Historic yokozuna performances

[Jaak 7]

Trying to see what can be said about yokozuna requirements.

Excluding first 34 (too different tournament rules),

35: Futabayama. Wooden cock. 5 consecutive zensho-yushos, going through ozeki in his 2nd and 3rd consecutive. Afterwards 7 more yushos, incl. 4 consecutive with 2 consecutive zensho-yushos.

36: Haguroyama. Promoted to yokozuna after his first yusho, after ozeki performances of 7-14J-14Y. Did take 6 more yushos, incl. 4 consecutive.

37: Akinoumi. A single yusho, and that as sekiwake. Became yokozuna after ozeki results 9-13J-13J

38: Terukuni. Became yokozuna with no yusho, just 2 ozeki basho at 12-13J. Later had a pair of consecutive yushos.

39: Maedayama. Single yusho. Became yokozuna after ozeki performances of 5:5,11:2J,9:1D.

40: Azumafuji. 6 yushos, none of them consecutive. Promoted after ozeki performances of 6:5,10:1Y,10:1D.

41: Chiyonoyama. Refused yokozuna promotion after gaining 2 consecutive yushos as new ozeki, on pretexts that he was young and his second yusho was 12:3. Got promotion after records of 11-8-14Y. Gained second pair of consecutive yushos and a total of 6 yushos.

42: Kagamisato. Promoted after ozeki performance 11-12J-14Y. Won a pair of consecutive yushos later, total 4 yushos.

43: Yoshibayama. Single yusho. Promoted after 14J-11-15Y

44: Tochinishiki. Became yokozuna after pair of consecutive yushos and 2 more previous yushos. Later got 6 more.

In the period before 6 yearly basho, out of 10 yokozuna 4 never got a pair of consecutive yusho, incl. Akinoumi, Maedayama and Yoshibayama who had 1 ever and Azumafuji who collected 6 nonconsecutive.

[Randomitsuki 2,768]

Thanks for posting this.

If you are interested in comparing these performances, this legendary thread by Doitsuyama might be of interest to you. It also refers to this older thread covering the time span that you were looking at.

LATER EDIT: Apologies around: I might have been misled by the subtitle of the thread: comparing against each other. The linked threads do not talk at all about promotion requirements. But they are highly interesting for stats aficionados nonetheless (Sign of approval...)

Edited January 17, 2011 by Randomitsuki

[ryafuji 807]

It should perhaps be pointed out that although Terukuni didn't win the yusho in the tournament that earned him promotion, he finished in a three-way tie with Akinoumi and Futabayama but didn't get a chance to fight a playoff as such a system didn't exist at the time. Futabayama (who Terukuni had defeated) was awarded the yusho because he was the highest ranked.

[Jaak 7]

Continuing with 6 basho period, when playoffs already existed as well.

45: Wakanohana Kanji I. Became yokozuna after his second but nonconsecutive yusho, last ozeki records 11-12J-13Y. Went on to add 8 more yushos, incl. 2 pairs of consecutive yushos.

46: Asashio. 4 nonconsecutive yushos, 2 as sekiwake, 2 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 14Y-11J-13J. Gained 1 more yusho, never had a consecutive pair.

47: Kashiwado. 1 yusho as ozeki. Last ozeki results 10-11-12D. 4 more yushos as yokozuna, but never a consecutive pair.

48: Taiho. 1 yusho as sekiwake, became yokozuna after 2 consecutive yushos, of 4 consecutive. Reached up to 6 successive yushos twice, total 32 yushos.

49: Tochinoumi. 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 11-14Y-13. 3 yushos total, never a consecutive pair.

50: Sadanoyama. 1 yusho as maegashira, 1 as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 13J-13J-13Y. 3 more yushos as yokozuna, including a consecutive pair.

51: Tamanoumi. 2 nonconsecutive yusho as ozeki. Last ozeki results 13Y-10-13D. 4 more yushos as yokozuna, including a consecutive pair.

52: Kitanofuji. Became yokozuna after 2 consecutive yusho and 1 more previous nonconsecutive yusho. 7 more yusho as yokozuna.

53: Kotozakura. Became yokozuna after 2 consecutive yusho and 2 more previous nonconsecutive yusho. 1 more yusho as yokozuna.

54: Wajima. 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 11J-13J-15Y. 12 more yushos, including 2 consecutive pairs.

55: Kitanoumi. 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 10-13Y-13D. 24 yushos total, including 5 consecutive.

56: Wakanohana Kanji II. 1 yusho as ozeki. Last ozeki results 13J-13D-14D. 4 yushos total, never a consecutive pair.

57: Mienoumi. 1 yusho as ozeki. Last ozeki results 10-13J-14D. Went on to win just 2 more yushos, being a consecutive pair.

58: Chiyonofuji. 1 yusho as sekiwake, 3 ozeki basho total 11J-13J-14Y. 31 yushos total, including 5 consecutive.

59: Takanosato. 2 yushos as ozeki. Last ozeki results 12J-13J-14Y. 4 yushos total, including a consecutive pair.

60: Futahaguro. No yusho, at all. Last ozeki results 10-12J-14D.

Out of the 16, 5 did not have a consecutive yusho pair, including Asashio and Kashiwado who collected 5 nonconsecutive yushos. The 11 who did have a yusho pair include Mienoumi who had a total of 3 yushos.

[Jaak 7]

And now to the yokozunas after Futahaguro.

61: Hokutoumi. 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki. Last ozeki results 11-12Y-13J. A total of 8 yushos, but never a consecutive pair.

62: Onokuni. 1 yusho as ozeki. Last ozeki results 15Y-12J-13J. 1 more yusho, so never a consecutive pair.

63: Asahifuji. Promoted after a pair of consecutive yusho. 1 previous yusho as ozeki and 1 later yusho.

64: Akebono. 1 yusho as sekiwake, a total of 3 ozeki basho being 9-14Y-13Y. Total 11 yushos.

65: Takanohana. 1 yusho as maegashira, 1 as komusubi. 3 nonconsecutive yusho as ozeki, then a pair of zensho-yushos. His nonpromotion that far was highly controversial, but affected by Konishiki scandal. Went on to collect 22 yushos total.

66: Wakanohana. 1 yusho as komusubi, then 2 nonconsecutive yushos as ozeki. Finally promoted after a consecutive pair of yushos. No yushos as yokozuna.

67: Musashimaru. 3 nonconsecutive yushos as ozeki, then a consecutive pair. 12 yushos total.

68: Asashoryu. Ozeki for 3 bashos, 10-14Y-14Y. Collected 25 yushos, incl. 7 consecutive.

69: Hakuho. 1 nonconsecutive yusho as ozeki, promoted after a pair of consecutive yushos, of which second was zensho-yusho. Has collected 17 yushos and counting, including 5 consecutive yushos and counting, andf 4 consecutive zensho-yushos.

Out of the last 9, 2 did not have a consecutive pair, and they were the first (before Futahaguro and Konishiki scandals).

Onokuni had just 2 nonconsecutive yushos, but Hokutoumi had the record of 8 yushos none of which were consecutive. Asahifuji stands out for having only 2 yushos in addition to the consecutive pair he did have.

[Jaak 7]

Now, for comparison, ozeki performances.

Harumafuji - 1 yusho and counting

Kotooshu - 1 yusho and counting

Tochiazuma - 3 yushos

Kaio - 1 yusho as komusubi, 4 yushos as ozeki and counting

Chiyotaikai - 1 yusho as sekiwake, 2 yushos as ozeki

Takanonami - 2 yushos

Konishiki - 3 yushos

Kirishima - 1 yusho

Hokutenyu - 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki

Asashio Taro - 1 yusho

Wakashimazu - 2 yushos

Kotokaze - 1 yusho as sekiwake, 1 as ozeki

Kiyokuni - 1 yusho

Kitabayama - 1 yusho

Wakahaguro - 1 yusho

[Chankosan 0]

Jaak, I am really enjoying your historical overview...

[Tokyo Tom 0]

Thanks as well for this information.

I am vaguely familiar with the Konishiki issue where (I believe) he claimed he was denied Yokozuna promotion due to being gaijin after meeting the standard set by previous Yokozuna promotions. I am not familiar with the Futahaguro situation- can someone provide a brief explanation?

I guess the bottom line is this: would the YDC recommend a promotion for Kaio should he again finish a tournament with 12+ victories but fail to win the yusho or jun-yusho? I know this subject has been covered before but with the declining attendance and TV ratings would the JSA hot-shot a promotion to get a spike in interest and reward Kaio for his long and scandal-free career?

[Jaak 7]

Peak performances...

Konishiki Yasokichi 1989.07-1990.07 8-5-14Y-10-13D-12-10;

1991.01-1992.07 0-9-14D-12J-11-13Y-12-13Y-9-10

Tochiazuma Daisuke 2002.01-05 13Y-10-10

2003.07-2004.03 7-10-13Y-9-0

2005.09-2006.05 10-2-14Y-12-2

Kaio Hiroyuki 2000.11-2001.11 11-10-13Y-4-13Y-0-10

2003.03-2005.03 10J-11J-12Y-7-8-10-10-13J-10-11-13Y-12J-4-10

So, who was after Raiden the ozeki most suited for yokozuna?

Edited January 19, 2011 by Jaak

[Asashosakari 18,786]

I am vaguely familiar with the Konishiki issue where (I believe) he claimed he was denied Yokozuna promotion due to being gaijin after meeting the standard set by previous Yokozuna promotions. I am not familiar with the Futahaguro situation- can someone provide a brief explanation?

In (very) short, in late 1987 Futahaguro had falling-out with various people at his stable which resulted in a heated argument with his oyakata - and as he stormed out of the heya in anger, he either struck or accidentally shoved the oyakata's wife, depending on which side you want to believe. The oyakata made use of his prerogative to unilaterally hand in a retirement "request" in Futahaguro's name, which was accepted by the Kyokai. Having a retired yokozuna who didn't win any yusho was a big embarrassment for the Kyokai brass, so ever since it's "back-to-back yusho or bust" as far as promotion to yokozuna is concerned.

Konishiki did fulfill the pre-Futahaguro standards once (starting 1991.11: 13-2 yusho, 12-3 third place, 13-2 yusho), and arguably got close two more times (earlier in 1991: 14-1 playoff loss, 12-3 second place; and previously from 1989.11: 14-1 yusho, 10-5, 13-2 playoff loss, 12-3 third place), but missed by the two-yusho rule. And he wasn't the first to fall prey to it, that was Asahifuji:

1988.01: 14-1 yusho

1988.03: 12-3 third place

1988.05: 12-3 second place

1988.07: 11-4 third place

1988.09: 12-3 second place

1988.11: 12-3 second place

1989.01: 14-1 playoff loss

1989.03: 13-2 second place

1989.05: 13-2 playoff loss

Edited January 19, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Jaak 7]

I am vaguely familiar with the Konishiki issue where (I believe) he claimed he was denied Yokozuna promotion due to being gaijin after meeting the standard set by previous Yokozuna promotions. I am not familiar with the Futahaguro situation- can someone provide a brief explanation?

In (very) short, in late 1987 Futahaguro had falling-out with various people at his stable which resulted in a heated argument with his oyakata - and as he stormed out of the heya in anger, he either struck or accidentally shoved the oyakata's wife, depending on which side you want to believe. The oyakata made use of his prerogative to unilaterally hand in a retirement "request" in Futahaguro's name, which was accepted by the Kyokai.

And arguably took Futahaguro from his words orally said in anger. After all, after Futahaguro had physically walked out, how could the sumo world know anything about his plans except by witness accounts of what he had said?

Having a retired yokozuna who didn't win any yusho was a big embarrassment for the Kyokai brass,

Yes, there had been past yokozuna with a single career yusho, but since the beginning (Tanikaze who had many yushos) none with no yusho at all.

so ever since it's "back-to-back yusho or bust" as far as promotion to yokozuna is concerned.

Konishiki did fulfill the pre-Futahaguro standards once (starting 1991.11: 13-2 yusho, 12-3 third place, 13-2 yusho), and arguably got close two more times (earlier in 1991: 14-1 playoff loss, 12-3 second place; and previously from 1989.11: 14-1 yusho, 10-5, 13-2 playoff loss, 12-3 third place), but missed by the two-yusho rule. And he wasn't the first to fall prey to it, that was Asahifuji:

1988.01: 14-1 yusho

1988.03: 12-3 third place

1988.05: 12-3 second place

1988.07: 11-4 third place

1988.09: 12-3 second place

1988.11: 12-3 second place

1989.01: 14-1 playoff loss

1989.03: 13-2 second place

1989.05: 13-2 playoff loss

As noted, there has been a yokozuna with 2 yusho total being a consecutive pair (Terukuni, not counting the tomoe-senless basho), as well as a yokozuna with 8 yusho all of them nonconsecutive (Hokutoumi)

Edited January 19, 2011 by Jaak