Sanshō 三賞, literally “three prizes” are the three special prizes awarded to top (Makuuchi) division sumo wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947. The three prizes are:
Wikipedia
Shukun-shō (殊勲賞), Outstanding Performance prize
Kantō-shō (敢闘賞), Fighting Spirit prize
Ginō-shō (技能賞), Technique prize
Who will get the trophies and the ¥2 million that comes with them? The prizes are voted on before the final day’s bouts take place, but some are conditional on a rikishi winning his last bout or on more exotic outcomes, such as winning the yusho. This Chris Gould video provides a rare inside look into the deliberations that took place in January:
The results of the vote for the March tournament have just been announced. And the only unconditional award is a well-deserved Outstanding Performance Prize for Ichinojo. There are quite a few conditional prizes as well: Kotoshogiku and Takakeisho could claims theirs with victories, and a prize is on the line in the Aoiyama vs. Tomokaze bout.
Shukun-sho (Outstanding Performance Award)
| West Maegashira #4 Ichinojo (Altankhuyag Ichinnorov) (13-1) |
|---|
| Minato Beya Date of Birth: April 7, 1993 (25 years old) Place of Birth: Mongolia 2014 January Debut |
Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Prize)
| East Maegashira #7 Aoiyama (Daniel Ivanov) conditionally (11-3) |
|---|
| Kasugano Beya Date of Birth: June 19, 1986 (32 years old) Place of Birth: Bulgaria 2009 July Debut |
Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Prize)
| West Maegashira #8 Kotoshogiku (Kazuhiro Kikutsugi) conditionally (11-3) |
|---|
| Sadogatake Beya Date of Birth: January 30, 1984 (35 years old) Place of Birth: Fukuoka 2002 January Debut |
Kanto-sho (Fighting Spirit Prize)
| East Maegashira #13 Tomokaze (Yuta Minami) conditionally (9-5) |
|---|
| Oguruma Beya Date of Birth: December 2, 1994 (24 years old) Place of Birth: Kanagawa 2017 May Debut |
Gino-sho (Technique Prize)
| East Sekiwake Takakeisho(Takanobu Sato) conditionally (9-5) |
|---|
| Chiganoura Beya Date of Birth: August 5, 1996 (22 years old) Place of Birth: Hyogo 2014 September Debut |
That prize for Takakeisho better not be their way of “making up” for not promoting him again 😒
Seconded…
NHK said already yesterday, that if he wins he will be promoted and so did they today after he won. Personally I think with the win today he earned his promotion, although I’m not sure if he can warrant that in the future. I feel he plateaued a bit. Nevertheless, the worst result in last last 6 basho was one 9-6 tournament. If thats the standard he keeps as an Ozeki, In will be perfectly happy.
Onomatsu oyakata, the head of the shimpan department, said that this time the vote was unanimous for promoting him today. So rest assured, the Hungry Hamster is about to lift another fish.
Awarding the technique prize “conditionally” seems strange to me. Unless the condition is “win today AND use a different technique”. (I know it isn’t, it’s a joke).
Bonus points if he wins by Tasukizori !!
Yeah it’s a bit of a misnomer.