December 2003

MUSASHIMARU RETIRES!

  
MUSASHIMARU RETIRES!
Sentoryu, Aogiyama Also Hang It Up
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

  Yokozuna MUSASHIMARU, who had been one of the dominant forces in sumo until chronic wrist problems kept pushing him to the sidelines, announced his retirement after day 7 of the Kyushu Basho.  He made the announcement after suffering his fourth loss in seven days, to maegashira #2-West TOSANOUMI.  This was his third kinboshi defeat of the tournament, after earlier losses to #1-East TOCHINONADA and #3-West TAMANOSHIMA.

At a press conference after the announcement, the mammoth Hawaiian said that his wrist problems had left him with no power in his left shoulder.  “I couldn’t maintain the responsibility that a grand champion has.  That is the main reason I decided to retire,” he said.

Born in Samoa as Fiamalu Penitani on May 2, 1971, MUSASHIMARU entered sumo as a member of Musashigawa Beya in September of 1989.  He posted a juniors record of 52-18 before being promoted to Juryo for the 1991 Nagoya Basho.  He won the Juryo yusho with an 11-4 posting and was in the division for only one more basho (division record:  21-9) before moving to the top line of the banzuke in November 1991.  He was ranked as a maegashira for only three basho:  during that period he did not even get a matchup with a yokozuna much less defeat one, therefore he never took a kinboshi.  He was ranked at komusubi for the 1992 Natsu contest:  two basho later he was ranked at sekiwake.  He was ranked at sekiwake for 9 basho.  In a series of three tournaments starting with the 1993 Aki, he won 33 of 45 contests to earn ozeki promotion.

MARU’s first basho as an ozeki finished with a tolerable 9-6.  But his second one was a very good 12-3 – and his third one was a 15-0 gem that earned him his first Emperor’s Cup.  (This would be his only zensho effort, which would quickly be overshadowed by Takanohana’s back-to-back 15-0 outings on his way to yokozuna promotion.)   MARU would not hold the Tenno-Hai again until Kyushu 1996, where he won in a playoff after going 11-4.  He won the 1998 Hatsu with a 12-3, but followed it with his first 8-7 outing since 1993.  While most of his following efforts were acceptable ones, the sumo pundits figured he would eventually go kadoban, slip into the lower sanyaku and begin the long elevator ride down to the hiramaku, where he would retire before slipping into Juryo.

But after his next 8-7 in January 1999, it was rumored that Musashigawa Oyakata had a good long talk with his top deshi – and that as a result, MARU got his head on straight.  He went into the 1999 Haru, kicked ass and took shikona for a 13‑2 and his fourth yusho.  He came into the Kokugikan two months later and performed the same job of ‘whup-ass’ on the field for another yusho and promotion to sumo’s pinnacle rank after 32 basho as an ozeki.  He won twice more that year, and he was on his way.

Throughout his entire career one of MARU’s hallmarks had been his durability:  he had never missed a torikumi due to injury.  But that streak was broken in January 2000, when he was forced to withdraw due to the beginnings of the wrist problems that would eventually end his career.  He bounced back two months later, but then had to go on full Public Injury in May of 2000.  He won the 2000 Aki Basho, but then went more than a year before his next victory at Kyushu 2001.

Three of the next five yusho ended up in his powerful hands.  The 2002 Aki championship made history in three ways.  First, it was his 12th, moving him past Akebono’s total of 11 for the most yusho by a ‘Kurofune’.  Second, his senshuraku victory over Takanohana ended the younger Hanada brother’s career as an effective contender:  he would retire four months later.  And finally (although he didn’t know it then), it marked the beginning of the end of his own career, as he was forced to withdraw during Kyushu 2002.  He ended up sitting out the first three basho of 2003, did not finish out in Nagoya, sat out Aki 2003 – and finally made the decision to hang up his mawashi in Fukuoka.

MUSASHIMARU finishes with a career record of 779 wins, 294 losses and 115 injury withdrawals.  His top-division record of 706-267-115 puts him in 4th place on the all-time Makunouchi wins list behind Chiyonofuji, Kitanoumi and Taiho, but ahead of Takanohana.  He has four sansho to his credit:  one Shukun-Sho, one Kanto-Sho and two Gino-Sho.  He surrendered a total of 24 kinboshi during the 27 basho he was ranked as a grand champion.

Also:  after the basho was over, former maegashira #12 SENTORYU announced his retirement from professional sumo after going 2-5 at Makushita #5-West.  The native of St. Louis, Missouri (civilian name:  Henry Armstrong Miller) entered sumo in July 1988 as a member of Tomozuna Beya.  He made history when he became the first mainland American to be promoted to the Makunouchi in July of 2000, but was in the top division for only 3 basho with a record of 19-26.  In 92 basho he posted a career record of 403-303-99.

And former maegashira #1 AOGIYAMA announced his retirement on day 9, after losing his ninth consecutive bout while ranked at Juryo #8-West.  The native of Shiga Prefecture (civilian name:  Hideki Teraki) posted a career record of 628-645-74, and had a top-division record of 223-314-33 as a member of Tokitsukaze Beya.  He never won a sansho, but had 2 kinboshi on his books.

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Azuma Fends Off Late Charge
Ozeki Takes Second Yusho; No Kadobans This Time
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

At the time the membership of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai filed into the Fukuoka Kokusai Centre to begin the 2003 Kyushu Basho, no one was expecting anything extremely extraordinary.  Little did they know that this tournament would not only mark the end of a career or two - but would also mark the end of a major era in professional sumo.

Ozeki #1-West TOCHIAZUMA drew the early notice as he won his first ten torikumi for the early lead.  Right behind him was yokozuna-East ASASHORYU, who had overcome a day 2 loss at the hands of maegashira #1-East TOCHINONADA to stay in the race.  AZUMA’s day 11 loss to maegashira #2-West TOSANOUMI allowed SHORYU to draw even.  Each of them would lose a match to an ozeki over the closing days:  they went into senshuraku tied at 12-2 and scheduled to meet for ‘all the marbles’.  AZUMA resisted the Mongolian’s charge and was able to spin him over the tawara and out for a 13-2.  This was the second career yusho for Tamanoi Beya’s heyagashira.  By logic, he is now in prime position for yokozuna promotion.  Room had been figuratively created at the top of the banzuke earlier in the basho when yokozuna-West MUSASHIMARU announced his retirement from sumo after a day 7 loss to TOSANOUMI.  (Refer to main article.)  ASASHORYU finished with a 12-3 for the jun-yusho.

Aside from AZUMA, the other ozeki earned their parking places this time out.  Ozeki #1-East CHIYOTAIKAI and #2-East KAIO both had impacts on the yusho race, but were not able to pull into contention themselves as both finished at 10-5.  The fourth member of the quartet, #2-West MUSOYAMA was treading water at 5-5 after day 10.  But along with the apparent realization that he is now the new heyagashira of Musashigawa Beya came a new infusion of power:  he won 4 of his last 5 to post a 9-6.  This means that all kadobans are lifted, and none of the four are vulnerable going into 2004.  

In the last issue of this publication, this writer made the case that sekiwake-East WAKANOSATO should be considered a legitimate ozeki candidate.  This opinion must have acted as a jinx.  Naruto Beya’s top man fought well but not successfully, just managing to make 7-7 by the time senshuraku arrived.  And in the final bout MUSOYAMA locked his arm and sent him down to defeat, and a make-koshi record for the first time in 2003.  Bad as that may be, at least SATO knows he will most likely keep getting a sanyaku paycheck in January:  all the other lower sanyaku rikishi will be hiramaku on the next banzuke.  The highlight in sekiwake-West KYOKUTENHO’s outing was a day 2 win over MARU.  Other than that, he had absolutely nothing in his tank this contest as he flopped with a 4-11.  Both komusubi managed better than that, but not by much:  East-sider TAKAMISAKARI fell to a 5-10 while West-side counterpart IWAKIYAMA rolled a 6-9.

Former ozeki, now maegashira #14-West DEJIMA pounded out an 11-4 record for the top hiramaku performance.  The man who won MARU’s final torikumi, TOSANOUMI went 10-5 for a share of the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize).  The other share went to TOCHINONADA, who had defeated both yokozuna and just made his kachi.  Maegashira #3-West TAMANOSHIMA’s 10-5 and single kinboshi earned him sole possession of the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize).  Maegashira #7-East HOKUTORIKI also racked up a 10-5.  9-6 records were the order of the day for maegashira #2-East TOKI, #11-West TAKEKAZE and #15-West YOTSUKASA.  The Gino-Sho (Technique Prize) was not awarded.

In the Juryo division, Georgian #2-West KOKKAI took the championship in decisive manner with an explosive 14-1:  look for him to make his long-awaited Makunouchi debut in January.  Runner-up honors were shared between #4-East USHIOMARU and #11-West OIKARI, both with 11-4 records.  #5-East KITAZAKURA rolled out a 10-5.  The following rikishi made 9-6s:  #3-East ASANOWAKA, #4-West HAYATEUMI, #7-West KASUGAO (who, alone, spoiled KOKKAI’s bid for zensho) and #13‑East TOWANOYANA.  Former maegashira #1, Juryo #8-West AOGIYAMA retired after losing his ninth consecutive torikumi.

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

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The 600-Win Club (updated after Kyushu 2003)
(Info from the NSK and Stefan Gelow web sites)

  * Non-Japanese

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Food For Thought
Opinion by Bart Harris for SUMO SHIMPO

(EDITOR’S NOTE:  before he founded the Lone Star Sumo Association, Bart Harris was a minor-league level ‘professional wrestler’.  The opinions he expresses are his, and not necessarily those of SUMO SHIMPO or its editorial staff.)

Since I started doing sumo I've always enjoyed the simplicity.  Two people clashing, having fun and competing for wins.  It's not about money or being a star.

My days in pro wrestling were exactly the opposite.  Grown men were always acting like children, fighting over who was better, who got paid more, or who controlled what territory.  If you wrestled for one group you couldn't wrestle for the other without burning bridges.  It didn't take long to forget about enjoying yourself because everyone got so wrapped up in advancing their "careers."  You had guys thinking they could start their own promotions, stealing talent and basically wrecking the business.  Nobody won in these situations because nobody ever seemed to do any better and everyone started losing money.  Worse than that, however, was the loss of many friendships through all of the competing factions.

Hopefully, sumo never becomes so political the the guys forget the value of friendly competition in favor of trying to become big stars.  That would be a real shame, especially when you consider that the growth of amateur sumo depends on the cooperation of all involved.

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Snake River Sumo Classic A Great Success
Sabo Wins Lights, Opens; Casey Burns Powers to Heavy Title
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

It was a simple matter of economics that put “Tonkatsu” and myself in a rental car for the trip to Idaho Falls, Idaho, for the inaugural Snake River Sumo Classic.   It was cheaper to rent a car, put gas in it and use it to transport two people (plus their gear, and a batch of mawashis) than it would have been for one person to fly up there and back.  And we would have the car to get around with when we got there.

The downside was a 900-mile, 16-plus hour drive in each direction that had both of us running on the ragged edge of fatigue.  Still, however, it had its good points:  beautiful vistas of wide, grassy plains with farms and ranches where cows, sheep, horses and even llamas munched feed; the up-close-and personal Wasatch Range covered with snow right down to where we were; houses with snow still on their roofs and lawns as we zoomed by at 75-plus on I-15 - and many, many freight trains powering their way along ribbons of steel.

We reached Idaho Falls in the mid-afternoon on Friday:  the hotel was just off I-15 on the banks of the Snake River.  I enjoyed the Shilo Inn in Idaho Falls:  the room was nice and comfortable; the pool, jacuzzi, sauna and fitness center were all indoors and open 24/7; and the water temperatures were very cozy.  All of the sumotori from California had been put up here:  some of them had flown in, while others had driven up like we had.  A contingent of Marines was also in the hotel:  they were getting a jump on celebrating the birthday of the Corps on November 10.

We enjoyed the Shilo’s complementary breakfast on Saturday morning, then drove over to the Apple Athletic Club.  For this event, the club’s basketball court had been covered with drop cloths.  Chairs had been set up around the Snake River Sumo Association dohyo, which had been placed in the court center.  A USMC color guard (tournament organizer Casey Burns is a former Marine) presented the flag while a local high school choral group sang the National Anthem.  ImPRA Rodeo Queen Stephanie Jorgensen served as an honorary judge and helped hand out the medals, while the local Air Force recruiting sergeant was the other honorary judge.  Sato’s, a local Japanese restaurant, had set up a concession stand well away from the action.  “Tonkatsu” was ready to go in his white referee’s uniform and tabi while your humble correspondent handled the functions of both chief judge and official scorer.

The following sumotori (by division) comprised the field at the 2003 Snake River Sumo Classic:

Lightweights:  Trent Sabo (California), Brady Benson (Idaho), Patrick Burns (Idaho), Curt Clapier (Idaho), Scott Larson (Idaho), Matt Riplinger (Idaho).

Middleweights:  Franklin “Buddy” Buddemeyer (California), Jeff Riddle (Mexico), Matt Anderson (Idaho), Joshua Clark (Idaho), Jeremy Gneiting (Idaho), Bryon Hanson (Idaho), Rye McAffee (Idaho), Mike Murdoch (Idaho), Tyler Olsen (Idaho), Forrest Smith (Idaho).

Heavyweights:  Casey Burns (Idaho), James Hernandez (California), Kelly Gneiting (Idaho), Alan Gneiting (Idaho), Doug Cochran (California), Tyrel Bateman (Idaho), Richard Hopp (California), Brad Darrington (Idaho), Jim Garcia (Idaho).

Openweights:  Sabo, Bateman, P. Burns, Buddemeyer, Olsen, Riddle, Anderson, Darrington, Cochran, Hanson, Murdoch.

Idaho Rookie Open:  Evan Bates, Dan Montie, P. Burns, Darrington, Olsen, Hanson, Bateman, Murdoch.

Natalie Burns was registered for the women’s events, but no one signed up to oppose her.

The lightweights fought a six-man round robin, five bouts each.  Sabo’s strength, agility and well-honed dohyo skills were evident from the outset, as he went zensho for the gold medal.  Clapier and P. Burns (Casey’s younger brother) tied with three wins each.  P. Burns had won their earlier matchup, but Clapier – plaid shorts and all – won the playoff for second place.

The ten middleweight competitors were divided into two 5-man round robin pools:  the top two in each pool would move to an elimination bracket.  In pool #1, Anderson went 4-0 to take the top seed while Buddemeyer’s 3-1 qualified him to advance.   McAffee and Riddle each posted 3-1 marks in pool #2:  McAffee got the #1 seed for taking the head-to-head with Riddle.  The bracket went as follows:

Riddle def. Anderson

McAffee def. Buddemeyer

Buddemeyer def. Anderson for the bronze

McAffee def. Riddle for the gold

When the nine heavyweight sumotori were arranged into two pools, care was taken to not place K. Gneiting and C. Burns (aka:  “The Magpie Twins”) in the same pool.  K. Gneiting scooped pool #1 with a 3-0 record.  Hopp, who was favored to qualify for the bracket, was forced to withdraw with a foot sprain.  This left Bateman and Cochran tied at 1-2 for the chance to advance:  Bateman prevailed in the playoff.  Form prevailed in pool #2 as C. Burns rolled out a 4-0, while Hernandez went 3-1 for a playoff spot.  A. Gneiting was forced out with a shoulder injury.  The bracket results:

K. Gneiting def. Hernandez

C. Burns def. Bateman

Hernandez def. Bateman for the bronze

WWE-type theatrics marked the leadup to the C. Burns – K. Gneiting match:  mouthguard tossed aside, thumbs drawn across throats.  The crowd fed off the energy their native sons were generating, with an awe-inspiring roar of approval.  When “Hakkeyoi” finally rang out it was as if an earthquake was shaking the place as the two massive rikishi battled to the limits of their power and beyond.  Finally C. Burns knocked his smaller opponent to the dohyo amid screams and cheers from the crowd – which increased when the two men hugged off the dohyo.

Unfortunately, the majority of the fans (who had been charged no admission to see the action, only asked for a free will donation) thought that was the end of the action and headed for the doors.  As a result they missed out on the open division, which is always fun to watch because the little guys can use their speed and technical knowledge against their larger but slower sumo brethren.  The eleven men who signed up for this were placed in a double-elimination format bracket.  Lightweight winner Sabo got the #1 seed and a first-round bye.  He fought only three bouts and won them all to gain his second gold medal of the day.  Sabo’s final victim was Darrington, who was felled by hatakikomi to be pushed into the consolation bracket.  Darrington’s opponent for the silver medal was Anderson, whom he had eliminated in the second round of the mains.  This time the lighter man took the victory, and Darrington got the bronze medal.

The final event on the card was the Idaho Rookie Open, or Public Open.  This contest was open only to Idaho residents.  Bates and Montie had not fought in any of the previous events of the day, but had submitted releases and paid $2.00 each for a chance to compete.  They and six other fine sumo men of the Gem State were slotted into a single elimination bracket, with a repechage for the bronze medal.  The final results were:

Bates def. P. Burns for the bronze

Darrington def. Bateman for the gold

The staff of SUMO SHIMPO hereby thanks the Snake River Sumo Association for putting on a well-planned, well-organized tournament, Sato’s for their sponsorship, JJ North’s for the post-tournament dinner, and the Apple Athletic Club for providing a very hospitable venue.  But most of all, we wish to thank the people of Idaho Falls for their superb turnout and great enthusiasm.  And we look forward to returning to Idaho again next year for the 2004 Snake River Sumo Classic!

PODIUM FINISHERS at the 2003 SNAKE RIVER SUMO CLASSIC Saturday, November 8, 2003:  Apple Athletic Club, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Men’s lightweight (under 187 lbs./85 kg) 1.     Trent Sabo (CA) 2.     Curt Clapier (ID) 3.     Patrick Burns (ID)	Men’s middleweight (187-253 lbs./85-115 kg) Rye McAffee (ID) Jeff Riddle (Mexico) Franklin Buddemeyer (CA)
>>Men’s heavyweight (over 253 lbs./115 kg) Casey Burns (ID) Kelly Gneiting (ID) James Hernandez (CA)
Men’s open (no restrictions) Trent Sabo (CA) Matt Anderson (ID) Brad Darrington (ID)	Rookie open (Idaho residents) Brad Darrington Tyrel Bateman Evan Bates
>>IF I GIVE BACK THE GOLD MEDAL, CAN I KEEP THE  KEWPIE DOLL?…  ImPRA Rodeo Queen Stephanie Jorgensen rides  tall atop the strong shoulders of lightweight sumotori Trent Sabo (left) and Curt Clapier while Patrick Burns takes the herald’s position at the inaugural Snake River Sumo Classic, held November 8 in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  (Photo:  Mark Riddle for SUMO SHIMPO

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Right Side of Masthead A Reality
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Ever since the first issue of SUMO SHIMPO was published in 1999, the masthead has featured the logos of the Southern California Sumo Kyokai and the Northern California Sumo Kyokai.  The SCSK was founded in September of 1997, but up until recently the NCSK has consisted of one person, Ernie Hunt. (see article in ? Issue).  He had several prospects in the past but they dropped out.

You have to have at least three members to be an official USSF club.  That goal was finally achieved several months ago when our webmistress Alexa "Shirabara" Enriquez and her sons Alexander and Dominic moved to the San Jose area and joined the USSF as members of the NCSK.  The NCSK is now a chartered USSF club.

Anyone in Northern California who would like to learn sumo from one of the most experienced sumo coaches in the country can contact Ernie Hunt at:
828 Heron Drive, Suisun, CA
Phone (707) 425-5177 (be prepared to leave a message)
E-mail:  iluvsumo@pacbell.net

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“Meat Bomb” Era Apparently Over
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

There has always been a segment of the Japanese sumo public that has not liked the presence of "Gaijin" in their national sport - especially the giant Hawaiians, starting with Takamiyama.  The lexicon of sumo has come to include such terms as "Kurofune" (Black Ships), "nikudan" (meat bombs) and "ankogata" (flounder style).

"Kurofune" refers to commodore Perry's "Black Ships" that opened up Japan one hundred and fifty years ago.  The implication is that the big Americans conquered sumo the way the Black Ships opened up Japan.  "Nikudan" and "Ankogata" both refer to exceptionally heavy sumotori (Konishiki would be a prime example of both).

With the retirement of both Musashimaru and Sentoryu, the era of the Black Ships and the “meat bombs” appears to be over.  It would appear that the banzuke for the 2004 Hatsu Basho will not contain any sumotori weighing over four hundred pounds.  The next-heaviest rikishi to Maru at the Kyushu Basho was TOKI at a mere three hundred and seventy-eight pounds.

Of course, there are still plenty of "meat bombs" in amateur sumo.  In fact, the average weight of the heavyweight and open division competitors at the Worlds and other major tournaments has tended for some time to be heavier than the pros.

There are still plenty of "Gaijin" in pro sumo - but the new invaders are coming in smaller ships, from different directions.

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Akebono Leaves Sumo For K-1 Fighting
by “Tonkatsu” for SUMO SHIMPO

Moto-yokozuna Akebono has severed all ties with the Nihon Sumo Kyokai in order to sign to fight former football lineman Bob "The Beast" Sapp in a K-1 fighting contest.  This publication has no knowledge of any other details at this time.

There has been speculation that Akebono (Chad Rowan) might have done this at least in part because he was having trouble obtaining elder stock.  Another more likely explanation is that he noted how much money Konishiki has made since he left sumo.

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Current Kinboshi Leaders
(info from the Hungarian Sumo Page)

Kurisumasu Omedeto!

Shinnen Omedeto!

(Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year!)

from the  SUMO SHIMPO Staff

(“Tonkatsu”, “Yukikaze” and “Shirabara”)

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