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2003 in sumo

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The following are the events in professional sumo during 2003.

Tournaments

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Hatsu basho

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Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January

2003 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
0 - 0 - 15 ø United States Musashimaru Y ø Japan Takanohana 4 - 4 - 1
14 - 1 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū O Japan Musōyama 8 - 7 - 0
0 - 6 - 9 ø Japan Tochiazuma O ø Japan Chiyotaikai 0 - 0 - 15
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Kaiō O ø
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Takanowaka S Japan Kotomitsuki 9 - 6 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Takanonami K Japan Wakanosato 11 - 4 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M1 ø Japan Miyabiyama 1 - 3 - 11
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M2 Japan Tōki 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Kotonowaka M3 Japan Dejima 11 - 4 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Aminishiki M4 Japan Tokitsuumi 5 - 10 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Kaihō M5 Japan Iwakiyama 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Hokutōriki M6 Mongolia Kyokushūzan 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Wakanoyama M7 Japan Shimotori 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tamanoshima M8 Japan Kotoryū 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Takamisakari M9 Japan Akinoshima 6 - 9 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Tochinonada M10 Japan Gojōrō 5 - 10 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M11 Japan Kasuganishiki 7 - 8 - 0
0 - 5 - 10 ø Japan Tamakasuga M12 Japan Takanotsuru 9 - 6 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M13 South Korea Kasugaō 10 - 5 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Kōbō M14 Japan Tochinohana 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tamarikidō M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Haru basho

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Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March

2003 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
0 - 0 - 15 ø United States Musashimaru Y Mongolia Asashōryū 10 - 5 - 0
1 - 6 - 8 Japan Musōyama O ø Japan Tochiazuma 0 - 0 - 15
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Chiyotaikai O Japan Kaiō 10 - 5 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Takanowaka S Japan Kotomitsuki 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S ø
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Dejima K Japan Tosanoumi 8 - 7 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Takanonami M1 Mongolia Kyokutenhō 9 - 6 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Tochinonada M2 Japan Takamisakari 8 - 7 - 0
3 - 7 - 5 ø Japan Shimotori M3 Japan Kotonowaka 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Wakanoyama M4 Japan Tamanoshima 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Kotoryū M5 Japan Kaihō 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 5 - 4 ø Japan Iwakiyama M6 Japan Tōki 5 - 10 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 South Korea Kasugaō M7 Mongolia Kyokushūzan 10 - 5 - 0
8 - 5 - 2 ø Japan Tokitsuumi M8 Japan Takanotsuru 4 - 11 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Aminishiki M9 Japan Miyabiyama 9 - 6 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Mongolia Asasekiryū M10 Japan Buyūzan 7 - 8 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Hokutōriki M11 Japan Tamarikidō 8 - 7 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Kinkaiyama M12 Japan Akinoshima 6 - 9 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Kasuganishiki M13 ø Japan Takekaze 1 - 4 - 11
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Gojōrō M14 Japan Jūmonji 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Tochinohana M15 ø
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

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Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May

2003 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
13 - 2 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū Y ø United States Musashimaru 0 - 0 - 15
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Chiyotaikai O Japan Kaiō 11 - 4 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Musōyama O Japan Tochiazuma 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Japan Dejima 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi K Mongolia Kyokutenhō 10 - 5 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tochinonada M1 Japan Takamisakari 6 - 9 - 0
0 - 5 - 10 ø Japan Kotomitsuki M2 Japan Takanonami 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M3 Japan Tamanoshima 7 - 8 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Kaihō M4 Japan Kotonowaka 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Miyabiyama M5 Japan Hokutōriki 6 - 9 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 South Korea Kasugaō M6 ø Japan Takanowaka 0 - 2 - 13
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Tokitsuumi M7 Japan Aminishiki 11 - 4 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tamarikidō M8 Japan Gojōrō 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M9 Japan Iwakiyama 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Kotoryū M10 Japan Wakanoyama 6 - 9 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Tōki M11 Japan Shimotori 4 - 11 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Buyūzan M12 Japan Aogiyama 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Yōtsukasa M13 Mongolia Asasekiryū 8 - 7 - 0
0 - 11 - 4 ø Japan Takanotsuru M14 Japan Ōtsukasa 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Asanowaka M15 Japan Akinoshima 6 - 9 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

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Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 6 July – 20 July

2003 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
5 - 5 - 5 ø Mongolia Asashōryū Y ø United States Musashimaru 2 - 4 - 9
12 - 3 - 0 Japan Kaiō O Japan Chiyotaikai 11 - 4 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Musōyama O Japan Tochiazuma 7 - 8 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Mongolia Kyokutenhō 6 - 9 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Dejima K Japan Tochinonada 7 - 8 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Miyabiyama M1 ø Japan Aminishiki 2 - 12 - 1
4 - 11 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M2 ø Japan Kotonowaka 1 - 2 - 12
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Takanonami M3 Japan Takamisakari 9 - 6 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Tamanoshima M4 Japan Tōki 10 - 5 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Tosanoumi M5 Japan Kotoryū 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M6 Japan Buyūzan 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Tokitsuumi M7 Japan Hokutōriki 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Kaihō M8 Japan Tamarikidō 6 - 9 - 0
4 - 4 - 7 ø Japan Gojōrō M9 Mongolia Asasekiryū 10 - 5 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Iwakiyama M10 Japan Ōtsukasa 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Asanowaka M11 Japan Tochisakae 8 - 7 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Kasuganishiki M12 South Korea Kasugaō 4 - 11 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Kotomitsuki M13 Japan Wakanoyama 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Ushiomaru M14 Japan Aogiyama 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M15 Japan Kinkaiyama 9 - 6 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

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Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 September – 21 September

2003 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
13 - 2 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū Y ø United States Musashimaru 0 - 0 - 15
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Kaiō O Japan Chiyotaikai 11 - 4 - 0
1 - 5 - 9 Japan Musōyama O Japan Tochiazuma 10 - 5 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Japan Miyabiyama 4 - 11 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Tōki K Japan Tosanoumi 7 - 8 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Takamisakari M1 Japan Tochinonada 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Mongolia Kyokutenhō M2 Japan Hokutōriki 4 - 11 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Kotoryū M3 Japan Tokitsuumi 5 - 10 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Mongolia Asasekiryū M4 Japan Takanonami 7 - 8 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Iwakiyama M5 Japan Kasuganishiki 5 - 10 - 0
11 - 4 - 0 Japan Kotomitsuki M6 Japan Tochisakae 5 - 10 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Buyūzan M7 Japan Tamanoshima 9 - 6 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Mongolia Kyokushūzan M8 Japan Jūmonji 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kinkaiyama M9 Japan Aminishiki 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Dejima M10 Japan Kaihō 5 - 10 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kakizoe M11 Japan Tamarikidō 6 - 9 - 0
0 - 0 - 15 ø Japan Kotonowaka M12 Japan Shimotori 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Wakatoba M13 Japan Yōtsukasa 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Asanowaka M14 Japan Wakanoyama 7 - 8 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Ōtsukasa M15 Japan Ushiomaru 6 - 9 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

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Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November

2003 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result East Rank West Result
12 - 3 - 0 Mongolia Asashōryū Y ø United States Musashimaru 3 - 5 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Chiyotaikai O Japan Tochiazuma 13 - 2 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Kaiō O Japan Musōyama 9 - 6 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Wakanosato S Mongolia Kyokutenhō 4 - 11 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Takamisakari K Japan Iwakiyama 6 - 9 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Tochinonada M1 Japan Kotomitsuki 6 - 9 - 0
9 - 6 - 0 Japan Tōki M2 Japan Tosanoumi 10 - 5 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Aminishiki M3 Japan Tamanoshima 10 - 5 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Miyabiyama M4 Mongolia Asasekiryū 3 - 12 - 0
5 - 10 - 0 Japan Takanonami M5 Mongolia Kyokushūzan 8 - 7 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Kinkaiyama M6 Japan Tokitsuumi 8 - 7 - 0
10 - 5 - 0 Japan Hokutōriki M7 Japan Kotoryū 7 - 8 - 0
4 - 11 - 0 Japan Buyūzan M8 Japan Kakizoe 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Kasuganishiki M9 Japan Shimotori 8 - 7 - 0
8 - 7 - 0 Japan Jūmonji M10 Japan Tochisakae 7 - 8 - 0
7 - 8 - 0 Japan Wakatoba M11 Japan Takekaze 9 - 6 - 0
7 - 3 - 5 ø Japan Kotonowaka M12 Japan Takanowaka 7 - 8 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Tamakasuga M13 Japan Ōtsukasa 5 - 10 - 0
6 - 9 - 0 Japan Toyozakura M14 Japan Dejima 11 - 4 - 0
2 - 6 - 7 ø Japan Tamarikidō M15 Japan Yōtsukasa 9 - 6 - 0
ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

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January

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  • At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, Takanohana, winner of 22 tournament championships, announces his retirement from sumo after eight years as a yokozuna, after suffering three defeats in the first seven days.[1] He had suffered many injury problems and had only recently returned from a seven tournament layoff. His fellow yokozuna Musashimaru sits out the whole tournament after injuring his wrist in the previous tourney. Also missing are ozeki Kaio and Chiyotaikai, and Tochiazuma who drops out after five losses in a row. In their absence, ozeki Asashoryu wins his second successive makuuchi division championship, with a 14–1 record, and is promoted to yokozuna. He becomes the third foreigner, and first Mongolian, to reach sumo's highest rank. Komusubi Wakanosato, and maegashira Dejima and Tochinonada, are runners-up on 11–4. Wakanosato is awarded the Fighting Spirit prize along with Korean Kasugao. The juryo division championship is won by Asashoryu's stablemate Asasekiryu who defeats Buyuzan in a playoff.
  • Former komusubi Ryogoku inherits the toshiyori name of Sakaigawa from former yokozuna Sadanoyama, and changes the name of his stable from Nakadachi to Sakaigawa stable.

February

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March

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  • At the Haru basho in Osaka, Chiyotaikai returns from injury to win his third top division championship with a 12–3 record. Asashoryu scores 10–5 in his debut tournament as a yokozuna, enough for the runner-up position alongside Kaio and maegashira Kyokushuzan and Hokutoriki. Musashimaru and Tochiazuma sit the tournament out. Musoyama pulls out after five losses in the first six days. Kyokushuzan's stablemate Kyokutenho wins the Fighting Spirit prize, and Takamisakari the Technique Award. Tochisakae wins the juryo championship. Veteran former komusubi Daizen retires after 22 years in sumo, as does former juryo wrestler Susanoumi, the heaviest Japanese rikishi ever at some 240 kg.

May

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  • At the Natsu basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu takes his first championship as a yokozuna with a 13–2 record. Kaio is runner-up on 11–4, alongside maegashira Aminishiki who wins the Technique Prize. Chiyotaikai finishes on 10–5. Musōyama returns to preserve his ōzeki rank with an 8–7 record. He had been denied kosho seido status, with the Japan Sumo Association feeling that the system was being abused with Kaiō and Chiyotaikai both sitting out in January despite reportedly being fit enough to compete. Kyokushuzan wins the Outstanding Performance prize for his victory over Asashoryu, his first in six attempts. Kyokutenho receives the Fighting Spirit prize for the second tournament in a row, for his fine 10–5 score at komusubi, and is promoted to sekiwake for the first time. Tamakasuga wins the juryo championship and returns to the top division. Former sekiwake Akinoshima, who has been ranked continuously in makuuchi since July 1988 and is the last top division wrestler from the Shōwa era still active in sumo, retires at the age of 36 after a 6–9 score relegates him to juryo.
  • 31: The danpatsu-shiki or retirement ceremony of popular former sekiwake Terao is held at the Kokugikan.

June

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  • 1: Takanohana's retirement ceremony takes place at the Kokugikan. He performs the yokozuna dohyo-iri or ring entering ceremony for the last time, and his hair is cut by his uncle Wakanohana Kanji I, his brother Wakanohana Masaru, and finally his father Takanohana Kenshi. The event is broadcast live on Japanese television.

July

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  • At the Nagoya basho, Kaio wins his fourth top division championship with a 12–3 record after defeating fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai on the final day. Chiyotaikai finishes runner-up on 11–4. Musashimaru returns for the first time since November 2002 but drops out once again with a recurrence of his wrist problem. Asashoryu also withdraws through injury. He had been disqualified from a bout earlier in the tournament after pulling on the chonmage of Mongolian rival Kyokushuzan, the first yokozuna ever to suffer a disqualification.[2] The two wrestlers scuffle in the bathroom after the match, and Asashoryu also breaks the wing mirror of Kyokushuzan's car.[3] Takamisakari, who had defeated both yokozuna, receives his first Outstanding Performance awarded Tokitsuumi receives his third Technique Prize. The juryo division championship is won by Kakizoe.

September

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  • The Sumo Association chairman Kitanoumi holds a press conference and confirms the abolition of the kosho seido (public injury) system after the November 2003 tournament, and increasing the number of sekitori from January 2004 (42 from 40 in makuuchi and 28 from 26 in juryo). In the last year, 10 top division wrestlers and 11 juryo wrestlers received the status, the most ever, and the Sumo Association feels it was getting out of hand. In addition, Musōyama was refused kosho status after his injury in the March tournament was deemed to be an old shoulder injury, and yet still competed in May and got eight wins.
  • At the Aki basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu wins his second championship as a yokozuna, third of the year, and fourth overall, with a 13–2 record. He finishes two wins ahead on a trio of wrestlers on 11–4: Chiyotaikai, sekiwake Wakanosato and maegashira Iwakiyama. Kaio, who had been told a 15–0 score was necessary for yokozuna promotion, can only manage 7–8. Musashimaru sits the tournament out. Wakanosato receives the Outstanding performance Award while Iwakiyama wins the Technique prize and Kyokutenho and Takamisakari share the Fighting spirit prize. Takekaze wins the juryo championship.

November

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  • Former yokozuna Akebono announces he is leaving his oyakata position to become a K-1 fighter.
  • At the Kyushu basho, Musashimaru retires after his second attempted comeback ends in failure, losing four matches in the first seven days.[4] He is the last wrestler from Hawaii in sumo, a legacy that began with Takamiyama in 1964. Lower down the ranks, former maegashira Aogiyama and the American born Sentoryu also announce their retirements. Ozeki Tochiazuma wins the makuuchi championship, his second, with a score of 13–2. Asashoryu finishes in second place, one win behind, after losing to Tochiazuma on the final day. Veterans Tochinonada and Tosanoumi, with three wins over yokozuna between them in this basho, share the Outstanding Performance Prize. Tamanoshima wins the Fighting Spirit prize. In the juryo division Georgian Kokkai wins the championship with a fine 14–1 record and becomes the first Caucasian to be promoted to the top division. The makushita yusho is won by veteran Daimanazuru, with an unbeaten 7–0 score, who earns promotion to the sekitori ranks for the first time. Runner-up on 6–1 is the 18-year-old Mongolian Hakuho, who is also promoted to juryo.

December

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Deaths

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  • 28 April: Yamawake Oyakata, who as the former maegashira Tochifuji defeated Taiho in the yokozuna's final tournament in May 1971, dies aged 56.
  • 17 July: Maeda Yoritaka, an apprentice at the Kitanoumi stable, aged 15, of Cardiomyopathy. He is the only sumo wrestler to have died without taking ever taking part in an official tournament.
  • 17 December: Former komusubi Fujinishiki, also the former head of the Takasago stable, dies of liver disease aged 66. Asashoryu is criticised for not returning from Mongolia to attend his funeral.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Injured Takanohana retires from sumo". Japan Times Online. 21 January 2003. Archived from the original on 7 April 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  2. ^ "Asashoryu storms back at Nagoya basho". Japan Times. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 5 May 2009.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ McCurry, Justin (11 February 2004). "Big In Japan". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  4. ^ "Musashimaru retires". Japan Times. 16 November 2003. Retrieved 5 May 2009.[permanent dead link]