sumo shimpo

THE VOICE OF
CALIFORNIA SUMO
SINCE 1999


1715 E. Poinsettia St., Long Beach, CA 90805  |  Tel. (562) 428-3831
Email:  hdudrow@sumoshimpo.com  |  Subscribe to print edition

Current issue December '07  |  October '07  |  August '07  |  June '07  |  April '07  |  February '07
December '06
  |  October '06  |  August '06  |  June '06  |  April '06  |  February '06
2005 Issues
  |  2004 Issues  |  2003 Issues  |  2002 Issues  |  2001 Issues  |  2000 Issues  |  1999 Issues
Photos  |  Links  |  Home

 


June 2004

Asashoryu Survives Losses for Third 2004 Cup

NORTH AMERICAN SUMO CHAMPIONSHIP CANCELLED

Taka Takes Reins From Dad

"Noble Wave" Finally Breaks, Recedes and Retires
The 600 Win Club The "Closing On 600 Wins" Club
Junior Division Yusho Winners US Source for Mawashi
Shingitai -- The Essential Elements of Sumodo
North American Heavyweight Champion to Compete
Toughest Sports:  Where Does Sumo Rate? A Letter From The IFS President
United States Sumo Championships Room Booking Info
California Sumo Competition Calendar for 2004

   
Asashoryu Survives Losses For Third 2004 Cup
Hukutoriki Derails “Mongolian Express” at 35 Wins
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

If the Nihon Sumo Kyokai awarded ‘ginboshi’ (silver stars) to maegashira for toppling ozeki, maegashira #1-West HOKUTORIKI would have been awash in (almost) enough silver to impress the Hunts of Texas after the 2004 Natsu Basho.  He knocked off #1-West KAIO on shonichi, took down #2-East MUSOYAMA on day 2, and bested #1-East CHIYOTAIKAI on day 4.  (The fourth ozeki, #2-West TOCHIAZUMA, was on Kosho Seido for the second consecutive basho and will most likely be demoted on the Nagoya banzuke.)  But since the NSK only hands out ‘kinboshi’ (gold stars) for defeating yokozuna, HOKUTORIKI went and got himself some gold by pushing yokozuna-East ASASHORYU out and down on day 6 of the 2004 Natsu Basho.  This put him in a tie for the yusho.  But then RIKI hit a bump in the road labeled sekiwake-East WAKANOSATO, who broke his rensho and allowed SHORYU back into the picture.

SHORYU suffered his first setback of 2004 after notching 35 straight wins to open the sumo year.  But Mongolia’s mightiest export got up, dusted himself off and got back into the groove.  When SATO beat RIKI on day 8 SHORYU was in the race again; but a day 11 loss to fellow Mongolian sekiwake-West KYOKUTENHO put him back in the upstart maegashira’s rear-view mirror.  But he kept battling, kept winning, kept carving his way through the other joi-jin and playing for a break – and caught it on senshuraku when RIKI was pulled down by maegashira #16-East HAKUHO, who was making his top-division debut after winning the Juryo yusho in March in Osaka.  When SHORYU forced TAIKAI over the tawara in the final officially-scheduled bout of the basho, the stage was set for a playoff.  This time there was no doubt and no mistakes:  SHORYU demonstrated why he wears the tsuna and gohei with a picture yorikiri win, for a 13-2 record and his third Tenno-Hai of the year, seventh overall.

In the modern era of sumo, 35th yokozuna Futabayama’s mark of 69 consecutive wins still stands as tall as Mount Fuji.   58th yokozuna Chiyonofuji has his 1988 streak of 53 successful torikumi, while 48th yokozuna Taiho strung together 45 victories in 1968-69.  ASASHORYU’s 35-win rensho puts him in fourth place in this stratospheric company ahead of 55th yokozuna Kitanoumi (whose longest rensho was 32 wins) and 65th yokozuna Takanohana (30 wins).    With a record of 43-2 at the halfway point, the “Mongolian Express” is still on pace to surpass Kitanoumi’s single-year mark (set in 1978) of 82 wins.

HOKUTORIKI and maegashira #2-West KAKIZOE were a packet of bad news for the ozeki contingent.  After going 3-2 to open the hand KAIO won his next five:  the Tomozuna heyagashira went 10-5.  Three defeats in three days removed TAIKAI from any chance at a yusho he needed badly for any chance at yokozuna promotion:  Kokonoe’s big bruiser finished at 9-6.  One thing saved MUSO from a similar humiliation:  KAKIZOE was his stablemate.  Musashigawa’s heyagashira was 4-4 on day 8 and won his next two, but then collapsed completely and ended the tourney at 6-9 for yet another kadoban.

SATO wanted a great showing in this tournament, to re-establish his credentials for possible ozeki promotion.  He was 7-1 after day 8; but losses to MUSO and TAIKAI on consecutive days removed him from the race for the Cup.  Naruto Beya’s top man still was a bright spot in the lower sanyaku with his 9-6 mark.  Komusubi-West KOTOMITSUKI had a rough go of things with a 2-3 start, but managed wins in 7 of the last 10 for a 9-6 and (most likely) TENHO’s sekiwake slot.  The win over SHORYU was the high point of the fortnight-plus one under the Kokugikan roof for Oshima Beya’s senior rikishi:  he ended the basho with a 6-9 to bring an end to his current stint among the joi-jin.  Komusubi-East MIYABIYAMA should have shrugged off his shonichi loss to SHORYU as ‘par for the course’ and moved on – but the freefall that followed showed that he’d come way down in ability from his days as a member of Musashigawa Beya’s mighty “College of Sumo Knowledge”.  His final mark was 3-12.

HOKUTORIKI’s 13-2 jun-yusho performance and success against the upper sanyaku earned him the Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize) and a share of the Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize) in addition to his official gold star (and unofficial silver stars).  The honorable mentions among the hiramaku were:

#5-West TAMANOSHIMA (12-3) (Gino-Sho (Technique Prize))

#6-West IWAKIYAMA (10-5)

#7-East KOKKAI (Georgia Rep.) (10-5)

#7-West KYOKUSHUZAN (Mongolia) (9-6)

#8-East TAKEKAZE (9-6)

#9-East KOTORYU (10-5)

#12-East KAIHO (9-6)

HAKUHO (Mongolia) (12-3) (Kanto-Sho)

Former ozeki TAKANONAMI retired after going 0-2 at maegashira #13-East (see related article).

In the Juryo Division, new Mongolian sensation #10-West TOKITENKU pulled away from all comers by winning his first ten matches as a sekitori before losing to another gaijin shin-Juryo, Bulgaria’s #10-East KOTOOSHU.  TOKITENKU finished with a 12-3 record and the championship while KOTOOSHU recorded a 10-5.  Others earning ‘mention in despatches’:

#1-West TOYOZAKURA (9-6)

#2-East KASUGAO (South Korea) (10-5)

#2-West OTSUKASA (9-6)

#3-West WAKATOBA (9-6)

#6-West ROHO (Russia) (10-5)

#8-West WAKANOYAMA (9-6)

#11-East HAMANISHIKI (9-6)

#12-West HAGIWARA (9-6)

#13-West TOYONOSHIMA (11-4)

(For complete results on how the non-Japanese contingent performed, visit www.dichne.com.)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


NORTH AMERICAN SUMO CHAMPIONSHIP CANCELLED!!
From sumo news sources 

The 2004 North American Sumo Championship, which had been scheduled for Montreal, Canada on the weekend of July 31 – August 1, has been officially cancelled.

The news came in an E-letter sent by Mr. Leonard Thomas, the President of the North American Sumo Federation.  The text of this letter is as follows:

“Hello Everyone,

I am sorry to bring such bad news, but Mr. Joe Serianni has informed me that the organizer for the Games of the World has told him that they are having problems with the government and the contract.  This year's North American Sumo Championship is cancelled.

The qualifier to make the world team will now be the US National Championship.  The date is September 18th in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Please put all your efforts into convincing as many people as possible to attend this event.  Our sponsorship depends on us selling as many rooms as possible (about 80).

Thank you for your understanding.”

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


GOLIATH, MEET DAVID… In the Open competition at the 2004 US SUMO OPEN, lightweight Joshua Davis has his hands (and everything else) full of heavyweight Marcus Barber as former Makushita sumotori Robert “Shoryuzan” Suetsugu officiates.
(Photo:  “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


Taka Takes Reins From Dad
Historic Heya “Disappears”
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

The stablemaster of what was once referred to as ‘the mightiest heya under heaven’ has handed off the shinai of ownership, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai has announced.

Professional sumo’s governing council has approved the transfer of Futagoyama Beya to the younger of Futagoyama Oyakata’s two sons, 65th yokozuna Takanohana.  (The older son, 66th yokozuna Wakanohana III, retired in 1999 and is no longer in the sumo world.)  Because Takanohana holds one-generation elder status on the strength of his career accomplishments (along with 48th yokozuna Taiho and 55th yokozuna Kitanoumi) the stable will henceforth be officially known as Takanohana Beya.  In the way the sumo world operates this means that Futagoyama Beya, which had been in operation since 1962, ceases to exist.

Futagoyama Oyakata (former ozeki Takanohana), a Riji (member of the governing board) of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, will remain on the stable staff.  The other oyakata affiliated with the beya are Fujishima (former sekiwake Akinoshima) and Tokiwayama (former komusubi Takamisugi), both of whom were part of the Futagoyama ‘machine’ that (at one time) held 11 of 66 senior positions on the banzuke of the 1990’s.

Takanohana Beya’s sole sekitori, maegashira #13-East TAKANONAMI, retired after losing his first two torikumi in the 2004 Natsu tournament (see related article).  He was a former ozeki with more than 600 Makunouchi Division victories.  The stable currently has 4 men in the Makushita Division, 5 in the Sandanme Division, 7 in the Jonidan Division and 2 in the Jonokuchi Division.  One of the Jonokuchi, YAMADA, is from South Korea.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


“Noble Wave” Finally Breaks, Recedes and Retires
by “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO

Osaka 2004 was a far cry from Osaka 1994 for TAKANONAMI.

Ten years previously, in his debut as an ozeki, he posted a 12-3 and wound up in a three-way playoff for the yusho with stablemate Takatoriki and 64th yokozuna Akebono.  The huge Hawaiian prevailed in that instance; but the tall (196cm/6’5”) and powerful rikishi from Aomori Prefecture would hold the Emperor’s Cup twice, at Hatsu 1996 and Kyushu 1997.  (Both wins were in 14-1 playoffs – and both were over his Futagoyama Beya sempei, 65th yokozuna Takanohana.)  This correspondent referred to him as the “Human Derrick”, a tribute to his tremendous lifting strength.  The kimedashi (elbow clamp force-out) and tsuridashi (lift-out) were his signature winning techniques.

But November 1997 would be the high point in NAMI’s career:  he would not get the second consecutive yusho that would have put a tsuna around his waist.  Two years later he would experience two consecutive losing basho and be demoted to sekiwake.  He fought back with a 10-5 to regain his parking spot, but it was only temporary:  two make-koshi outings later he was demoted again, this time for keeps.  Injuries to his ankles and other areas sapped his once-prodigious power game, rendering him vulnerable to men he previously defeated with regularity.  Hatsu 2003 was the last tournament in which he occupied a sanyaku slot. 

At the 2004 Haru Basho NAMI posted a 5-10 at maegashira #8-West, which landed him a ranking at #13-East on the banzuke for the Natsu Basho.  This was significant in a strange way – because that was his rank when he made his top-division debut in November of 1991.  (67th yokozuna Musashimaru made his debut under the ‘bright lights’ that same basho, at maegashira #12‑East.)  It was also significant because he was now in the zone of the Makunouchi ladder where another bad performance could result in the banzuke committee dropping him into the Juryo ranks and (more than likely) precipitating his retirement (former ozeki just don’t ‘soldier on’ in the second division as their careers wind down).  That, in turn, would deprive the former Futagoyama Beya (now known as Takanohana Beya:  see related article) of its last sekitori from the ‘shining times’ where it had dominated sumo with the most powerful assemblage of top-level talent ever to train in one stable.  The end came quickly:  he lost his first two torikumi of the basho (the second one by oshidashi to maegashira #12-West JUMONJI) and ‘pulled the pin’ at a news conference right afterwards.

TAKANONAMI (civilian name:  Sadahiro Namioka) finishes with a career record of 777 wins, 559 losses and 13 absences, making him one of the most durable sumotori ever to hold ozeki rank.  His record in 75 Makunouchi Division basho was 647‑473‑8, which ties him for eighth place on the all-time wins list with former stablemate Akinoshima.  In addition to his two Tenno-Hai, he won the Kanto-Sho three times.  He had 2 kinboshi to his credit, both taken from Musashimaru after demotion to the hiramaku ranks.  The word is that he has secured a toshiyori and will remain in the sumo world as an oyakata following his retirement ceremony.

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


<<AND A 5.5 FROM THE RUSSIAN JUDGE:  Trent Sabo (in gray) and Jeff Riddle (in black) display interesting form in their openweight matchup at SHUNBUN 2004 on the “Dohyo of Dreams”.  Franklin Buddemeyer, Greg Negri and Trevor Van Eede observe what was judged to be a simultaneous hit:  Riddle won the rematch.   (Photo:  “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO)

>> NEW SUMOTORI GRABS SPOTLIGHT AND GOLD… In a match noteworthy for its length of over a minute, rookie sumotori Javonn Rushing tops Jeff Riddle for the SHUNBUN 2004 Open championship.  Rushing also won the lightweight gold over heavily-favored Trent Sabo, who took the silver.  (Photo:  “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO)


[back to top]
  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


The 600-Win Club (updated after Natsu 2004)

Rikishi (Top Rank)

MD Basho

MD Wins

Wins/
Basho

Chiyonofuji (Y)

81

807

9.96

Kitanoumi (Y)

78

804

10.31

Taiho (Y)

69

746

10.81

Musashimaru (Y)*

73

706

9.67

Takanohana (Y)

71

701

9.87

Takamiyama (S)*

97

683

7.04

Konishiki (O)*

81

649

8.01

Takanonami (O)

75

647

8.63

Akinoshima (S)

91

647

7.11

Terao (S)

93

626

6.73

Wajima (Y)

62

620

10.00

* Non-Japanese

The “Closing on 600 Wins” Club

Rikishi (Top Rank)

MD Basho

MD Wins

Wins/
Basho

KAIO (O)

66

558

8.45

KOTONOWAKA (S)

78

550

7.05

MUSOYAMA (O)

61

511

8.38

(Editor’s note:  since there are no active rikishi with 600 or more Makunouchi wins, this may be the last time this table will be seen in SUMO SHIMPO for awhile.  Sayonara!)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS

Division

Rank

Shikona

Beya

Rec.

Makushita

2-E

JUZAN

Oshiogawa

7-0

Sandanme

61-W

AZUMAO (Brazil)

Tamanoi

7-0

Jonidan

19-W

ASAHIMARU

Takasago

7-0

Jonokuchi

14-E

DEWAOTORI

Dewanoumi

7-0


[back to top]
  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


Shingitai - The Essential Elements of Sumodo
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

In Japanese, do means ‘the way’ – and sumodo means ‘the way of sumo’.

Sumodo consists of three essential elements:  shin (heart or spirit), gi (technique) and tai (physique).  In every sumo beya (and I suspect most amateur clubs in Japan) you will find either a sign or banner with shingitai.  You will also find it on the tailgate of this writer’s Toyota pickup truck.  We think that the same principle can be applied to most sports, especially those involving contact.  Let's examine each of the three elements.

Matsuzaki-san says that the character used for shin is the character for heart.  It is generally in the case of sumo used in the context of heart as in fighting spirit.  According to Dorothea Buckingham in The Essential Guide To Sumo,
"The sumotori who has "spirit" possesses the jo netsu no honno, or the passion for the

     ^^ Modern Japanese, when written horizontally, is read
     from left to right the same as English.  Traditional
     Japanese, when written horizontally, was read from right 
     to left.  That is the way it is written in professional sumo
     heya – and that is how it it written here.  
    
(Photo:  “Yukikaze” for SUMO SHIMPO)

fight."  One of Napoleon's axioms was that, "In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one."  The same applies to most contact sports, be they individual sports like sumo or team sports like American football.

When I first started thinking about this article, my first thought was that "heart" was something that you either had or didn't have.  On further reflection on my own life both as an athlete and a coach, I realized that wasn't necessarily so.  True, some people have fighting spirit right from the get-go and some people never get it.  In my own case, I definitely didn't have "the passion for the fight" as a 135-pound would-be football player in high school. I didn't develop it until I took up rugby at age thirty-five.  As a freshman football coach, I could see my former self in the large number of candidates at the start of the season who all wanted to be wide receivers, sometime as much as half the candidates.  Over the years I saw many of those who didn't have any spirit to start with, develop it.

The second element of sumodo is gi (technique).  It is certainly possible in contact sports for exceptionally large, strong and aggressive athletes to go a long way on a minimal amount of technique.  In sumo, Konishiki immediately comes to mind.  When I was growing up in the fifties (and boxing was still on free TV) I remember the epic wars between the consummate boxing technician "Sugar" Ray Robinson and such brawlers as Gene Fulmer and Carmine Basillio.  "Sugar Ray" was already past his prime when I first saw him fight and he lost to both Fulmer and Basillio on more than one occasion, yet his masterful boxing skills resulted in one comeback after another.

The key to developing good technique in any sport is repetition.  When you first learn to do something you have never done before, you have to think about each step.  Once you have done each step hundreds (or better yet, thousands) of times it will become second nature.  At a recent judo clinic I attended, eighty-year old 10th dan Phil Porter told us we would achieve that when we had done a technique "ten thousand times"!  That may seem like an impossible goal; but if you stop and think about how many times a day you would need to do any given technique you will be surprised as to how little time it can take to do 10,000 reps.

The last part of shingitai is "tai" (body or physique).  It is no accident that pro sumotori are also referred to as "rikishi" (literally, strong man).  Sumotori used to get strong the old-fashion way, by doing hard physical work (for instance:  58th yokozuna Chiyonofuji grew up working on fishing boats in the cold, dangerous waters off Hokkaido).  Nowadays, they lift weights just like American football players.  However you get there, you need to be strong to do sumo!

So, there you have it:  shingitai, the essence of sumo.  Some people have more of one than the other, but the great champions have all three in abundance.  The best current example (of course) is 68th yokozuna ASASHORYU - who has it all and then some!

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


US Source for Mawashi (finally!)
by "Tonkatsu" for SUMO SHIMPO

After years of searching, we have finally found a source here in the good old USA for mawashi material comparable to what we get from Japan.  We owe this to the sudden growth of sumo in Idaho.  The company is called "Blackfoot Canvas."  They are located in Blackfoot, Idaho.  Their address is 79 West Idaho, PO Box 907, Blackfoot, Idaho 83221.  Phone numbers (208) 785-1303 or (800) 726-1303, e-mail Blackfootcanvas@hotmail.com.

The first mawashis that people here in California had made by Blackfoot were too light so we sent them a sample of Sanpaku Shoji # 1 mawashi fabric.  They sent us back a sample of their # 4 canvas, which is almost identical to Sanpaku Shoji's #1.  Mawashi from Japan are 18" wide folded twice.  They are sold by the meter starting at six meters.  Blackfoot's canvas has to be split from 36" stock, so they recommend having the edges serged.  They are offering four sizes serged or un-serged.

# 4 canvas              material only        serged

6 meters x 18" w        $36.80             $59.60

7 meters x 18" w        $39.50             $62.75

8 meters x 18" w        $44.10             $69.25

9 meters x 18" w        $50.75             $75.90

All prices are plus shipping.  If you are a glutton for punishment and want a heavier canvas you can ask about # 8 canvas.

These prices are less than the price of a mawashi from Japan, which can vary with the exchange rate.  The big saving is on the shipping, which can cost almost as much as the mawashi if sent express.  To place an order, call Blackfoot and ask for Kimberly.  (By the way, if you need a teepee, Blackfoot has been specializing in Sioux and Shoshone teepees since 1960.  If you want to know the difference between a Sioux and a Shoshone teepee, send them an e-mail.)

[back to top]  [back to Sumo shimpo home]


North American Heavyweight Champion To Compete 
At California Open