2001 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2001.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 January – 21 January

2001 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
0 - 0 - 15 ø United States Akebono Y United States Musashimaru 14 - 1 - 0
14 - 1 - 0 Japan Takanohana* Y ø
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Kaiō O ø Japan Chiyotaikai 2 - 2 - 11
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Dejima O Japan Miyabiyama 8 - 7 - 0
ø O Japan Musōyama 9 - 6 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Japan Kotomitsuki 4 - 11 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Takanowaka K Japan Tochinonada 9 - 6 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Takanonami M1 Japan Tochisakae 4 - 11 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Kotonowaka M2 ø Japan Hayateumi 0 - 0 - 15
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Wakanoyama M3 Japan Kaihō 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Akinoshima M4 Japan Tochiazuma 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M5 Japan Tamakasuga 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Tochinohana M6 Japan Chiyotenzan 8 - 7 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Higonoumi M7 Japan Kotoryū 9 - 6 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M8 ø Japan Tōki 0 - 0 - 15
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Hamanoshima M9 Japan Tokitsuumi 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M10 ø Japan Oginishiki 0 - 3 - 13
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Kinkaiyama M11 Japan Minatofuji 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Takatōriki M12 Mongolia Asashōryū 9 - 6 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M13 Japan Tamarikidō 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Asanowaka M14 Japan Wakakosho 6 - 9 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner
*Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 11 March – 25 March

2001 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Takanohana Y United States Musashimaru 12 - 3 - 0
13 - 2 - 0 Japan Kaiō O Japan Musōyama 12 - 3 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Miyabiyama O Japan Dejima 8 - 7 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Chiyotaikai O ø
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Japan Tochinonada 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Tochiazuma K Japan Wakanoyama 6 - 9 - 0
3 - 12 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M1 ø Japan Kotoryū 1 - 6 - 8
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Chiyotenzan M2 Japan Hayateumi 6 - 9 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Takanonami M3 Japan Kotomitsuki 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tokitsuumi M4 Japan Takanowaka 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Akinoshima M5 ø Mongolia Kyokushūzan 1 - 12 - 2
9 - 6 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū M6 Japan Kotonowaka 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M7 Japan Tochisakae 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M8 Japan Higonoumi 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kaihō M9 Japan Takatōriki 5 - 10 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Tamanoshima M10 Japan Asanowaka 7 - 8 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Hamanoshima M11 Japan Tochinohana 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M12 Japan Terao 8 - 7 - 0
3 - 5 - 7 ø Japan Kinkaiyama M13 Japan Jūmonji 9 - 6 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Minatofuji M14 Japan Daishi 4 - 11 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Aminishiki M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 May – 27 May

2001 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
13 - 2 - 0 Japan Takanohana* Y United States Musashimaru 13 - 2 - 0
4 - 5 - 6 ø Japan Kaiō O Japan Musōyama 12 - 3 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Dejima O Japan Miyabiyama 9 - 6 - 0
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Chiyotaikai O ø
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Tochinonada S Japan Tochiazuma 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Kotomitsuki K Mongolia Asashōryū 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Wakanosato M1 Japan Takanowaka 5 - 10 - 0
2 - 6 - 7 ø Japan Wakanoyama M2 Japan Chiyotenzan 4 - 11 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Tamanoshima M3 Japan Tosanoumi 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M4 Japan Hayateumi 9 - 6 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tochisakae M5 Japan Takanonami 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Kaihō M6 Japan Tokitsuumi 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M7 Mongolia Kyokutenhō 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M8 Japan Kotonowaka 9 - 6 - 0
2 - 13 - 0 Japan Terao M9 Japan Akinoshima 8 - 7 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Kotoryū M10 Japan Aminishiki 7 - 8 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Higonoumi M11 Japan Asanowaka 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Wakatsutomu M12 Japan Hamanishiki 4 - 11 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Tōki M13 Japan Tochinohana 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Daizen M14 Japan Takatōriki 5 - 10 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner
*Won Playoff

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 8 July – 22 July

2001 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Takanohana Y United States Musashimaru 12 - 3 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 ø Japan Chiyotaikai O Japan Musōyama 10 - 5 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Miyabiyama O ø Japan Dejima 3 - 3 - 9
13 - 2 - 0 Japan Kaiō O ø
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Tochiazuma S Japan Kotomitsuki 6 - 9 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū K Japan Wakanosato 9 - 6 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Hayateumi M1 Japan Takanonami 5 - 10 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kotonowaka M2 Japan Higonoumi 3 - 12 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tochinonada M3 Japan Tōki 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M4 Japan Ōtsukasa 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M5 Japan Takanowaka 9 - 6 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Akinoshima M6 ø Japan Tochisakae 4 - 5 - 6
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M7 Japan Tamanoshima 12 - 3 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tochinohana M8 Japan Chiyotenzan 6 - 9 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M9 Japan Kitazakura 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kotoryū M10 Japan Kaihō 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M11 Japan Daizen 8 - 7 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Wakanoyama M12 Japan Aminishiki 7 - 8 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Asanowaka M13 Japan Tokitsuumi 11 - 4 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Wakatsutomu M14 Japan Oginishiki 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Minatofuji M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 September – 23 September

2001 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
9 - 6 - 0 United States Musashimaru Y ø Japan Takanohana 0 - 0 - 15
0 - 4 - 11 ø Japan Kaiō O ø Japan Chiyotaikai 4 - 5 - 6
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Musōyama O ø Japan Miyabiyama 3 - 7 - 5
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Tochiazuma S Japan Dejima 5 - 10 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Wakanosato K Japan Tamanoshima 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Kotonowaka M1 Mongolia Asashōryū 10 - 5 - 0
13 - 2 - 0 Japan Kotomitsuki M2 Japan Takanowaka 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M3 Japan Tamakasuga 5 - 10 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Kaihō M4 Japan Tokitsuumi 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Takanonami M5 Japan Tochinonada 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M6 Japan Tōki 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Hayateumi M7 Japan Kotoryū 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M8 Japan Daizen 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Higonoumi M9 Japan Ōtsukasa 7 - 8 - 0
0 - 4 - 11 ø Japan Tochinohana M10 Japan Oginishiki 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Chiyotenzan M11 Japan Akinoshima 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Wakanoyama M12 ø Japan Tochisakae 0 - 0 - 15
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kitazakura M13 Japan Aminishiki 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Takatōriki M14 Japan Hamanishiki 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Daishi M15 Japan Wakatsutomu 3 - 12 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 11 November – 25 November

2001 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
13 - 2 - 0 United States Musashimaru Y ø Japan Takanohana 0 - 0 - 15
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Musōyama O ø Japan Chiyotaikai 0 - 0 - 15
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Kaiō O ø
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Tochiazuma S Japan Kotomitsuki 9 - 6 - 0
ø S ø Japan Miyabiyama 0 - 0 - 15
10 - 5 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū K Japan Kaihō 5 - 10 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Wakanosato M1 Japan Tamanoshima 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Takanowaka M2 Japan Tosanoumi 5 - 10 - 0
2 - 13 - 0 Japan Tokitsuumi M3 Japan Dejima 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Kotonowaka M4 Japan Tochinonada 7 - 8 - 0
1 - 1 - 13 ø Japan Kotoryū M5 Mongolia Kyokutenhō 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Daizen M6 Japan Akinoshima 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M7 Japan Tōki 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Oginishiki M8 Japan Chiyotenzan 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M9 Japan Wakanoyama 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Takanonami M10 ø Japan Hayateumi 8 - 2 - 5
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M11 Japan Kitazakura 5 - 10 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Hamanishiki M12 Japan Tochisakae 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Aogiyama M13 ø Japan Higonoumi 4 - 8 - 3
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kōbō M14 Japan Aminishiki 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tamarikidō M15 Japan Buyūzan 10 - 5 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

January

  • 21: Yokozuna Takanohana wins his first yusho in over two years, defeating fellow yokozuna Musashimaru in a playoff after both men finish on 14–1.[1] Tochinonada wins the Technique Award. Wakanoyama scores 9–6 from maegashira 3, his best ever result, and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize. Wakanosato receives the Outstanding Performance Award for his win over Musashimaru. Tamanonada wins the juryo championship and promotion back to the top makuuchi division, and changes his name to Tamanoshima. Maegashira Toki is suspended from the tournament for being involved in a traffic accident in December, and drops to juryo. As a result, the Takasago stable is without any makuuchi wrestlers for the first time in its history.
  • 22: Yokozuna Akebono, who won his 11th championship in the previous tournament in November but was absent through injury from this one, announces his retirement, due to the constant pain in both his knees.[2] He will stay in sumo as a coach at his Azumazeki stable, under the elder name Akebono Oyakata.
  • 29: The Japan Sumo Association award Akebono a bonus of 100 million yen for his services to sumo, tying the record amount awarded to Chiyonofuji upon his retirement in 1991.

February

  • 21: The Sumo Association reduces the height requirement for new entrants from 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) to 167 cm (5 ft 5+12 in), due to a shortage of applicants. 13 tryouts are accepted.

March

Kaio won two tournaments in 2001.
  • 25: Ozeki Kaio wins his second championship. He finishes on 13–2, one win ahead of Takanohana, Musashimaru and fellow ozeki Musoyama. Maegashira Tamanoshima gets the Fighting Spirit Award for his eleven wins. Kotomitsuki receives his second Technique prize, while Tochinonada and Tochiazuma share the Outstanding Performance Prize. Wakatsutomu wins the juryo championship with just a 10–5 score, after a playoff with Toki. Former maegashira Daihisho retires.

May

  • 22: Takanohana wins his 22nd yusho in dramatic fashion, beating Musashimaru in a playoff despite clearly suffering from serious knee ligament damage sustained in a defeat to Musoyama the previous day. Kaio pulls out with back pain after losing four bouts in the first eight days. Kotomitsuki receives the Technique Award while fellow komusubi Asashoryu gets the Outstanding Performance Prize in his first tournament at the rank. Kitazakura wins his first juryo yusho. Former maegashira Shikishima retires.

June

  • 5: Futagoyama Oyakata announces that his son Takanohana will not take part in the next tournament, and indicates that he will require a lengthy layoff.

July

  • 22: Kaio wins his second championship of the year with a 13–2 record despite limited training due to his ongoing back trouble. Musashimaru is runner up on 12–3 alongside Tamanoshima who gets another Fighting Spirit Award. The Technique Prize is shared between Tochiazuma and Tokitsuumi while Wakanosato receives the Outstanding Performance Prize. Dejima is demoted from the ozeki rank. Buyuzan wins the juryo championship, coming through a series of playoffs after a record eight men (Buyuzan, Terao, Oikari, Tamarikido, Takatoriki, Sentoryu, Hamanishiki and Wakatoba) all finish on the same score, just 9–6.
  • 23: It is revealed that Takanohana has travelled to Paris to have his injured knee operated on by a specialist.

September

Akebono at his retirement ceremony
  • 23: Maegashira 2 Kotomitsuki wins his first championship with a 13–2 record, and takes all three special prizes. Sekiwake Tochiazuma is runner-up on 12–3. Kaiho also receives a share of the Technique Prize, while Asashoryu gets a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. Takanohana is still recuperating from his surgery, and Kaio, Chiyotaikai and Miyabiyama all drop out early through injury. Miyabiyama joins his stablemate Dejima in being demoted from ozeki. Musashimaru finishes with a mediocre 9–6. Former maegashira Aogiyama wins the juryo yusho.
  • 29: Akebono's retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki takes place at the Kokugikan. Guests taking part in the hair-cutting ritual include US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker, an ambassador representing the French President (and sumo fan) Jacques Chirac, Konishiki, Takanohana and finally Akebono's stablemaster Azumazeki Oyakata.[3]

November

  • 25: Musashimaru wins his first yusho since September 2000 with a 13–2 score. Tochiazuma is once again runner-up on 12–3 and seals his promotion to ozeki. He also receives his seventh Technique Prize. Takanohana, Chiyotaikai and Miyabiyama sit out, but Kaio returns to score 10–5. Asashoryu and Wakanosato share the Fighting Spirit Prize with top division debutant Buyuzan. Oikari wins the juryo championship. Former komusubi Tomonohana retires.
  • 28: Tochiazuma's promotion to ozeki is officially confirmed.[4] He becomes the fifth son of a former wrestler to make the ozeki rank.[4]

Deaths

  • 17 January: former komusubi Wakabayama, also former Shikoroyama Oyakata, aged 78, of cerebral thrombosis.
  • 27 January: Onogawa Oyakata, former maegashira Hachiya, aged 50, of mouth cancer.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kattoulas, Velisarios (22 January 2001). "Beaten Only Once, Takanohana Grabs Sumo Victory". New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  2. ^ "Sumo great Akebono retires". BBC News. 22 January 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  3. ^ "First foreign Sumo grand champion retires". BBC News. 1 October 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Tochiazuma promoted to ozeki". Japan Times. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2017.