Takatoriki Rockets to Haru Basho Win
Defeats Miyabiyama for First Yusho, Brings Tenno-Hai Back to Futagoyama Beya
By Yukikaze (Jim Lowerre)

After 18 years in professional sumo and six years after his closest brush with sumo immortality, maegashira #14-East TAKATORIKI defeated sekiwake #1-West MIYABIYAMA on senshuraku to win his first Makunouchi Division championship with a 13-2 record.  This performance was built on a 12-win opening rensho that included victories over Hatsu champion (and future ozeki) sekiwake #1-East MUSOYAMA and komusubi-East TOSANOUMI.  His yusho marks the first time in modern sumo history that a rikishi ranked at the very bottom of the top division has taken the top prize.  By bringing the Emperor’s Cup back to Futagoyama Beya for the first time since the 1998 Aki Basho, TAKATORIKI becomes the fourth deshi from that illustrious stable to hold the prize in the last three years.

The last time TAKATORIKI had been anywhere near this deep on the banzuke was the 1994 Haru Basho.  That time, he pounded out a 12-3 record and shared a jun-yusho with stablemate TAKANONAMI after losing to AKEBONO in a playoff.  With his toes hanging over the Juryo precipice and demotion a certainty if he didn’t pull out of his freefall, the man who has fought more than 850 Makunouchi bouts without an injury absence not only righted his ship - he blasted his first ten opponents off the dohyo and became the first top-division rikishi to get his kachi-koshi.  The torikumi committee duly noted this:  TAKATORIKI’s day 11 opponent was TOSANOUMI, who had defeated yokozuna #1-East TAKANOHANA on shonichi.  But the rikishi some consider the ‘nastiest man in sumo’ used tsukiotoshi on Isenoumi Beya’s heyagashira to remain unbeaten.  Day 12’s obstacle was the more formidable MUSOYAMA, fresh off his Hatsu yusho.  To everyone’s surprise, TAKATORIKI slapped the defending Cup holder to his hands and knees to stand at 12-0.  That put his ‘irresistable force’ on a collision course with a truly ‘immovable object’:  MUSOYAMA’s sempei, yokozuna #2-East MUSASHIMARU.  And it was here that the rensho finally came to an end, as the mammoth Musashigawa rikishi won decisively by yoritaoshi.

Win or lose, the torikumi had already been set:  TAKATORIKI’s day 14 opponent was yokozuna #1‑West AKEBONO.  Over the years the rivalry between these two has been so strong it has been perceived that there is a genuine animosity between them.   Despite a taped-up left foot (rumor has it he had broken a bone) AKEBONO closed hard on TAKATORIKI, got a good mawashi hold and sent him off the dohyo into the camera section.  Despite the loss, the son-in-law of the legendary Taiho still controlled his own destiny thanks to TAKANOHANA’s win over MUSASHIMARU:  he could clinch the title by defeating MIYABIYAMA who, at 11-3, was one of the men pursuing him.  As they stepped onto the dohyo on day 15, it was announced that both had been awarded the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) and that TAKATORIKI had earned the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize).  The “Musashigawa Monster” fought as if he were the one with the yusho at stake, driving the Futagoyama stalwart to the bales with a hard tsuki attack.  But the canny veteran pivoted at the precise moment to route the newcomer’s line of force past him, crushed his opponent down from behind – and, with genuine tears in his eyes, took possession of the massive trophy his father-in-law had won 32 times.

Much of the pre-basho buzz had been had been about yokozuna #2-West WAKANOHANA and his anticipated return to action this time out.  News reports had indicated he’d been doing good keiko against his stablemates, but had appeared a bit sluggish as the tourney drew closer.  There was considerable applause when he walked down the hanamichi for his first real bout since last September, and even more applause when he walked back to the shitakubeya after rolling maegashira #1-East WAKANOYAMA on the clay.  But the applause died quickly after he lost to MIYABIYAMA and handed a kinboshi to maegashira #1-West KYOKUSHUZAN.  On day 5, sekiwake #2-West TOCHIAZUMA pushed him over the tawara and off the dohyo – forever, as it turned out.  That night, after a brief discussion with his oyakata/father, the older Hanada brother announced his retirement (see accompanying Kyodo News Service article).  His retirement name is Fujishima Oyakata (moto-yokozuna Wakanohana III).

When WAKANOHANA was promoted after winning the 1998 Natsu Basho, he raised some eyebrows by adopting the Shiranui-style yokozuna dohyo-iri instead of the more traditional Unryu style currently used by the other three grand champions.  The Shiranui style is reputed to have bad karma attached to it:  no recent yokozuna who has adopted it has been successful.  (Some sources saw this as WAKANOHANA’s subtle signal that he was not planning to remain in competition for the long haul.)  After WAKANOHANA’s experience, it will probably be a very long time before another yokozuna ties two loops in his tsuna knot instead of one.

Osaka’s karma has never been kind to TAKANOHANA.  This manifested itself on opening day when he lost to TOSANOUMI, who has now had the better of him in three of their last four meetings.  The now-undisputed Futagoyama heyagashira righted himself with six subsequent wins; but a loss to KAIO on day 8 placed him two wins back of his high-flying kohai.  And just when MUSASHIMARU brought TAKATORIKI back to earth, ozeki #1-East DEJIMA forced the younger Hanada brother over the tawara to put him in a four-way tie with AKEBONO, MUSOYAMA and MIYABIYAMA.  He succeeded in drawing MUSASHIMARU off his stablemate’s back, but was then crushed out on senshuraku by AKEBONO to finish at 11-4.

Steady performances by both Hawaiian yokozuna kept them close for the basho’s stretch drive.  Due to the torikumi shuffling made necessary by TAKATORIKI’s rocket attack, they did not meet each other for the first time in this reporter’s memory.  There was no outward evidence of the injury that had forced MUSASHIMARU out of the January contest, but losses to TOCHIAZUMA and ozeki #2-East TAKANONAMI put Musashigawa’s heyagashira two wins behind the streaking TAKATORIKI at the end of day 12.  Once he’d put the brakes on TAKATORIKI he turned his attention to TAKANOHANA, but his loss to the remaining Hanada took his yusho chances out of his hands.  He mounted the dohyo on senshuraku knowing the Tenno-Hai was already in TAKATORIKI’s possession, and may not have been motivated to do his best:  ozeki-West CHIYOTAIKAI twisted him down to a final mark of 11-4.  AKEBONO started with three wins but fell to MUSOYAMA and MIYABIYAMA on the following two days.  He was 8-2 after ten contests, only to have CHIYOTAIKAI push him over the bales on day 11.  The Azumazeki heyagashira finished strong with four wins including victories over the three TAKAs:  NAMI, RIKI and HANA.  His 12-3 places him in the #1-East yokozuna slot in May, which should quiet the critics for awhile.

It almost seems as if TAKANONAMI has become allergic to success.  At the Kokugikan two months ago he successfully beat the odds and became only the second rikishi in modern sumo history to regain ozeki rank after being demoted to sekiwake.  He started off this basho well enough, with three wins in the first four days.   But then it was as if the Osaka Furitsu Taiikukan’s temporary tsuriyane had fallen on him:  he lost his next five matches, including a ‘ginboshi’ to comparatively-weak maegashira #2-East TAMAKASUGA on day 9.  He did pull up his tabi and won his next two bouts over MUSASHIMARU and maegashira #3-East KOTORYU but a loss to AKEBONO left him one away from make-koshi.  Victories over CHIYOTAIKAI and maegashira #5-West CHIYOTENZAN pulled him even at 7-7, but DEJIMA’s senshuraku win placed him in his fifth kadoban.  His last kadoban was at the 1999 Aki Basho:  he went make-koshi at Kyushu due to an injury, was demoted to sekiwake for Hatsu 2000, and just managed to get back to ozeki status with 10 wins.  This could be the year he falls into the maegashira ranks like so many other moto-ozeki before him.

Of the other two ozeki, only one turned in a consistant performance.  DEJIMA managed to win all the contests he was expected to win, along with one (TAKANOHANA) he was reasonably expected to lose.  He lost only one hiramaku matchup and finished at 11-4, but did not have to face AKEBONO.  CHIYOTAIKAI’s win over AKEBONO was the only highlight of his outing.  Kokonoe’s top deshi dropped two bouts to maegashira, never got any momentum going, just managed a weak 8-7 posting - and was probably lucky in that TAKATORIKI’s yusho might have ‘de-motivated’ mighty MUSASHIMARU.

The lower half of the sanyaku has jelled into a solid obstacle for all but the most talented and powerful men coming up from below.  Both of the Musashigawa “Twin Peaks” had fantastic outings at sekiwake.  MUSOYAMA may not have been able to derail the TAKATORIKI ‘bullet train’ but his 12-3 game bag held AKEBONO, CHIYOTAIKAI, TAKANONAMI and his fourth Gino-Sho (Technique Prize).  But the biggest and best goody in the bag was a long-sought promotion to ozeki, where he will step in alongside heya-mate DEJIMA (see accompanying article).  MIYABIYAMA hooked WAKANOHANA and landed him, then put CHIYOTAIKAI, AKEBONO and TAKANONAMI in his creel.  He may have failed to reel TAKATORIKI into a playoff (a day 4 loss to the acrobatic KYOKUSHUZAN indeed came back to bite him) but his 11-4 showed he’s ready for the day when TAKANONAMI sinks in the deep waters of upper sanyaku.  Third sekiwake TOCHIAZUMA went 2 for 4 against the yokozuna and 1 for 2 against ozeki, but fell flat against the other joi-jin.  After 10 days of a solid sanyaku diet he was finally given maegashira to fight, and he chewed through them to a passable 8-7 record.  The two komusubi had their hands full just trying to stay in the higher pay grade.  TOSANOUMI followed his success against TAKANOHANA with a win over TAKANONAMI, then lost his next four before winning three in a row.  He had dominated his recent meetings with TAKATORIKI, and may have thought that his sudden resurgence was only because he was fighting bottom-rung talent.  This, however, was proved not to be the case.  Komusubi-West KAIO could have taken a page from former tsukebito SENTORYU, who was enjoying a career performance in Juryo (see accompanying article).  He did post wins over CHIYOTAIKAI, TAKANOHANA and TOCHIAZUMA but was well and truly manhandled by the rest of the top-rankers.  Both men in the ‘killer rank’ finished with 8-7 marks, so they keep drawing sanyaku paychecks.

Every maegashira listed at #5 or higher went make-koshi.  #7-West TOKI opened with five wins in the first five days, including triumphs over shin-nyumaku #10-West HAYATEUMI and the always-dangerous AKINOSHIMA at #5-East.  #7-East ASANOWAKA came out of the blocks with seven wins in his first eight bouts, but went into a slide after losing to TAKATORIKI.  It wasn’t until senshuraku that he garnered his eighth victory.  #7-West KOTONISHIKI was injured in his match with AKINOSHIMA:  the only rikishi to win two yusho as a maegashira will be ranked in Juryo for the Natsu Basho.  Aside from TAKATORIKI:  the maegashira were led by #6-East TOCHINONADA and #12-West DAIZEN, both of whom went 9-6.  KYOKUSHUZAN got the only kinboshi of the basho while stablemate #2-West KYOKUTENHO received WAKANOHANA’s final fusenpai.

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Takatoriki Shows Different Side In Victory
By "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

Like many people, TAKATORIKI has always been one of the bad guys for me.  Sort of the "Sammy the Bull" of the "Futogayama gangsters", as “Yukikaze” likes to call them.  I was rooting for my boy MIYABIYAMA to beat him and throw the basho into a five way tie.  Yet I was left with a new respect for TAKATORIKI after seeing his emotional reaction to winning and his interview.

“Yukikaze” and “Sumo Phreek” Lorinda had a similar reaction.  “Here was a man who was genuinely surprised and totally humbled by what he had done.  At the post-basho interview he told the interviewer he still wasn’t sure he was entitled to touch the Cup.  This is a refreshing change from the air of arrogant entitlement that seems to surround TAKANOHANA like a bad smell.”

Reader Tom Madara put it nicely in this letter:  "Just finished watching TAKATORIKI win the Haru basho.  Very exciting!!  I usually root for MUSASHIMARU or AKEBONO but found myself being for TAKA at the end.  His very emotional moment at the end was very "un-sumo" like - I believe it was the first time I have seen tears from a sumotori in the 5 years I have been watching sumo."

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American Rikishi Goes on Tear in Heavy Juryo Action
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

Juryo #11-East SENTORYU, the only professional sumotori from the United States mainland, has had limited success in his sumo career:  the 2000 Haru Basho was only the sixth tournament in which he has been ranked as a sekitori.

But some of whatever TAKATORIKI had gotten hold of must have found its way to the St. Louis native, and it proved to be mighty potent stuff.  After a loss on shonichi he rolled off ten consecutive wins to keep pace with #1-West KOTOMITSUKI and #6-West TOCHINOHANA for the second division championship.  It wasn’t until day 12 that he fell off the pace with a loss to #5-West JUMONJI, but three wins in the last three days (including a hatakikomi over KOTOMITSUKI) placed him in a three-way tie for the Juryo yusho with KOTOMITSUKI and TOCHINOHANA.  TOCHINOHANA prevailed in the ensuing playoff.

KOTOMITSUKI will be shin-nyumaku for the upcoming Natsu Basho.  He will most likely be joined under the ‘bright lights’ by KINKAIYAMA, who went 10-5 at #2-West.  Other performances of note were turned in by JUMONJI (10-5), #8-East AMINISHIKI (9-6), #10-East TAMARIKIDO (9-6) and #13-East TAKAMISAKARI (11-4).

It was very rough for former Makunouchi sumotori.  Only #9-East DAISHI (8-7) and #10-West YOTSUKASA (8-7) pulled kachi-koshi out of the carnage wrought by TOCHINOHANA, SENTORYU and KOTOMITSUKI.  Former top-division veterans #11-West WAKANOJO (5‑10) and #12-East GANYU (2-13) appear to be heading down to Makushita.  The other gaijin in Juryo, #7-East HOSHITANGO, went 6-9.

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Musoyama Promoted to Ozeki
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

Sekiwake MUSOYAMA was promoted to ozeki at the March 29 meeting of a Nihon Sumo Kyokai board of directors.  The senior member of Musashigawa Beya’s “College of Sumo Knowledge” thus joins stablemate DEJIMA at sumo’s second-highest rank.

The former college champion (civilian name:  Takehito Ozo) entered professional sumo as a makushita tsukedashi at the 1993 Hatsu Basho.  He rose through the juniors quickly, with promotion to Juryo coming at the 1993 Natsu Basho:  he entered the Makunouchi two tournaments later.  At first considered a potential yokozuna of the future, a series of injuries hampered his progress and kept him bouncing between the sanyaku and high maegashira ranks.  But the arrival of subsequent college champions DEJIMA and MIYABIYAMA, coupled with the rise of MUSASHIMARU to yokozuna status, seemed to act as a booster shot for his sagging career.  He posted a 10-5 record in Fukuoka, then went 13-2 at this year’s Hatsu Basho for his first yusho.  He clinched matters with a 12-3 record at the just-completed Haru Basho for a three-basho record of 35-10.  (By comparison:  MUSASHIMARU posted a 33-12 three-basho record and had no yusho when he was promoted in 1994.)

MUSOYAMA’s record in 40 Makunouchi tournaments is 324 wins, 214 losses and 62 no-contests.  In addition to his yusho he has won the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) 5 times; the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) 4 times; and the Gino-Sho (Technique Prize) 4 times.  He has 2 kinboshi to his credit.

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Two-Time World Amateur Sumo Champion Visits, Trains at Dohyo of Dreams (Champion at My Door)
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

March 12’s training session at the “Dohyo of Dreams” was graced by the unexpected but extremely welcome presence of a two-time world amateur sumo champion.

A champion at my door…Church had run overtime on March 12th;  I was in the kitchen peeling potatoes for the beef stew that had to go in the crockpot before I went to sumo practice, when I heard a knock at the door.   I went to the door to find two men standing in the driveway.  One of them was middle aged and the other was in his twenties.  They were looking for me and wanted to know if I did sumo.   When I answered in the affirmative, I was told that the younger man was the World lightweight champion and he was from Bulgaria!  After having it repeated several times, I finally got that his name was Sveto (actually short for Svetoslav) Binev.  They had gotten my name and address from Mr. Yonezuka in New Jersey and had driven up from San Diego to find me.  Since I was getting ready to go to practice, I gave them directions to the “Dohyo of Dreams” and sent them on their way.  Then I quickly called "Yukikaze" to give him the word.

Unfortunately, no one else came to practice that day, but we put mawashi on Svetoslav and his friend Kremen and had a short (Kreman's wife had to go to work) but brisk workout.   I managed one win over Kremen, who had never done sumo before.  Needless to say, none of us beat Svetoslav. 

He showed us his World Championship medals, Tokyo 98 and Reisa Germany 99, and left us with a promise to come to our tournament on April 1st (see accompanying article).

A check of Svetoslav's bio in the program for the ‘98 Worlds shows that he has been the Bulgarian national free-style Champion, 97-98 national sumo champion, 1997 Austrian sumo champion, 1997 European Championships team bronze and 1998 European lightweight champion before winning his first World Championship.

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Deep, Strong Field Contests SoCal Kyokai Spring Sumo 2000
By “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Led by two-time World Lightweight Champion Svetoslav Binev from Bulgaria, seven men and sixteen children competed in the Southern California Sumo Kyokai’s Spring Sumo 2000 tournament, held Saturday, April 1, 2000 at the Long Beach Police Athletic League's 9th Street facility.

The seven men ranged in age from 17 to 59, and in weight from 186lbs. to 335lbs.  Men’s competition was contested in an open round robin, in which every competitor wrestled every other competitor.  The results were then used to seed both a combined Light/Middleweight division playoff and a Heavyweight division playoff.  Mr. Binev bested all comers in both the Open division and the Light/Middleweight division.  David Knight won the Heavyweight division in this, his first sumo contest.

Austin Proventure (aka:  Mr. Grappling) has won five-age group national championships in Free Style and Greco-Roman wrestling, Judo and Sambo.  Spring Sumo 2000 marks his first sumo championship.

All matches were refereed by Mr. Ernie Hunt of the Northern California Sumo Kyokai.  A special guest in attendance was Mr. Steve Sameshima, executive producer of Sumo Digest on the Dynamic Sports Network.  Mr. Sameshima was impressed with the kids’ sumo, especially the girls.

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WAKANOHANA RETIRES, ENDS DISAPPOINTING YOKOZUNA CAREER
Kyodo News Service

OSAKA, March 16 - Yokozuna WAKANOHANA, one of sumo's smaller stars but a wrestler known for his tremendous tenacity and agility who took center stage during sumo's boom years, bowed out of the dohyo ring forever Thursday after a string of disappointing records as a grand champion.

WAKANOHANA announced his retirement from the traditional Japanese sport after being shoved out by sekiwake Tochiazuma for his third loss five days into the 2000 Haru Basho.  "I've found it hard to keep my mental toughness that can make up for the lack of my physical strength. I decided to call it quits on my way back (from the Osaka Taiikukan) after losing today's bout," he said at a hastily-arranged press conference Thursday night.  "I told my oyakata that I'd like to retire rather than asking for his advice. I just want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who supported me in all those years," he added.

Futagoyama Oyakata, who is the father of both WAKANOHANA and TAKANOHANA, said he has accepted and respects his older son’s decision and will formally submit his resignation to the Nihon Sumo Kyokai on Friday.

At 130 kilograms and 181 centimeters – comparatively small for a professional sumo wrestler -- Wakanohana gained huge popularity among sumo fans and was at the center of the sport's boom alongside younger brother Takanohana in the late 1980s through mid-1990s.  Plagued with a wide variety of injuries for much of his 13-year career, he quit at the age of 29 years and one month, becoming the sixth youngest of 67 yokozuna on record in terms of retirement age.  His tenure of 11 tournaments at sumo's ultimate rank is the sixth shortest; and he sat out or withdrew from six of them through damaged ligaments and a torn thigh muscle, which followed a liver ailment, a sprained ankle and a broken toe earlier in his career.  He had won five Emperor's Cups, but none as a yokozuna.

"I wanted him to be fully fit by taking more time off and I have no idea why he returned to the dohyo in a hurry," said Kazuo Ichiriki, head of the powerful Yokozuna Deliberation Council, an advisory body to the NSK’s Tokitsukaze Rijicho.  "He could have stayed on in sumo for some more years had he not been promoted to yokozuna, and left lasting memories as an outstanding ozeki just like his father did."  Ichiriki and his council members gave the nod to WAKANOHANA's promotion to yokozuna in May 1998 after he defied the odds to win back-to-back tournaments, joining his younger brother as the first pair of siblings in history to share grand champion status.

Wakanohana entered the Osaka contest knowing it would be a do-or-die occasion for his career after receiving an ultimatum from senior NSK elders and members of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council.  They advised him to keep away from the dohyo until he recovered fully from a thigh injury after finishing last year's Aki Basho with a disastrous 7-8 record.  Wrestling the final five bouts of that tourney with a torn thigh muscle, he became only the second yokozuna to fail to collect a majority of wins in a 15-day grand sumo meet.  He skipped the 1999 Kyushu and 2000 Hatsu contests in the run-up to the ongoing Haru Basho.

On his way to the top, Wakanohana needed 47 tournaments in the makuuchi division and spent 29 basho at the second highest rank of ozeki, the third longest spell spent waiting for yokozuna promotion.  Such a snail's pace contrasted with the smooth path traveled by Takanohana, who made his professional debut simultaneously with Wakanohana in March 1988 but made yokozuna in December 1994 and currently has 20 yusho to his credit.  The Waka-Taka jidai culminated in a championship playoff - the first ever between brothers - at the 1995 Kyushu Basho.  WAKANOHANA won that contest.

“Yukikaze” edited and reformatted this report.

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RESULTS of the 8th WORLD SUMO CHAMPIONSHIPS in Riesa, Germany

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Bad Taste Commercial Gives Clue As to Why Rikishi Aren't Allowed to Do Them
Editorial by "Tonkatsu"

We here in the U.S.A. are used to seeing professional and sometimes amateur athletes in TV commercials.  Thus it might come as a surprise to some of our readers to know that members of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai are not allowed to do them.  For instance, former ozeki Konishiki, who has done a lot of them since he retired, had to leave sumo altogether first.

This means that when American producers want to do a commercial with a sumo theme they have to try and find people who look like sumotori.  We are contacted on a fairly regular basis by such producers.  We refer them to our friend Ichiro, because we don't have any in our club.

One of the people in the U.S. who has appeared in commercials is former World Champion Manny Yarbrough, and his most recent one is the subject of this article.  In February, he appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.  We were asked to supply our ring and we were happy to do so.  During the interview, Manny, who bills himself as "The world's sexiest man over 700lbs"., was asked about his new commercial., which of course was shown.  In this commercial, Manny faces off against a much smaller Japanese wrestler who tries to crawl between his legs.  Manny sits on the guy, who disappears.  Manny stands up and looks around.  When he turns around, the other guys head and shoulders are sticking out of his butt.  This was greeted with great laughter by Jay Leno and the audience.  In fact, it was very funny; but it was also in extremely bad taste

Unfortunately, this is the way most Americans see sumo.  As some sort of freak show.  It's no wonder that the Nihon Sumo Kyokai doesn't let their people do commercials.

Now when I wear my sumo cap into the market, instead of being asked about sumo, I am asked if I have seen the commercial with the guys head sticking out of the big black guy’s butt!  One suspects that the fit is going to hit the shan when they see this one in Japan.  What do you think?

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What's Holding Back U.S. Sumo?  (Part 2)
Editorial by "Tonkatsu"

In part one of this series we spoke about how the idea that we had to have sponsors in order to have a Championship was holding up the growth of U.S. sumo.  As we type these words, the fate of this year’s North American Championships hangs in the balance for exactly the reasons we spoke of.  We have been told that Hollywood Park Casino is still interested, but they don't want to pay for travel, the largest expense in the first three tournaments.  On the other hand, Mr. Jacques tell us in an e-mail that, "I think they don't want to sponsor a tournament if Japan and many of the top competitors in North America wouldn't be there to show top quality sumo and excite the crowd."  The clear implication is that many of the "top competitors" couldn't or wouldn't be there if they had to pay their own way.

This raises several interesting questions.  Question number one is, is exciting the crowd the primary object of a championship in a minor amateur sport?  And let us make no mistake about it, in North America, amateur sumo is an extremely minor sport.  Indeed, should what the crowd thinks even be a consideration?  Aren't amateur sports about the competitors, not the spectators?  In most small amateur sports the only spectators are the close relatives and friends of the competitors.  The major question remains, if the top competitors aren't going to be there for whatever reason, does that mean we have no championship?  In the mean time, those people who are able and willing to pay their own way have to sit and wait.

But I digress, lets get on with part two of the problem, which is the dysfunctional state of the U.S. Sumo Federation.  In order for you to understand the situation, a little background is in order.

The International Sumo Federation was formed in 1992, and the first World Championship was held that year.  The World was divided for sumo purposes into seven regions: Japan, the rest of Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South and Central America and Oceania.  The initial representatives of each region were appointed by Japan.

The U.S. Sumo Federation was incorporated in New Jersey in May of 1996 with an initial board of trustees of Yoshisada Yonezuka (NJ) John Jacques (HA) and Emmanuel Yarbrough (NJ).   Article 1. A. Of the certificate of incorporation states that: "THE CORPORATION SHALL HAVE TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS AND THE ELECTION, QUALIFICATIONS, RIGHTS AND ANY LIMITATIONS FOR TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS ARE SET FORTH IN THE BY-LAWS."

So, what's the problem?  The problem is:  the by-laws referred to have never been adopted, because the board of  trustees has never held the organizational meeting called for in the N.J. Non-Profit Corporations Act.  That act also calls for there to be either annual or bi-annual (depending on the bi-laws) membership meetings if there are to be members.  That the initial board of trustees shall serve until the first annual meeting, at which time they will be replaced by an elected one.  But no annual membership meeting has ever been held.  Why?  Because until the first of this year, no one had been admitted to membership!  It was only after Harry Dudrow and Jim Lowerre filed a petition with the New Jersey Attorney General to have the corporation’s charter revoked for cause that is was finally decided, after an acrimonious special meeting, to admit members starting the first of this year.  Mr. Dudrow was in fact elected acting registrar.  As of this date, the Federation has sixteen senior and three junior members, most of them in California.  Only one of the trustees, Mr. Yonezuka, has paid the $20 dues and become a member.  There are still no by-laws and a board of trustees that was never elected and should have been replaced three years ago, sits illegally making decisions that affect everyone in U.S. Sumo.

What can we do?  The New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation act provides internal remedies that can be invoked by as little as 10% of the membership.  It also provides legal recourse if internal remedies fail.  Also, because the Federation is a foreign corporation doing business in California, relief could be sought in this State's courts.  Will it come to that? We hope not!

Finally, a personal note.  Because this writer both understands and believes in the rule of law, and because I am not afraid to invoke the law if need be, I have been cast as the bad guy in this little melodrama by some of the other actors.  It is not the first time in my life.  You would be amazed how few people have any understanding of and respect for the need to have rules and laws.  I would much rather be doing sumo than fighting these kind of battles.  But, as the saying goes, "It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it."

Anyone who would like to be part of the solution to this problem can help by becoming a member of the U.S. Sumo Federation.  To do so contact Harry Dudrow at the address or e-mail address in this publication to receive an application.

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Calendar
Super Heavyweight Tournament, Caesar's Tahoe April 22nd.
Natsu Basho, Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke: April 24, 2000
Shonichi: May 7, 2000 (Sunday) SUMO DIGEST
starts May 8 (Monday) KRCA channel 62 11:30pm
Senshuraku: May 21, 2000 (Sunday)
Nagoya Basho, Aichi Prefectural Gym. Nagoya
Banzuke: June 26, 2000
Shonichi: July 9(Sunday) SUMO DIGEST
starts 7-10(Monday) KRCA channel 62 11:30pm
Senshuraku: July 23, 2000 (Sunday)
Black Ships Festival, Newport RI, July 20-23
Tonkatsu's 60th birthday, July 22nd
Aki Basho, Kokugikan, Tokyo
Banzuke: August 21, 2000
Shonichi: Sept. 3, 2000(Sunday) SUMO DIGEST
starts, 9-4 (Monday) KRCA channel 62 11:30pm
Senshuraku: Sept. 17, 2000 (Sunday) 
Kyushu Basho, Fukuoka Kokusai Center
Banzuke: Oct. 23, 2000
Shonichi: Nov.5, 2000(Sunday) SUMO DIGEST
starts Nov. 6 (Monday) KRCA channel 62 11:30pm
Senshuraku: Nov. 19, 2000 (Sunday)
Note: All times, dates & channels for SUMO DIGEST beyond the Hatsu Basho are assumptions, based on the present schedule.

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SUMO SHIMPO is published six times a year by The Southern California Sumo Kyokai. 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. Comments and contributions are not only welcome, they are encouraged.

Editor: Tonkatsu (Harry Dudrow)
Associate Editor: Yukikaze (Jim Lowerre)

This page last updated on 11/25/2007
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