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 claim the trophies and the ¥2 million that comes with each one? The prizes are voted on before the final day’s bouts take place, but some are awarded conditionally. Usually, the condition is that the rikishi must win his last bout, but sometimes it can be something else, such as winning the yusho.
The September prizes have just been announced. Mitakeumi will get an outstanding performance award and a fighting spirit prize, both conditionally (it’s not clear if the condition is getting into a playoff or taking the yusho). Asanoyama will receive an unconditional outstanding performance award, while Okinoumi will also get one conditionally (again, I’m not sure if the condition is getting into a playoff or taking the yusho). Okinoumi will also receive an unconditional fighting spirit prize, and, as expected, so will Tsurugisho for posting double-digit wins in his top-division debut. It looks like no one was deemed worthy of a technique prize. The full list is below:
Shukun-sho(Outstanding Performance Award)
| East Sekiwake Mitakeumi(Hisashi Omichi) conditionally (11-3) |
|---|
| Dewanoumi Beya Date of Birth: December 25, 1992 (26 years old) Place of Birth: Nagano 2015 March Debut |
Shukun-sho(Outstanding Performance Award)
| West Maegashira #2 Asanoyama(Hiroki Ishibashi) (10-4) |
|---|
| Takasago Beya Date of Birth: March 1, 1994 (25 years old) Place of Birth: Toyama 2016 March Debut |
Shukun-sho(Outstanding Performance Award)
| East Maegashira #8 Okinoumi(Ayumi Fukuoka) conditionally (11-3) |
|---|
| Hakkaku Beya Date of Birth: July 29, 1985 (34 years old) Place of Birth: Shimane 2005 January Debut |
Kanto-sho(Fighting Spirit Prize)
| East Sekiwake Mitakeumi(Hisashi Omichi) conditionally (11-3) |
|---|
| Dewanoumi Beya Date of Birth: December 25, 1992 (26 years old) Place of Birth: Nagano 2015 March Debut |
Kanto-sho(Fighting Spirit Prize)
| East Maegashira #8 Okinoumi(Ayumi Fukuoka) (11-3) |
|---|
| Hakkaku Beya Date of Birth: July 29, 1985 (34 years old) Place of Birth: Shimane 2005 January Debut |
Kanto-sho(Fighting Spirit Prize)
| East Maegashira #14 Tsurugisho(Kentaro Abiko) (10-4) |
|---|
| Oitekaze Beya Date of Birth: July 27, 1991 (28 years old) Place of Birth: Tokyo 2014 January Debut |
Mitakeumi gets the outstanding performance if he wins the yusho, and the fighting spirit if he loses it.
Okinoumi gets the outstanding performance if he wins the yusho.
No Technique prize. When this happens I feel it’s a way of saying “guys, you gotta do better”.
Maybe Endo, if he’d been given that win.
Is Ozekiwake eligible for special prizes?
Anyone below ozeki is eligible. “Ozekiwake” is just a name we use here on Tachiai..
I think they do hold former Ozeki to a higher standard though, hence no prize for Takakeisho. I seem to recall Kotoshogiku also being set a really high conditional bar to get a prize recently
Sounds like more bs to me. 12 wins, jun yusho on playoffs, not to mention the shameful henka he suffered. Not the first time they bs Takakeisho though.
It was pretty shameful that he fell for it.
Plenty more yusho to come for the tadpoles! That’s 3 for team-lillypad. 1 for the Freshmen. Time for that cohort to respond!
Somewhere Takayasu is cursing is misfortune.
True, but I’m thinking they treated him like an Ozeki here—”you get your rank back, and that’s your prize.”