (CAN) (340). Quarter-finals: Yarborough (US) beat Carter (PR). Perry (US) beat Barber (US). K. Hefferrnan (US) beat Saunders (CAN). Veirra (US) beat Wa'a (US). Semi-finals: Yarborough (US) beat Perry (PR). Vierra (US) beat K. Heffernan (US). Finals: K. Heffernan (US) beat Perry (PR) to take the Bronze medal. In their first ever meeting, Wayne Vierra beat Emmanuel Yarborough by yori taoshi, to take his second individual Gold.

Team Competitions
There were two team competitions this year; the national teams, and an open competition which included the guest team from Japan. In the two previous years the team competition was held on Saturday and the individuals on Sunday. Due to injuries in the team competition last year causing several people to miss the individual competition, it was decided to reverse the order this year. This year, the injury to Mike Munford on the first day disrupted the Jamaican team on Sunday. Since there was only one wrestler from Haiti this year; Joel Brutus, it was decided to combine Haiti and Jamaica as the Caribbean, not including Puerto Rico, which had it's own team. The teams were: USA, Alex Vega, Kenna Heffernan and Wayne Vierra. Canada, Chris Saunders, Dan Gribbon and Elmer Gale. Puerto Rico, Kevin Carter, Craig Montgomery and James Perry. Caribbean, Joel Brutus (Haiti), Rene Marte and Danny Mistichelli (Jamaica). The format was a round: robin, the team with the most individual wins taking the championship.

Canada beat The Caribbean 2-1. USA beat Puerto Rico 2-1. USA beat Canada 3-0. Puerto Rico beat The Caribbean 2-1. Canada beat Puerto Rico 2-1. USA beat The Caribbean 3-0. Final scores: USA (8 wins) Champion. Canada (4 wins, beat Puerto Rico head-to head) 2nd. Puerto Rico (4 wins) 3rd. Caribbean (2 wins) 4th.

There were eight teams for the open competition, single elimination. The teams were: New Jersey Police, Craig Montgomery, Jeff Barber and Rene Marte. Canada, Chris Saunders, Dan Gribbon and Elmer Gale. Da'Hui, Kena Heffernan, Wayne Vierra and Heath Johnson. Southern California, Jim Lowerre, Harry Dudrow and Robert Perez. New Jersey Bouncers, James Perry, Joel Brutus and Alex Vega. Japan, Yuji Kurotaki, Yoshikane Nishi and Kaname Kudo. Bababui, Danny Mistichelli, Nick Yonezuka and Andy Ruggiero. Hau'ula, Harvey Wong, Harry Wa'a and Poli Liua.  

New Jersey Police beat Canada 3-0. Da'Hui beat Southern California 3-0. New Jersey Bouncers beat Japan 2-1. Hau'ula beat Bababui 2-1. Da'hui beat New Jersey Police 2-1. New Jersey Bouncers beat Hau'ula 2-1. Final: Da'hui beat New Jersey Bouncers 2-1. 

All data humbly compiled by John Jacques.
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DEJIMA WINS NAGOYA YUSHO
By Yukikaze (Jim Lowerre)

NAGOYA, Japan -- DEJIMA capped off a remarkable performance in the Nagoya Basho with a playoff win over yokozuna AKEBONO for the yusho, and earned promotion to ozeki for the Aki Basho.  

Wrestling from the Sekiwaki-West position, the former college champion posted a 13-2 record which included wins over AKEBONO on day 7 and TAKANOHANA on day 9. Even before his chance at the Emperor's cup, DEJIMA received the singular distinction of being awarded all three sansho prizes: the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Award), the Gino-Sho (Technical Award) and the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Award; shared with TOSANOUMI).

AKEBONO, who led the yusho race from Day 11, needed only to defeat shin-yokozuna MUSASHIMARU to wrap up his first yusho since the 1997 Natsu Basho and his 10th career championship. However, MUSASHIMARU defeated his fellow Hawaiian to finish at a respectable 12-3 in his yokozuna debut and open the door for his Musashigawa stablemate. AKEBONO had to settle for jun-yusho on an excellent 13-2 record.

With kadoban demotion hanging over his head a genki CHIYOTAIKAI came surging out of the starting gate to reel off the eight wins he needed in the first nine days. Former yokozuna CHIYONOFUJI's prize pupil finished at a strong 10-5 record to keep his hard-won rank. Stable brother CHIYOTENZAN did not fare well as a shin-sanyaku: he went 3-12 at the Komusubi-West position and will return to the maegashira ranks for the September tournament.

Nagoya was not a happy campground for the once-powerful Futagoyama contingent. 
With heya-gashira WAKANOHANA on the sidelines it fell to TAKANOHANA and TAKANONAMI to bring home the honors. But the once-fearsome younger Hanada brother appeared very mortal - and very beatable: he finished at 9-6, far below his usual performance level. TAKANONAMI only managed 8-7, a very weak showing from one of the strongest men on the banzuke. "Giant-killer AKINOSHIMA added to his kinboshi cache with a win over MUSASHIMARU but collapsed in the late stages of the basho to finish6-9. And a very ungenki-appearing TAKATORIKI was pushed all over the dohyo the entire tournament: he finished at 4-11. 

Sekiwake-East #1 KAIO came into this basho needing only 10 wins or more to earn ozeki promotion. But it has become a guessing game of late: which KAIO will show up, the "good" one or his "bad" twin? This basho the "bad" twin showed up early, with the "good" twin barely making kachi-koshi at 8-7 by winning his last 5 matches. Good enough to remain sekiwake, but not good enough to make ozeki. Not even that lucky was TOCHIAZUMA: he finished 6-9 at Sekiwake-East #2 and may find himself back in the maegashira ranks in Tokyo. Kanto-Sho co-winner TOSANOUMI will get that vacated sekiwake spot on the strength of his 11-4 record at Komusubi-East.

Other notable performances include KOTONISHIKI's 8-7 at maegashira #1-East, which will mean a thirty-third basho at sanyaku rank; MUSOYAMA posting an 11-4 at maegashira #6- East, which may gain him a sanyaku slot as well; and 9-6 records for TAMAKASUGA, KYOKUSHUZAN, ASANOSHO, KOTONOWAKA, GANYU and KOTORYU.

The Nagoya Basho marked the final appearance for two of the sports stalwarts. Former sekiwake TOCHINOWAKA of Kasugano Beya, who had been forced to withdraw with a cracked breastbone, announced his retirement on senshuraku. Also hanging up his mawashi is former komusubi KOTOINAZUMA of Sadogatake Beya, who posted a 3-12 record at Juryo #5 - West. Both men will be taking coaching positions in their respective stables.
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MONGOLIAN WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE YUSHO, EARNS PROMOTION
By Yukikaze

NAGOYA, Japan -- Mongolian sumotori ASASHORYU captures the Sandanme yusho
with a 7-0 record, earning promotion to the Makushita Division for the Aki Basho.  ASASHORYU, whose real name is Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, won the Jonidan yusho at the Natsu Basho. He entered Wakamatsu Beya in January of this year.

Other gaijin-rikishi scores of note: AKEBONO (Yokozuna #1E, USA) 13-2
(jun-yusho); MUSASHIMARU (Yokozuna #1W, USA) 12-3; KYOKUSHUZAN (Maegashira #7E, Mongolia) 9-6; KYOKUTENHO (Maegashira #10W, Mongolia) 7-8; HOSHITANGO (Juryo #11E, Argentina) 8-7; and SENTORYU (Juryo #11W, USA) 8-7.
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HUSBAND & WIFE SUMO CHAMPS AT HAWAII SUMO CHAMPIONSHIPS!
Reported by Sione Pulotu

The Hawaii State Championships were held in early July. Wayne Vierra beat Harry Wa'a for the men's championship. Kenna Heffernan, who lost to Harry in the semi finals was 3rd. Wayne's wife, Maxine Vierra won the first ever Hawaii Woman's Sumo Champ-ionship, and undoubtedly the first ever in the USA. Could Wayne and Maxine be the World's first husband and wife sumo champions?

There were seven woman contestants in two weight division and about forty men. Competitions were held for boys 4-5, boys 9-11, girls 9-10, Jr. boys 12-14, Sr. boys 15-16, Jr. men 17-23 and Sr. men.

Wayne Vierra will be coaching the USA team of two from Hawaii and one from New Jersey at the first Jr. World Championship in Japan, in August.
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On ESPN

Our comment about the pronunciation of Japanese names in the last issue elicited several comments. From Andrew Fruend, Culver City. " On the top of the back side, the article says, ". . . the English language commentators on ESPN frequently have such atrocious pronunciation of Japanese names. It could be like watching a good samurai movie dubbed into English , yuk!" "I can certainly concur with this observation. When watching the ESPN tournament highlights, I often had to mute the TV while grimacing in anguish over the announcer's horrid pronunciations."

Also from Tom Madara, Santa Monica. "P.S. I wholeheartedly agree with your comment on English language commentary on ESPN and ESPN 2. They are atrocious! How hard can it be to find out the correct pronunciation of MUSASHIMARU?"

In fact, it was a broadcast in which MUSASHIMARU was repeatedly referred to as "MUSASHIMORO" that led to my comments. The last time we looked "MORO" meant "Rock" in Spanish and "MARU" was a word attached to the names of Japanese merchant ships. (Yes we know it doesn't actually mean ship, it refers to a safe voyage out and back.). An interesting footnote to all this comes from Jerry Martinez, who just returned from Japan,( he attended the last five days of the Nagoya basho). Jerry says that the NHK broadcast are in English with excellent commentary by David Shapiro, a regular contributor to "Sumo World". Tonkatsu.
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COMING EVENTS

Summer practice schedule: 1st & 3rd Sat. 10am at Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave. Long Beach(next to Jordon H.S. Atlantic ave, & 91 FWY.). Phone (562) 428-3831. 2nd & 4th Sun. 4pm at The Dohyo of Dreams, 12291 Meade St. Garden Grove. PHONE (714) 539-7272.

Aki basho starts on SUMO DIGEST 9-13 at 11:30pm on KRCA channel 62.

Post Basho Bash 10-2-99, Site TBA check "The Golden Mawashi", COME.TO/KAMINISHIKI

Ssiruem (Korean sumo) at Orange County Korean Festival, Fri. Sat. & Sun. Oct. 8th, 9th, & 10th. As far as we know, the ssiruem will be on Sunday. Tonkatsu competed last year; he and Yukikaze plan on competing this year. We will practice at Sun. Sessions.

Sumo clinic at Kino Judo Club in Mexicali, Sat. 10-16.
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ABOUT OUR NAME

I made up the name SUMO SHIMPO after I looked up the word shimpo in my compact Japanese dictionary, which says that it means "Progress", perhaps in the hope that we could make some progress. I subsequently found an item in The Essential Guide to Sumo, by Dorthea Buckingham, Bess Press 1994, that "Sumo Shimpo" means "sumo report". Also, that it was the name of a now defunct 19th Century sumo newspaper. Well, whether it means progress or report (it may be a case of different kanji) we like it, and we hope we can do justice to our 19th century predecessor. Tonkatsu.
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SOME QUOTES ABOUT SUMOTORI

Found in the Oxford Dictionary of the English Language.
1973 Newsweek 13 Aug. 92 "Anyone who [tries] socking a sumotori in the stomach will gladly go back to brick walls." 
1974 Daily Tel. (Color Suppl..) 22 Feb. 39/3 "The mature sumotori (As sumo wrestlers are called) is about six feet tall and will weigh anything from 16 to 24 stone." Note: As the reader may guess, the Daily Telegraph is an English publication. A stone is 14 lbs. For example, Tonkatsu weighed in at 242lbs at the NAASC; this would be expressed as 17 stone and four. Obviously, sumotori have gotten bigger since 1974. At last years Aki Basho Akebono was listed in SUMO WORLD at 501lbs. Or 35 stone and 11. Tonkatsu.
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KAMINISHIKI TO RETIRE?

Rumors of 1997 Southern California heavyweight champion "Kaminishiki" A.K.A. Greg Wheeler's retirement from active competition continue to abound. "Kami", who has not competed since last years Sawtelle meet, continues to tell us that he wants to make one last appearance; a glorious swan song so to speak, but some mysterious illness keeps him away. He has only made one appearance at the "Dohyo of Dreams" this year. The situation is further confused by the fact that he appeared to be in good health at the last PBB he attended. The Kyokai is anxious to resolve this question so that Kaminishiki's danpatsu shiki can be scheduled for a future PBB.
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SUMO SHIMPO is published six times a year by The Southern California Sumo Kyokai. It is written and assembled by dedicated volunteers who do it all for free because they love sumo. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get anyone to print it for free; nor have we been able to get free mailing out of the Postal Service. So if you think it's worth reading, we need you to join the Southern California Sumo Kyokai for $5 a year per individual, or $10 per family. We will have membership cards in the near future and hopefully some other benefits. The current paid circulation is 9. Comments and contributions are not only welcome, they are encouraged.

Editor:  Tonkatsu (Harry Dudrow)
Associate Ed.: Yukikaze ( Jim Lowerre)
WEB SITE: "The Golden Mawashi" at
COME.TO/KAMINISHIKI Kaminishiki (Greg Wheeler Web Meister).
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This page last updated on 01/02/2008
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