Some recent Sumo news (somewhat Long)

[Zentoryu 154]

Don't know if any of this was posted already, but I figure what the heck.

From Joe Kuroda:

Nikkan Sports newspaper announced their selection of

this year's Ozumo's Three Award winners.

For the third straight year, Wakanosato picked up

Shukunsho Award. The Kanto-sho went to Kyokutenho and

the Ginosho was awarded to Tochinonada. Both won the

award for the first time.

-------------------------

Makushita rank gyoji Seishiro Kimura (real name: Kenji

Kakizaki), 33, passed away on December 26 of stomach

cancer. 

The funeral will be held on December 28 at Kokonoe

Beya. The chief mourner is Kokonoe oyakata.

-------------------------

There will be no voting conducted for Kyokai's

Directors election scheduled to be held on January 30.

All ten directors are expected to be acclaimed as

each Ichimon has agreed to place only their alloted

number of the candidates. 

Though the names have not been disclosed, Dewanoumi

Ichimon will have three, two from atsunami/Isegahama,

one from Takasago and three from Nishonozeki group.

Tokitsumi Ichimon which had two candidates running

last time will go only with Isenoumi oyakata.

Nishnoseki Ichimon will sumbit Oshiogawa oyakata

replacing Sadogatake oyakata who will reach the

mandatory retirement age in the next two year term.

While Magaki oyakata will likely continue, it's not

yet clear whether Futagoyama oyakata can recover from

his illness sufficiently to continue as a director.

----------------

The Kyokai released the height and weight of sekitoris

on December 25.  According to the report, Asashoryu

gained 2 Kg to 140 kg while Chiyotaikai gained 6 kg to

154 kg.  Replacing retired Musashimaru, the heaviest

Makuuchi rikishis are Miyabiyama and Kitazakura with

179 kg.

The Makuuchi average weight is now at 153.5 kg, 1.1 kg

less than the previous weigh-in.  The heaviest

sekitori was Juryo's Towanoyama checking in at 197 kg.

-------------

The Rikishi-Kai, association of sekitoris, elected

Yokozuna Asashoryu as their chairman replacing retired

Musashimaru on December 25.

---------------

At their Directors meeting held on December 25, they

announced that they would be setting a new office of

General Planning after the Hatsu Basho.

The office will coordinate ticket sales with the

Kokugikan's next door Edo Tokyo Museum and help

rikishis acquire high school diplomas.

"Rather than being reacting to each occurrance as it

happens, we want to be more proactive, and plan ahead

and expand our knowledgebase," Chair Kitanoumi said.

------------

Rikishi-kai, association of sekitoris, invited

Tatsuaki Okabe, 67, former NHK announcer and current

advisor with NHK Broadcasting Institute, Japanese

Language Center, to give a lecture on how to

deal well on interviews.

Okabe passionately spoke for an hour about how to

respond personally and specifically by giving an

example of Hideki Matsui, a New York Yankees star. 

As the speech was given after morning training

sessions and chanko, there were some rikishis trying

desparately keep awake but Yokozuna Asashoryu was seen

seating himself in front to listen attentively.

"I appreciated they gave their utmost attention to my

talk when they were most tired," Okabe said.

--------------------

Tokyo Chunichi Sports and Chunichi Sports daily

newspapers announced they selected their 40th Makuuchi

Most Outstanding Rookie Rikishi to  Iwakiyama of

Sakaigawa Beya this year.

Takamisakari got Special Award from Japan Pro Sports

Award committee.

------------------------

Chairman Kitanoumi oyakata interviewed five active

rikishis at Kokugikan and appointed all of them to

hire as "Sewa-nin", caretaker-managers to help out

operations during Hon-bashos and Jyungyo tours.

A Sewanin is a qualified former sekitori or Makushita

rikishi who is deemed to be considered to have a good

fit for the work of managing and transporting sumo

related equipments.  They will also assist

Wakamonogashira who is responsibile for lower than

Makushita rank rikishis and proceeding of dohyo

sessions.

Along with Wakamonogashira, their quota has decreased

from 12 to 8 in 1997, but the Kyokai decided to

increase it to 13.  The quota for Wakamonogashira will

remain at 8.

"We were aware that we did not have enough people to

constuct the dohyo during Jyungyo tours.  As well we

decided we should perform those tasks that can be done

by Kyokai workers such as arena security

and ushering duty," Kitanoumi oyakata said.

The five rikishis who will be tendering their

resignation from active rank and assuming the rold of

Sewanin as of January 1, are:

Mutsuhokkai (Ajigawa Beya)

Ohidake (Tamanoi)

Torafusuyama (Mihogaseki)

Aranonami (Musashigawa)

Haguroumi (Tatsunami)

=====

.....Jonosuke

And a bit about Ichinoya:

The second oldest rikishi in Ozumo history since the

beginning of Showa Era, Takasago Beya's Jonidan rank

Ichinoya celebrated his 43rd birthday on December 28.

"I just don't concern myself with age.  I simply want

to keep going with my active career as long as

physically able and possible," said Ichinoya while

helping out with the heya's annual "Mochi-tsuki" (rice

cake making) on December 28.

While assuming the heya's de facto manager role, he

has been especially particular about staying in active

rank even in his 40's. He certainly remains as one of

the most unique characters in sumo world. 

Though Ichinoya suffered a makekoshi at the Kyushu

Basho with a record of three wins and four losses,

even now he still displays as crisp sumo bouts as much

younger rikishis. 

The oldest rikishi recorded in the modern sumo era is

Genbuyama Gen-E-Mon who retired in 1932 at the age of

44 years and six months.  Aiming for the record in

another year and half, Ichinoya is infused with

enthusiasm.  "My current objective is to gain deeper

understanding of Sumo.  Even on how to make a single

step on Shiko, I still have so much to learn,"

Ichinoya said. 

(From the Yomiuri News)

=====

.....Jonosuke

And lastly, another interesting post about the recently deceased Fujinishiki:

I don't have any personal recollection of the recently deceased Fujinishiki,

but since it's the holiday season and a time of remembrance, I put together

a little about his career:

Fujinishiki was born in 1937 in Yamanashi and entered Takasago-beya at the

age of 15.  He made the makunouchi at 21 and stayed there for 10 years.  In

his first year in the top division (1959) he won two jun-yushos, the first

coming with a 12-3 record in July at M14, and the second being another 12-3

record in November at M11.  His best year was probably 1961 when he spent 4

bashos at komusubi and recorded 5 kachi-koshis.  Of course the crowning

moment of his career was his yusho at the Nagoya 1964 tournament with a 14-1

record.  For the record, he didn't fight any yokozuna or ozekis on his way

to the title.  He retired after the Kyushu 1968 basho.

If you made a list of great komusubis, Fujinishiki would have to be at or

near the top of the list.  He spent a total to 10 tournaments at komusubi,

which ties the record for most tournaments at that rank without ever earning

promotion to sekiwake.  In 1961 he recorded 2 consecutive 8-7 records at

komusubi and wasn't promoted.

Who did Fujinishiki fight most often?

----------------------------------------

1. Kitabayama 31

2. Taiho 30

3. Aonosato 29

4. Sadanoyama 27

    Tochihikari 27

6. Kashiwado 25

7. Yutakayama 24

    Myobudani 24

Who did Fujinishiki defeat the most times?

-----------------------------------------

1. Aonosato 23

2. Wakamiyama 16

3. Tsurugamine 13

4. Kitabayama 12

Who had the most wins against Fujinishiki?

------------------------------------------

1. Taiho 27

2. Kashiwado 23

3. Sadanoyama 22

4. Kitabayama 19

5. Tochihikari 18

    Yutakayama 18

Who did Fujinishiki dominate (minimum of 10 bouts)?

---------------------------------------------------

1. Wakamiyama .889  (16-2)

2. Aonosato .793  (23-6)

3. Wakachichibu .769  (10-3)

4. Wakanokuni .700  (7-3)

Who gave Fujinishiki the hardest time (minimum of 10 bouts)?

-----------------------------------------------------------

Kashiwado .080  (2-23)

Taiho .100  (3-27)

Sadanoyama .185  (5-22)

Yutakayama .250  (6-18)

Kairyuyama .250  (3-9)

As mentioned in an earlier post, Fujinishiki took over Takasago-beya in 1988

from Asashio (yokozuna from the 50's) and passed it on a few years ago to

Asashio (ozeki from the 80's).  He was oyakata to Konishiki and Mitoizumi

for the majority of their careers.

-George W.

[Fujisan 533]

Has Iwakiyama lost weight then? I thought he was the heaviest rikishi in Makuuchi.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Interesting news above.

Good call on this - ""Most Outstanding Rookie Rikishi to Iwakiyama of

Sakaigawa Beya this year"" (Hugging...) (always surprised on the net that Sakaigawa is still said to be in Koto-ku when it moved a while back to near Tamanoi.

This one - ""Takamisakari got Special Award from Japan Pro Sports Award committee."" Why? Anyone? :-S B-) (Blinking...)

ANR

[Kashunowaka 300]

Has Iwakiyama lost weight then? I thought he was the heaviest rikishi in Makuuchi.

No, his weight is at 180 according to NSK pages.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Has Iwakiyama lost weight then? I thought he was the heaviest rikishi in Makuuchi.

No, his weight is at 180 according to NSK pages.

That probably indicates the NSK-pages are not completely updated. Probably not updated at all for this basho actually, since it would indeed make Iwakiyama the heaviest Makunouchi rikishi (which he was, following Musashimaru, in Kyushu).

But he has not necessarily lost much weight either although this data doesn't say how much.

[Naganoyama 6,024]

This one - ""Takamisakari got Special Award from Japan Pro Sports Award committee."" Why? Anyone?

Could it be the 'putting bums on seats' award?

Or the 'raising the profile of sumo by appearing most in adverts' award?

Or the 'beating oneself up more than the opponent to make the opponent feel better' award?

Or the 'not fighting too hard in keiko to give the other guy confidence' award?

tongue into cheek>

Sorry, couldn't resist.

(Hugging...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

No, his weight is at 180 according to NSK pages. 

That probably indicates the NSK-pages are not completely updated. Probably not updated at all for this basho actually, since it would indeed make Iwakiyama the heaviest Makunouchi rikishi (which he was, following Musashimaru, in Kyushu).

But he has not necessarily lost much weight either although this data doesn't say how much.

NSK-website's rikishi weights are updated usually couple of days before shonichi of Tokyo honbasho. The weights that are there now are Aki basho weigh-in material. I have been collecting weight data for about 2 years now and that is the way they seem to work on the rikishi weights updates.