Kintamayama 47,132 Posted March 24, 2003 Came accross this: Each division has a winner. This is the prize money. The dollar conversion is approximate, based on a $1 = 120 rate. Makuuchi 10,000,000 yen = $ 82,800 Juryo 2,000,000 yen = $16,500 Makushita 500,000 yen = $4100 Sandanme 300,000 yen = $2500 Jonidan 200,000 yen = $1600 Jonokuchi 100,000 yen = $830 Top division sansho prize (Fighting Spirit, etc.) 2,000,000 yen = $16,500 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted March 24, 2003 No wonder Roho didn't celebrate his yusho - the money is pathetic. ;) It's too bad... they could give a bit more money to Makushita yusho winners, at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted March 24, 2003 Interesting information -- thank you Kintamayama-zeki. Does anyone know if these prizes change periodically, if so how often and when is the next change? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted March 24, 2003 Does anyone know if these prizes change periodically, if so how often and when is the next change? If you mean the prize "money", no it doesn't change very often. The last time that the amounts changed was back in 1994, when they were doubled. On a related subject, I did a little research and discovered that Akinoshima's 16 Kinboshi are now worth an extra 640,000 yen in his pay per basho ($5,423). Each Kinboshi brings a rikishi 40,000 yen which is permanantly added to his basho bonus. A kinboshi use to be worth 25,000 yen, but the multiplication factor that decides the amount was changed in 1998. If a rikishi wins the Makuuchi Yusho it adds a permanent pay bonus of 120,000 yen ($1,017) . A zensho Yusho is worth 200,000 yen ($1,695) . This may not sound like much, but when added up over time, it can make a nice pay bonus at basho time. By the time of his retirement, Takanohana was making an extra 2,960,000 yen ($25,085) per basho just for all the Yusho he won (22 in all) . Overall, according to my calculations, Taka was making around 5,000,000 yen ($42,000)per basho in bonus money (for KK, Yusho, Kinboshi) . That adds up to about 30,000,000 yen in extra money every year that gets paid to him regardless if he competes or not. By comparison, Musashimaru is making a little over 3,000,000 yen extra per basho in bonus money. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted March 25, 2003 Interesting information (yes I meant the money for the prizes, not the prizes themselves -- I imagine those don't change very often at all). I guess you can really get rich if you're very good for a long time, or have had a number of big upsets. I still think the kinboshi bonus shouldn't be for the life time, only one big bonus. Good for them though! Being a rikishi and working your way up through the ranks is difficult and should be rewarded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted April 5, 2003 I still think the kinboshi bonus shouldn't be for the life time, only one big bonus. You must keep in mind that what a Rikishi makes compared to athletes from most other sports is really miniscule. Asashoryu and Musashimaru (assuming he doesn't retire) will likely be the top money winners in Sumo this year. They will probably take in between 70 and 90,000,000 yen in regular pay, bonuses, and Kensho won. That's about $750,000 US. By comparison, Outfielder Roberto Petagine of the Yomiuri Giants in J-ball will be making 700,000,000 yen ($5,833,333) this year. Even the average Japanese Baseball player makes about a million dollars more than a Yokozuna. The difference is even greater when compared to regular Maegashira or Juryo rikishi. Just keep that in mind when we talk of what rikishi should or shouldn't get in their pay bonus. They get practically nothing compared to athletes from other major sports already. (This isn't to say Sekitori don't live comfortably, they just don't get the big money that other sports do. Which is probably one of the reasons Sumo is becoming less attractive to the younger generations looking to get into sports.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted April 5, 2003 This is an interesting comparison, Zentoryu-zeki. I'm not sure sumo (and its salaries) should be compared to other major sports. Those sports, such as baseball in Japan or any of the four majors here in the US, pay their atheletes an obscene amount of money. I think a better comparison is with other minor sports. For example, figure skating, or something even closer to sumo like judo and wrestling. Those atheletes don't get much money at all. The best ones do get room and board covered by their country's Olympic committees, and they get bonuses for winning the olympics or major tournaments, but not regular salary. Nor can I think of a lifetime bonus, like the kinboshi one, in any other sport for any other achievement. I think part of the issue, at least when compared to the US, is endorsement money. I might be misinformed in this area, however, as I don't have much knowledge of the japanese market. In the US, atheletes can make a TON of money, often several times more than their salary, by endorsing certain products. Is this true for rikishi as well? I fully agree with you that this lack of money can prevent promising future rikishi from joining the sport. And this can impact the future of all of sumo. My original point was just about the kinboshi: a one-time achievement, perhaps lucky or aided by opponent injury, can rewarded for the rest of the rikishi's career. I would love it if I could get a permanent bonus to my salary if I had an exceptional good day at work, but I don't see that happening :~-( Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted April 5, 2003 My original point was just about the kinboshi: a one-time achievement, perhaps lucky or aided by opponent injury, can rewarded for the rest of the rikishi's career. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted April 5, 2003 I think a better comparison is with other minor sports. For example, figure skating, or something even closer to sumo like judo and wrestling. Those atheletes don't get much money at all. The best ones do get room and board covered by their country's Olympic committees, and they get bonuses for winning the olympics or major tournaments, but not regular salary. But Sumo wrestlers do get a regular salary. Anyone ranked Juryo and above get monthly pay along with bonuses. Plus Sumo is considered a professional sport, the National sport in fact. Figure skating and wrestling are not very good comparisons at all actually. Exactly. This comparison is only fair if you're considering those rikishi ranked Makushita and below (who are classified as trainees or amateurs). They are payed in almost the exact same style as what you mention above for figure skating etc. Sumo can't be considered to overpay their athletes at all, but in that case, rather the reverse. You made my point much more clearly than I did. (Thumbs up...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yoavoshimaru 0 Posted April 6, 2003 I see your points (Punk rocker...) I don't think rikishi are overpaid at all, if anything they are underpaid. I do think incentives and bonuses are good. It just seems odd that you can have one great moment for a kinboshi and get bonuses for it the rest of your career, even if you suck for the rest of that career. C'est tout :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
