Best of 2016 Rikishi

[Akinomaki]

Again something not fit for a Nikkan award: which of the 28 who were in makuuchi the whole year had the greatest kimarite variety.

6 rikishi had 15 different kimarite: Hakuho among 62 wins, Harumafuji 67, Kakuryu 57, Goeido 56, Takayasu 53 and Yoshikaze managed that with only 42 wins. Yoshikaze therefore was the best in this category.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/column/sumo/news/1756137.html

Edited December 24, 2016 by Akinomaki

[rhyen]

Harumafuji won something...
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161227-OHT1T50320.html

The reasoning sounds like a squib "We don't want to give it to Hakuho for the 10th straight time."
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161227-OHT1T50325.html

[Akinomaki]

3 hours ago, rhyen said:

Harumafuji won something...
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161227-OHT1T50320.html

The reasoning sounds like a squib "We don't want to give it to Hakuho for the 10th straight time."
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20161227-OHT1T50325.html

The Hochi best rikishi of the year award - Harumafuji won it for the first time, picked out of the best 3, instead of Hakuho with most yusho (2, but one basho kyujo) and Kisenosato with most wins this year (but no yusho), for a flawless yusho, sumo and year- in spite of injury - and no kyujo. He got 3 votes of 5. The award ceremony is at the basho on shonichi.

party time at the heya

Edited December 28, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

The 53rd best makuuchi newcomer of the year award by Chuspo goes to Mitakeumi: "To have this not stop at the newcomer award makes me want to gambarize even more from now on."

Elected among 14 candidates (maybe double digit winners) by a committee, like the Hochi award, but no info of how many votes and voters. (Something to do with him being from the same Chubu area as the awarding company?).

He entered makuuchi already in Kyushu 2015, in his 5th basho! Of the 14 (relatively) new ones, he was with 3 double digit results this year the one with the most of that and the only who made it to sanyaku. One kanto-sho as well and 3 basho in a row winning against ozeki.

Also this award ceremony is at the basho on shonichi, before the start of makuuchi, together with the yusho portrait presentations and returning of the flag and cup.

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/chuspo/article/sumo/news/CK2016122802000148.html

I can't find a list of past winners for that, wikipedia still calls for an article

Edited December 28, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

The Nikkan (honorable) "low beats high" award goes to Okinoumi. The rank differences to the ones beaten were added up for the 28 who were in makuuchi the whole year, with only 0.5 for east beating west of one rank higher.

Okinoumi finished top with 78, 2nd is Shodai with 68, 3rd Mitakeumi with 66.5.

Okinoumi also is the only one this year with more than one kinboshi: he won 3, a single one each was won by 8 others. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/column/sumo/news/1758098.html

Edited December 30, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki]

Another award, by the Kansai exercises press club: at the 60th Kansai sports awards one of the special (=not among the main ones) awards goes to Goeido for a yusho by a man from the Kansai region. http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20170110/spo17011019160003-n1.html