2009 Stats: The Ozeki and their Challengers

[Oimeru 0]

I was bored an did a bit of research. Since there always seems to be a lot of discussion on the performance of the Ozeki, I've compiled a little table with the help of SumoDB. It lists win-loss records of different rikishi vs. opponents in the joi-jin or higher (minimum 20 bouts).

The dominance of the two Yokozuna is eminently visible. Harumafuji's 38% is the highest winning percentage against Ozeki.

One can really see how Chiyotaikai fell off a cliff -- based on his 2009 performance, he is lower joi-jin material at best. The other ozeki are grouped at the top, with the exception of Baruto, who did a little better than Kaio. Interstingly enough, Harumafuji managed to dominate the other Ozeki, but didn't fare nearly as well against lower ranks. Kotooshu, on the other hand, has troubles against his fellow Ozeki.

Kakuryu did well against the lower ranks, and also managed to hold his own against the Ozeki. Kisenosato, on the other hand, is the only low ranker with a positive record against the Ozeki.

Shikona	vs. Y-M3	Pct.	vs. Y	Pct.	vs. O	Pct.	vs. S-M3	Pct.
Kotooshu	55-27	67%	4-8	33%	8-8	50%	43-11	80%
Harumafuji	57-31	65%	5-8	38%	18-4	82%	34-19	64%
Kotomitsuki	45-36	56%	3-9	25%	8-8	50%	34-19	64%
Baruto	43-36	54%	0-10	0%	13-14	48%	30-12	71%
Kaio	48-41	54%	1-11	8%	10-13	43%	37-17	69%
Kakuryu	35-32	52%	0-9	0%	10-14	42%	25-9	74%
Kisenosato	36-40	47%	1-9	10%	13-12	52%	22-19	54%
Kotoshogiku	31-36	46%	0-10	0%	5-9	36%	26-17	60%
Goeido	31-38	45%	0-8	0%	12-13	48%	19-17	53%
Kyokutenho	30-41	42%	0-10	0%	6-18	25%	24-13	65%
Aminishiki	23-37	38%	1-7	13%	8-9	47%	14-21	40%
Chiyotaikai	30-52	37%	1-10	9%	4-15	21%	25-27	48%
Tokitenku	8-15	35%	0-2	0%	3-5	38%	5-8	38%
Toyonoshima	9-17	35%	0-2	0%	2-8	20%	7-7	50%
Takekaze	16-32	33%	0-6	0%	5-11	31%	11-15	42%
Aran	7-14	33%	0-2	0%	1-4	20%	6-8	43%
Tochiozan	18-38	32%	0-8	0%	7-13	35%	11-17	39%
Tamanoshima	7-20	26%	0-4	0%	2-8	20%	5-8	38%
Miyabiyama	10-33	23%	0-6	0%	6-10	38%	4-17	19%
Hokutoriki	4-17	19%	0-2	0%	0-7	0%	4-8	33%

Edited November 30, 2009 by Oimeru

[HenryK 38]

Nice work. I guess this qualifies as a sound 2009 rikishi-ranking .

Would it be difficult to add the stats for Hakuho/Asashoryu?

[HenryK 38]

Pardon my impatience, I added the Yokozuna myself.

Cheers,

HK

Shikona	vs. Y-M3	Pct.	vs. Y	Pct.	vs. O	Pct.	vs. S-M3	Pct.
Hakuho	86-7	92%	6-2	75%	26-4	87%	54-1	98%
Asashoryu	74-18	80%	2-6	25%	20-10	67%	52-2	96%
Kotooshu	55-27	67%	4-8	33%	8-8	50%	43-11	80%
Harumafuji	57-31	65%	5-8	38%	18-4	82%	34-19	64%
Kotomitsuki	45-36	56%	3-9	25%	8-8	50%	34-19	64%
Baruto	43-36	54%	0-10	0%	13-14	48%	30-12	71%
Kaio	48-41	54%	1-11	8%	10-13	43%	37-17	69%
Kakuryu	35-32	52%	0-9	0%	10-14	42%	25-9	74%
Kisenosato	36-40	47%	1-9	10%	13-12	52%	22-19	54%
Kotoshogiku	31-36	46%	0-10	0%	5-9	36%	26-17	60%
Goeido	31-38	45%	0-8	0%	12-13	48%	19-17	53%
Kyokutenho	30-41	42%	0-10	0%	6-18	25%	24-13	65%
Aminishiki	23-37	38%	1-7	13%	8-9	47%	14-21	40%
Chiyotaikai	30-52	37%	1-10	9%	4-15	21%	25-27	48%
Tokitenku	8-15	35%	0-2	0%	3-5	38%	5-8	38%
Toyonoshima	9-17	35%	0-2	0%	2-8	20%	7-7	50%
Takekaze	16-32	33%	0-6	0%	5-11	31%	11-15	42%
Aran	7-14	33%	0-2	0%	1-4	20%	6-8	43%
Tochiozan	18-38	32%	0-8	0%	7-13	35%	11-17	39%
Tamanoshima	7-20	26%	0-4	0%	2-8	20%	5-8	38%
Miyabiyama	10-33	23%	0-6	0%	6-10	38%	4-17	19%
Hokutoriki	4-17	19%	0-2	0%	0-7	0%	4-8	33%

[Asameshimae 220]

Interesting stats. One that got me was Kotooshu. He always seems so mired in mediocrity and lack of self-confidence, but when you see the overall numbers, he shapes up quite well. I am sure I am not the first to feel frustration at why these numbers have only resulted in one yusho so far...

[Shibata-gumi 1]

Great post, most appreciated from one stat head to another. Its amazing what boredom can lead to. lol

[Asashosakari 18,786]

One can really see how Chiyotaikai fell off a cliff -- based on his 2009 performance, he is lower joi-jin material at best. The other ozeki are grouped at the top, with the exception of Baruto, who did a little better than Kaio. Interstingly enough, Harumafuji managed to dominate the other Ozeki, but didn't fare nearly as well against lower ranks. Kotooshu, on the other hand, has troubles angainst his fellow Ozeki.

Ironically enough, the rep on Kotooshu for his first few years as ozeki was that he always sucked against lower sanyaku and the meatgrinder, then turned his 6-5 starts into 9-6 by beating up on the other ozeki and at least one yokozuna...

Kisenosato, on the other hand, is the only low ranker with a positive record against the Ozeki.

Yeah, like the Wakanosato vibe wasn't strong enough already.

Oh, and pet peeve alert:

It lists won-loss records

I don't care that this phrasing has somehow become a staple of much sports writing, it's grammatically stupid and ought to be banished from the face of the earth. It's either "win-loss" or "won-lost". Gahhh...

More seriously though, many thanks for the nice stats and analysis. (Sigh...)

Edited November 30, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Oimeru 0]

It lists won-loss records

I don't care that this phrasing has somehow become a staple of much sports writing, it's grammatically stupid and ought to be banished from the face of the earth. It's either "win-loss" or "won-lost". Gahhh...

Typo.. and not the only one (Sigh...)

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Typo.. and not the only one (Sigh...)

Glad to hear that. ;-) It's so prevalent though that it's surely not a typo for everyone using that phrase, many must actually think that that's how it should be.

[Sokkenaiyama 76]

But it's possible that it started out as a typo - o for i (and the other way around) is a pretty common one.

[kaiguma 0]

Maybe it should be obvious, but why no Tochinoshin? He had a basho in the meatgrinder, no?

[HenryK 38]

Maybe it should be obvious, but why no Tochinoshin? He had a basho in the meatgrinder, no?

Less than 20 bouts.

But the stats are 6-12 (33%), 0-2, 2-3, 4-7.

[XiaoTan 93]

Interesting stats. One that got me was Kotooshu. He always seems so mired in mediocrity and lack of self-confidence, but when you see the overall numbers, he shapes up quite well. I am sure I am not the first to feel frustration at why these numbers have only resulted in one yusho so far...

It maybe a bit better than its peers, but with (only) 55 wins he is still below the 10 per basho that is supposed to separate the strong from the weak.

[HenryK 38]

Interesting stats. One that got me was Kotooshu. He always seems so mired in mediocrity and lack of self-confidence, but when you see the overall numbers, he shapes up quite well. I am sure I am not the first to feel frustration at why these numbers have only resulted in one yusho so far...

It maybe a bit better than its peers, but with (only) 55 wins he is still below the 10 per basho that is supposed to separate the strong from the weak.

This is because the list counts only bouts against Y-S3. Counting everything Kotooshu had 61 wins this year, or 10.2 per basho.

[XiaoTan 93]

Interesting stats. One that got me was Kotooshu. He always seems so mired in mediocrity and lack of self-confidence, but when you see the overall numbers, he shapes up quite well. I am sure I am not the first to feel frustration at why these numbers have only resulted in one yusho so far...

It maybe a bit better than its peers, but with (only) 55 wins he is still below the 10 per basho that is supposed to separate the strong from the weak.

This is because the list counts only bouts against Y-S3. Counting everything Kotooshu had 61 wins this year, or 10.2 per basho.

Fair enough - counting doesn't seem to be my strength. Thanks.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Fair enough - counting doesn't seem to be my strength.

At least Kakuryu is there! (Clapping wildly...)

[kaiguma 0]

A second look and I just noticed Ama outperformed all but Hakuho when facing Yokozuna. The joi is obviously his dark not-so-secret weakness so I'd say it's a mental game between being top ozeki in 2009 vs. playig second fiddle to Kotooshu.

Kotooshu is faring better than even Asashoryu vs. Yokozuna and Kotomitsuki even ties Asa! Perhaps beating him twice (?) contributes and I guess Asa has only beaten Hak in playoffs so... mental game there as well?