1996 in sumo

In 1996, the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament set a record for the number of wrestlers in a playoff, after Musashimaru, Akebono, Wakanohana, Takanonami, and Kaio, all tied at 11–4.[1] Musashimaru won the historic five-way playoff, taking his second tournament title since July 1994.[1]

The following are the events in professional sumo during 1996.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 January – 21 January

1996 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
14 - 1 - 0 Takanohana Y ø Akebono 0 - 3 - 12
0 - 4 - 11 ø Wakanohana O Musashimaru 9 - 6 - 0
14 - 1 - 0 Takanonami* O ø
10 - 5 - 0 Kaiō S Kotonishiki 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Tosanoumi K Musōyama 10 - 5 - 0
12 - 3 - 0 Takatōriki M1 Mitoizumi 3 - 12 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Kotonowaka M2 Kotoinazuma 2 - 13 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Misugisato M3 Minatofuji 4 - 11 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Akinoshima M4 Asahiyutaka 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kenkō M5 Kotobeppu 4 - 11 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Tochinowaka M6 Kitakachidoki 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Terao M7 Asanosho 6 - 9 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Konishiki M8 Daishōhō 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Naminohana M9 Hamanoshima 6 - 9 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Wakashoyo M10 Kasugafuji 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Oginohana M11 Aogiyama 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Oginishiki M12 Asanowaka 8 - 7 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Kirishima M13 Daishi 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Higonoumi M14 Tomonohana 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Mainoumi M15 Kyokudōzan 9 - 6 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Tamakasuga M16 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner
*Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March

1996 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
14 - 1 - 0 Takanohana Y ø Akebono 0 - 0 - 15
11 - 4 - 0 Takanonami O Musashimaru 9 - 6 - 0
12 - 3 - 0 Wakanohana O ø
9 - 6 - 0 Kaiō S Kotonishiki 8 - 7 - 0
12 - 3 - 0 Musōyama S Takatōriki 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Tosanoumi K Akinoshima 6 - 9 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Kenkō M1 Naminohana 6 - 9 - 0
3 - 12 - 0 Oginohana M2 Aogiyama 4 - 11 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Higonoumi M3 Oginishiki 2 - 13 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Misugisato M4 Kotonowaka 11 - 4 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Asanowaka M5 Tamakasuga 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Asahiyutaka M6 Mainoumi 6 - 9 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Kyokudōzan M7 Daishi 6 - 9 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Mitoizumi M8 Tochinowaka 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Minatofuji M9 Konishiki 6 - 9 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Wakashoyo M10 Daishōhō 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Terao M11 Asanosho 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kitakachidoki M12 Kotobeppu 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kotoinazuma M13 Hamanoshima 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kasugafuji M14 Kirishima 3 - 12 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Ganyū M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May

1996 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
14 - 1 - 0 Takanohana Y Akebono 10 - 5 - 0
12 - 3 - 0 Wakanohana O Takanonami 12 - 3 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Musashimaru O ø
10 - 5 - 0 Musōyama S Kaiō 11 - 4 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Kotonishiki S Takatōriki 7 - 8 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Kotonowaka K Asahiyutaka 8 - 7 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Misugisato M1 Tosanoumi 5 - 10 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Akinoshima M2 Minatofuji 6 - 9 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Terao M3 Naminohana 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Kitakachidoki M4 Daishōhō 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Asanosho M5 Kenkō 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Tamakasuga M6 Kotoinazuma 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Kotobeppu M7 Aogiyama 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Ganyū M8 Hamanoshima 6 - 9 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Higonoumi M9 Mainoumi 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Mitoizumi M10 Kasugafuji 2 - 13 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Daishi M11 Oginohana 4 - 11 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Asanowaka M12 Tochinowaka 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Oginishiki M13 Kyokudōzan 9 - 6 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Konishiki M14 Wakashoyo 4 - 11 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Shikishima M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 7 July – 21 July

1996 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
13 - 2 - 0 Takanohana Y Akebono 12 - 3 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Wakanohana O Takanonami 12 - 3 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Musashimaru O ø
10 - 5 - 0 Kaiō S Musōyama 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Asahiyutaka K Takatōriki 10 - 5 - 0
ø K Daishōhō 2 - 13 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Tamakasuga M1 Aogiyama 3 - 12 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kotonowaka M2 Kotonishiki 9 - 6 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Daishi M3 Mitoizumi 4 - 11 - 0
3 - 12 - 0 Naminohana M4 Minatofuji 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Tosanoumi M5 Akinoshima 10 - 5 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Misugisato M6 Terao 5 - 10 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kotoinazuma M7 Asanosho 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kenkō M8 Konishiki 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kitakachidoki M9 Asanowaka 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kotobeppu M10 Tochinowaka 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Shikishima M11 ø Mainoumi 2 - 1 - 12
8 - 7 - 0 Kyokudōzan M12 Oginishiki 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Ganyū M13 Hamanoshima 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Higonoumi M14 Rikiō 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kotoryū M15 Kushimaumi 6 - 9 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 September – 22 September

1996 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
15 - 0 - 0 Takanohana Y Akebono 10 - 5 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Takanonami O Wakanohana 11 - 4 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Musashimaru O ø
9 - 6 - 0 Kaiō S Takatōriki 11 - 4 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Musōyama K Kotonowaka 4 - 11 - 0
ø K Kotonishiki 10 - 5 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Asahiyutaka M1 Akinoshima 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Kenkō M2 Kotoinazuma 4 - 11 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Tamakasuga M3 Kotobeppu 3 - 12 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Konishiki M4 Kitakachidoki 4 - 11 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Asanowaka M5 Daishōhō 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Aogiyama M6 Tosanoumi 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Minatofuji M7 Daishi 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mitoizumi M8 Higonoumi 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Kyokudōzan M9 Rikiō 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Asanosho M10 Terao 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Oginishiki M11 Naminohana 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Ganyū M12 Hamanoshima 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Tochinowaka M13 Kotoryū 8 - 7 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Misugisato M14 Shikishima 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Kyokushūzan M15 Daihishō 8 - 7 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November

1996 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
0 - 0 - 15 ø Takanohana Y Akebono 11 - 4 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Wakanohana O Musashimaru* 11 - 4 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Takanonami O ø
6 - 9 - 0 Takatōriki S Kaiō 11 - 4 - 0
ø S Kotonishiki 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Asahiyutaka K Musōyama 8 - 7 - 0
1 - 14 - 0 Daishōhō M1 Tosanoumi 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Akinoshima M2 Mitoizumi 4 - 11 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Terao M3 Kotonowaka 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Oginishiki M4 Asanosho 5 - 10 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Tamakasuga M5 Hamanoshima 5 - 10 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Kenkō M6 Kotoinazuma 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Ganyū M7 Kyokushūzan 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Tochinowaka M8 Kotoryū 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Konishiki M9 Kitakachidoki 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Aogiyama M10 Higonoumi 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Asanowaka M11 Shikishima 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Kotobeppu M12 Minatofuji 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Daihishō M13 Daishi 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Naminohana M14 ø Kyokudōzan 0 - 0 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Rikiō M15 Tochiazuma 10 - 5 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner
*Won 5-Way Playoff

Playoff

(Lots are drawn. Four rikishi face in semifinals, and one is a reserve. The reserve and the two winners face in a 3-Way Playoff, where two consecutive victories are required to win the Playoff and the yūshō)

News

January

  • Ozeki Takanonami wins his first top division yusho, defeating his yokozuna stablemate Takanohana in a playoff after both record 14–1 scores. Takatoriki is third on 11–4 and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, shared with Kenko and newcomer Tamakasuga. Sekiwake Kaio gets the Outstanding Performance Award. Rikio wins the juryo championship after a playoff with Wakahayato. Saganobori, a former maegashira who has been fighting in the unsalaried ranks for three years, retires.

March

  • Takanohana wins his 12th championship, finishing on 14–1, two wins ahead of his stablemate and brother Wakanohana and sekiwake Musoyama, who gets the Technique Award. Asahiyutaka is the only man to beat Takanohana and wins the Outstanding Performance Award. Kotonowaka wins eleven and the Fighting Spirit Award. Kyokushuzan wins the juryo yusho after a playoff with Saigo. Former ozeki Kirishima retires, as do former maegashira Owakamatsu and Tamakairiki (who has fallen to the jonidan division).

May

  • Takanohana wins with a 14–1 record again, two wins ahead of Wakanohana and Takanonami, underlining the dominance of Futagoyama stable. Yokozuna Akebono returns from three tournaments sidelined by injury to score 10–5. Tamakasuga wins the Technique Prize and Kaio the Outstanding Performance Award. Veteran former ozeki Konishiki avoids demotion and certain retirement by winning ten bouts from maegashira 14. Rikio wins his second juryo championship. The makushita yusho is won by Dejima.

July

  • At the Nagoya basho, Takanonami is eliminated from the yusho race on the final day when he is defeated by Kaio. The championship is decided in the final bout between Takanohana and Akebono, tied on 12–2. Takanohana wins to claim his 14th championship, while Akebono has his first runner-up performance since September 1995. Takatoriki wins his eighth Fighting Spirit Prize. Kaio and Kotonowaka share the Outstanding Performance Prize. The 95 kg Mainoumi is injured when the 275 kg Konishiki falls on his leg. He has to withdraw from the tournament, meaning he will fall to juryo. Daizen wins his second juryo championship. Former maegashira Kiraiho retires. Kyokushuzan becomes the first wrestler from Mongolia to earn promotion to the top division.

September

  • Takanohana wins four consecutive championships for the first time. He finishes with an unbeaten 15–0 score (zensho-yusho), his fourth. Wakanohana, Takatoriki and Musashimaru all finish four wins behind on 11–4. Takatoriki shares the Fighting Spirit Prize with Asahiyutaka. Kotonishiki wins ten bouts from the komusubi rank and receives his sixth Technique Prize. Tochiazuma wins the juryo championship, his fifth yusho in five different divisions. Former maegashira Kasugafuji, Hitachiryu and Kyokugozan all retire.

November

  • Takanohana misses the first tournament of his career after injuring his back on tour. In his absence Musashimaru wins his second championship in a five-way playoff after he, Wakanohana, Akebono, Takanonami, and Kaio all finish on 11–4. Kaio receives the Fighting Spirit Prize alongside newcomer Tochiazuma. Tosanoumi wins the Outstanding Performance Award. Tochinonada wins the juryo title in his debut. Former komusubi Kyokudozan retires to become a politician in the Diet of Japan.

Deaths

  • 4 Jan: Former maegashira Oedo, former Irumagawa Oyakata, aged 73.
  • 14 Jan: Former komusubi Ohikari, former Onomatsu Oyakata, aged 68.
  • 14 April: Former sekiwake Kotetsuyama, former Onaruto Oyakata, aged 53.
  • 8 Dec: Kagamiyama Oyakata, the former yokozuna Kashiwado, aged 58.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Musashimaru wins in five-man playoff". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Associated Press. November 25, 1996. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.