Sumo Topics

Winter Update 2023.12.29

Andy Hatsu 2024, Heya, Stables (Heya)

There are a couple more news-worthy items which have come up that I must share with you all, both related to heya. First up, Kakuryu has secured a kabu and will branch out with his own, independent stable: Otowayama. He takes Tokotsuru, the top-ranked Tokoyama (hairdresser) along with a couple of deshi, Hagane and his new recruit. Hagane is the only banzuke-ranked wrestler currently listed on the heya profile. This is fantastic news as the search has been a running drama for a few years with the 5-year shot clock running down.

Secondly, former Homasho (Tatsutagawa-oyakata) has officially been named acting stablemaster at Shikoroyama-beya, following the passing of Terao. Both he and Kakuryu…oops, Otowayama… will be gearing up in earnest for Hatsubasho once the New Year holidays calm down.

These machinations are often difficult for me to track in my head, so I am in the process of building a visualization based on the Kabu history pages at the SumoDB. There are a bunch of ways to look at these and I’m starting off with several different Gantt-style charts to look at the changes through time.

This first one that I would like to share is a list of all kabu, with color indicating whether the kabu holder is the stable master or a coach within another heya. What becomes apparent is that several names have long histories of being independent (Izutsu, Nishonoseki, Sadogatake) while others do not, like Otowayama and Ikazuchi. Homasho’s Tatsutagawa kabu has had a bit of a history as an independent heya but not as storied as Isegahama, obviously.

One thing that I would like to do is to tie the heya to exactly how storied or successful they were (have been). I’m trying to work out a defensible metric that I can use to gage such success through time. Maybe with the number of sanyaku wrestlers or top division wrestlers? It’s a tough call. Would you say that Oitekaze tops Isegahama as the most dominant heya, currently? Another tab on the visual already shows the holder by rank, as pictured on the left. Yokozuna are yellow, with lower ranking wrestlers darker shades of green. It’s interesting to see that according to the SumoDB data, gyoji had owned some of the kabu in the past.

I’ve got a draft version of another visualization that tracks the kabu by holder so that we can see how often some of these swap hands. Kobo, one of Hakuho’s former stablemates at Miyagino-beya, traded five different kabu during the ten years he remained a coach. Sanoyama is another kabu which seems to trade hands frequently, being held by Konishiki, Chiyotaikai, and recently Satoyama. However, with that visualization, there are so many holders and so few colors that it looks a bit crazy. Once I figure out a clean way to pair that down, it will be more helpful.

Winter News Update 2023.12.17

Andy Breaking News, Deshi, Jungyo (巡業), Kakuryu (鶴竜) ,

Jungyo is not the only sumo news going on so I have tweaked the format of this weekend’s news update post. We’ll get to Jungyo in a bit but first there are some other sumo-related news topics to mention.

Death of Shikoroyama-Oyakata

Former Sekiwake Terao and master of Shikoroyama heya, Fukuzono Yoshifumi has died. Beloved by sumo fans of the 1980s and 1990s, Terao was known for his slender physique and spirited tsuppari. He began his sumo career in 1980 at his father’s Izutsu-beya, alongside his two brothers, Sakahoko and Kakureizan.

After five years in the lower divisions, he rose to the top division in 1985, establishing himself as a division favorite for the next 15 years. He is a key member of the Hana-no-sanpachi-gumi, wrestlers born during Showa-38 (1963). That list includes former Yokozuna Hokutoumi, Futahaguro and Ozeki Konishiki.

After retirement, he led Shikoroyama-beya where he coached Homasho to the rank of Komusubi as well as yusho-winning Abi. When Homasho retired, he remained attached to the heya as Tatsutagawa-oyakata. His brother, Sakahoko, took on Izutsu-beya and trained Kakuryu before his own death of pancreatic cancer in 2019.

Shikoroyama had been unwell in recent years due to a chronic heart condition and had been kyujo from the recent tournament in November. Abi had come back to Tokyo from where he had been on tour in order to visit with his master in hospital.

When the master of a heya dies, it obviously raises questions about the future of the heya and its wrestlers. At this time it is unclear whether Homasho will take over or whether the wrestlers will be transferred elsewhere. Tachiai will provide an update as developments become clear.

New Recruits

Isegahama-beya and former Yokozuna Kakuryu both had dueling recruitment announcements this past week. Isegahama and Kakuryu poached 18-year-old seniors from Atamifuji’s former high school, Hiryu in Numazu, Shizuoka prefecture. Isegahama claimed Suzuki Ryuichi (185cm, 130kg) while Kakuryu shook hands with Shirasaka Yuto (183cm, 140kg) who will debut with Michinoku-beya but as Kakuryu’s uchi-deshi.

Both gentlemen will debut at Hatsu 2024. That will make for some intriguing mae-zumo bouts and a very interesting Jonokuchi yusho race in March. Kakuryu also made it known that he will branch out from Michinoku at some point to run his own stable.

Kabu Kalculus

Several years ago, Kakuryu had been seen as the likely heir to the Izutsu kabu, in honor of his master. However, that kabu was picked up by Shimanoumi, who is obviously still active in Juryo and has loaned it out to Akiseyama. After the closure of Izutsu beya, Kakuryu and the other Izutsu-beya wrestlers settled into Michinoku-beya. However, the master has made it known that he will not give up the kabu after he turns 65 and must retire next year. He will keep the kabu and stay on for another 5-years as an advisor, as is his right. Suddenly, the Shikoroyama kabu will become available and one wonders if it has traded hands. Who knows? When the dust settles, Kakuryu may end up with the Izutsu kabu after all.

An aside: This practice has always fascinated me. We often assume that capitalism is capitalism, socialism is socialism, and there’s one dogmatic method of doing things when there are actually a myriad of flavors, albeit with common, fundamental tenets — like private ownership. But here in the sumo world we have ownership of the Sumo Kyokai split among former wrestlers, with a cap on the number of shares available. I’ve just been very curious how it would play out if this practice were put in place at, say, US Steel by the likes of J P Morgan and Andrew Carnegie or at Facebook or Apple, or the mom-and-pop greasy spoon down the street. It would be a system where the shares could only be owned by select workers, where eligibility is based on performance criteria, and only the best of the best can…run their own division, let’s say? But I digress…

Winter Jungyo 2023: Week 2

The tour stopped in Ehime prefecture on Shikoku before heading to Hiroshima for two dates and then Osaka this weekend. The tour will continue on for a couple more dates in Central Japan this week before wrapping up in Tochigi before Christmas. In Matsuyama, Atamifuji* got to sit and get his hair done. In Sakai, Osaka, hometown hero Ura got the same treatment with Gonoyama, Ura, and Tobizaru taking turns fielding questions from the audience in Question Corner.

*Correction: an earlier version incorrectly stated that Mitakeumi sat for the oicho-mage demonstration in Matsuyama.

Winter Jungyo 2023: Week 1

Andy Jungyo (巡業) , ,

For the last week the tour has been island hopping, counter-clockwise, around Kyushu. It started in Kumamoto before heading for Miyazaki, Oita, and Fukuoka before capping off this weekend with two dates in Nagasaki. Next week, the tour will head to Shikoku before landing on Honshu and heading back toward Tokyo. For those wrestlers collecting manhole cover trading cards, these tours give an awesome opportunity to check out their favorites!

Fuyu 2023: The first seven tour dates

Bad news hit the Winter Tour early as both Kirishima and Takakeisho went to the hospital and were forced to limit their participation with flu-like symptoms. Terunofuji was already kyujo. Hoshoryu then also fell victim at the Kikuyo stop. As they say in show business, “The Show Must Go On.” And for the time being, the stars of the show are the native Kyushu wrestlers, such as Sadanoumi, Hiradoumi, and everyone’s favorite Emo-zeki, Shodai.

While researching these venues, I was particularly struck by Yatsushiro’s Myoken Festival featuring a procession of horses and a half-turtle/half-snake called a “ga-meh.” Much of the festival actually occurred during Kyushu basho, and the highlight was on November 23rd — just before the basho’s final weekend as the drama was building between Kirishima and Atamifuji. Nonetheless, Yatsushiro may have been chosen as the first stop on the tour because of the importance of this festival, which concluded on December 1, as well as being Takakento’s hometown. If you have a spare 4.5 hours (since there is no hon-basho, I know you do) there is great footage of the 2019 event to see above. Better yet, if you are ever in Kyushu for the tournament, you might want to check out the Yatsushiro Myokensai for yourself!

Miyazaki-city food porn

On December 4, the tour stayed in Kumamoto prefecture but shifted over to a town called, Kikuyo. and then headed down to Miyazaki. Judging by the short video above, our favorite wrestlers were able to enjoy amazing food, especially wagyu beef. Miyazaki prefecture awards the Makuuchi yusho winner (Kirishima) with a head of their famous cattle as well as a ton of fresh produce.

In Oita, visitors would also be able to check out the Oita Prefectural Art Museum (OPAM). Running from November to January 21, is a very interesting exhibition, “Thermae: Ancient Rome, Japan, and the Joy of Bathing.” I am sure Takakeisho checked it out while they were in town. Guided tours on some days are offered but likely in Japanese, only. From here, it’s back to Kasuga in Fukuoka. I imagine that is to pick up more Amaō strawberries and mentaiko (presented as yusho prizes from the prefecture and city of Fukuoka).

Sasebo basho highlights

The wrestlers ended up this weekend in Nagasaki for two tour dates, Sasebo-city and Omura-city. Unfortunately, a few wrestlers are kyujo from the final Nagoya event, including Kinbozan, Takakento, and Chiyosakae. Hopefully everyone’s health cooperates as we enter another week of this tour. Sasebo city has an Open Data portal which I will be exploring for the next week, as well as Hirado. As I mentioned before, Ehime in Shikoku is next on the Jungyo calendar. The tour will then head toward Osaka on its way back to Tokyo.

Kyushu Honbasho Wrap-up

Andy Kyushu 2023, Kyushu Basho, Retirement, Yūshō (優勝) , , ,

The tournament is over but we know that the Makuuchi yusho is not the final sumo thing for the year. There was still quite a bit of news coming out of Fukuoka this week and I wanted to take a moment to cover that in this news brief. Yes, we had the final tournament results and top division special prizes but we also had a group of retirements, Juryo promotions, and we now turn to Winter Jungyo!

Kyushu Hardware Distribution

As far as the yusho, we got a thrilling showdown between Kirishima and Atamifuji on Day 14, which Kirishima won, convincingly. Then he defeated Takakeisho on Senshuraku to seal his 13-2 title and claim the Golden Macaron. Ichiyamamoto, Kotonowaka, and Atamifuji won Fighting Spirit prizes. No technique prize was awarded and only Atamifuji had a shot at Outstanding Performance but he would have had to win the yusho.

In the lower divisions, we have an interesting group of yusho winners. As Leonid covered previously, the Juryo title was claimed by Kotoshoho. He had a tough go of things in the top division but has surely reclaimed a spot there with an exciting victory over Onosato (actually two). The video below has a replay from their playoff, as well as footage from the yusho award ceremony. As Leonid also covered, Satorufuji won the Makushita yusho. Daishoryu, Dairinzan, and Aonishiki won the Sandanme, Jonidan, and Jonokuchi titles, respectively.

Retirements

The Kyokai announced seven wrestlers who retired during the tournament.

Daijo debuted in 2007 and reached Makushita for the first time in 2013 before falling back into Sandanme. He climbed back into Makushita two more times, in 2017 and 2018, peaking at Makushita 43. Kototakuya debuted in 2018 and cracked into Makushita in the summer of last year, spending much of his career in Sandanme, and much of that career in the wild pandemic era. Kirizakura called “time” on a career that began in the Spring of 1999. At 176cm and 92kg, he fought his entire career in the lower divisions, peaking at Sandanme 69 in May of 2011 (a rather contentious time).

Chiyoshishi‘s retirement was known prior to the basho as a result of the unfortunate underage drinking scandal during the Aki Jungyo. Tamanowaka began his career in 2018, peaking in Jonidan. Young Itoga had a short sumo career, starting in May of this year, and retiring after clinching his first kachi-koshi in September, and promotion to Jonidan. Similarly, Raikisho made a short effort, spending much time banzuke-gai and peaking in Jonidan.

Juryo Promotions

Leonid was spot on with his predictions for the Juryo promotions. Takerufuji and Oshoumi have earned their first-time promotions while Hakuyozan and Tochimusashi return.

Winter Jungyo Preparations

The winter jungyo tour kicks off tomorrow in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto. This first week of the tour will hop around Kyushu with dates in Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Oita, and Fukuoka prefectures before spending next weekend in Nagasaki. Afterwards, they will pop over to Shikoku in Ehime, before going back to Honshu at Hiroshima and spending a few days around Osaka, Hyogo, and finally closing out the tour on Christmas Eve in Tochigi. From there, we’ll surely see a lot of New Year holiday events back in Tokyo. I’ll give weekly updates of the tour events and the holiday happenings leading into Hatsu basho!