February 2007

Shoryu Makes the Big Score!

Kinboshi:  Receivers and Givers

   
Shoryu Makes the Big Score!
Becomes Fifth 20-Yusho Winner on 14-1 Effort
by “Yukikaze" for SUMO SHIMPO

One year ago, the 2006 grand sumo season dawned with a mix of anticipation and apprehension as yokozuna-East ASASHORYU (Mongolia) rode into the Kokugikan on the front edge of a historic rensho that saw him become the first modern-era rikishi to pull off a true “Grand Slam”.  He fell short in the Hatsu Basho, but still won four Cups for the year including the last three in succession.

So it came to pass in January 2007, that SHORYU stepped onto the dohyo to once again show everyone exactly who loomed large and was in charge.  There was a bump in the early stages as he gave up the 17th kinboshi of his career to maegashira #1-West DEJIMA by oshitaoshi on day 3.  But the fleeting hope that loss may have given the field gradually diminished as the “Mongolian Express” pulled away through the rest of the tournament to clinch on day 14 and finish with a 14-1 record.  This made him the fifth member of one of sumo’s most exclusive fraternities:  those who have won the Tenno-Hai 20 times or more.  And in SHORYU’s case, there is little reason to doubt he will hold the Cup many times more.

While most of the five-member ozeki contingent were able to slam out worthy efforts, none of them showed themselves ready or capable of dealing with the powerful yokozuna at this time.  #2-West CHIYOTAIKAI had some possibilities in the early going with SHORYU’s loss, but gradually fell out of the yusho race and finished 10-5.  #3-West HAKUHO (Mongolia) was kadoban coming into the January action, but showed no sign of injury once in the fray:  the Natsu 2006 winner did not lose two torikumi in succession during the fortnight-plus-one, and re-secured his Kokugikan parking slot with a strong 10-5.  #1-East KOTOOSHU (Bulgaria) started slow at 1‑2, but then won 7 of his next 8 for kachi and wound up with a 9-6.  #2-East KAIO mixed wins and losses through day 13 and appeared to be in danger of going kadoban yet again; but Tomozuna’s strongman won his last two torikumi to scrape by at 8‑7.  With the same number of top-division basho under his mawashi as Konishiki (81) KAIO has 679 career wins to 649 for the huge Hawaiian.  #1-West TOCHIAZUMA won at this time last year to break SHORYU’s yusho streak.  But this time out, things went 180 degrees out-of-phase.  Tamanoi’s top deshi and heir apparent started 4-3, but then melted down with 7 losses in his final 8 torikumi to finish at 5-10 and get saddled with a new demotion threat.

The lower sanyaku will see some serious shuffling for the Haru festivities in March.  Sekiwake-East KOTOMITSUKI will be the only member of the class to hold his position.  The former college champ won 5 of his first 6 torikumi and posted his 8th win on day 13, but then got unfocused and lost his final two for an 8-7.  The power surge put on last year by sekiwake-West MIYABIYAMA sadly proved to be but a flash-in-the-pan.  The former ozeki showed that the committee had been right to deny him re-promotion:  he lost 6 of his first 7 matches and slid to a 5-10 that will send him back down to the hiramaku ranks.  Komusubi-East KISENOSATO fought hard and managed to balance his books at 7-7.  His loss on senshuraku placed him at 7-8, where he has an outside chance to keep the heavier paycheck.  Komusubi-West ROHO (Russia) will definitely have to adjust his household budget downward:  he collapsed as spectacularly as the Iron Curtain to a so-sorry 3-12.

#9-West TOYONOSHIMA won top maegashira honors on the strength of a 12-3 outing which also put the Kanto-Sho and Gino-Sho in his hands.  Other notable performances from the hiramaku ranks:

#1-East KOTOSHOGIKU (9-6)

#4-East AMA (Mongolia) (10-5)

#6-East ASASEKIRYU (Mongolia) (10-5)

#11-East TAMAKASUGA (9-6)

#13-East KASUGANISHIKI (9-6)

#14-East TAMANOSHIMA (10-5)

#15-West USHIOMARU (9-6)

DEJIMA won career kinboshi #6, but did not qualify for the Shukun-Sho.

In Juryo:  #2-West TOCHIOZAN, #3-West SHIMOTORI and #14-East TOYOHIBIKI all finished regulation at 10-5.  HIBIKI won the subsequent playoff for the yusho.  Other second-division efforts worth mention in these despatches:

#4-West WAKANOSATO (9-6)

#6-West KAIHO (9-6)

#12-East KOBO (9-6)

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Kinboshi:  Receivers and Givers

(updated after Hatsu 2007)

Y = number of basho ranked at yokozuna

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The 600-Win Club

(updated after Hatsu 2007)

The ASASHORYU Watch

(updated after Hatsu 2007)

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“Legendary” Yokozuna (10+ Yusho)

(updated after Hatsu 2007)

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JUNIOR DIVISION YUSHO WINNERS