Posted on 01/28/2018 3:37:36 PM PST by RitchieAprile
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A day after clinching his first championship, Tochinoshin finished the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday by dispatching fan-favorite Endo and finishing with a 14-1 record.
Tochinoshin, a third-ranked maegashira, survived a scare when he was pushed towards the edge, but he pulled himself together to force Endo (9-6) out at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. For his achievements, the Kasugano stable's new hero received his first Outstanding Performance prize and his second Technique prize, his first since the May meet in 2016. The 30-year-old became the first wrestler to win two prizes in a single meet since the 2015 Autumn tourney. "I clinched the championship yesterday, but wanted to finish the basho with a win so I'm glad," Tochinoshin said. "It's been 12 years since I entered the sport, but I never thought I could win a championship." Tochinoshin's sole loss came on Day 7 against grand champion Kakuryu, who threw ozeki Goeido (8-7) to snap a four-match losing streak and finish at 11-4. Kakuryu, whose career was clouded by injuries last year, was able to complete a meet for the first time since March. He was the only grand champion remaining in the tournament after Hakuho and Kisenosato pulled out due to injury. The final day of the elite makuuchi division opened with an apology by Japan Sumo Association chairman Hakkaku over the scandals that have rocked the ancient sport, including an assault that led to the retirement of grand champion Harumafuji in November. "We apologize to the sumo fans for worrying them since the end of last year," said Hakkaku. "The JSA will make a serious effort to prevent these incidents from happening again." The chairman had been criticized for failing to include an apology in his greeting to fans on the tournament's first day. No. 16 Ryuden and No. 14 Abi each earned a Fighting Spirit prize for finishing 10-5 in his top-tier debut, although Ryuden lost to No. 9 Chiyomaru (9-6) on the final day. After a "matta" false start by No. 9 Shohozan (9-6), the 23-year-old Abi showed his confidence against the 33-year-old former komusubi. Abi shoved his opponent toward the edge, and as Shohozan turned around, the Shikoroyama stable wrestler gave him a final push. "I was really nervous before the matta, but I was able to calm down because of it," Abi said. "Everything went so well to the point of it getting scary." Ozeki Takayasu won his bout against sekiwake Mitakeumi (8-7) and completed the basho with a 12-3 record, his best since he first wrestled at sumo's second-highest rank in July.
I was in Japan for the heady days of Akebono, and Konishiki. The foreign invasion. At one time, the top three were Samoan. The Japanese were quite graceful about it.
One of my favorites was Chiyonofuji!
Surprised to see the Tokyo news story did not mention that Tochinoshin is a foreigner, from the country of Georgia.
I was pleased to see he won because he's a hard worker. My wife says his Japanese is surprisingly good, and he also is very respectful on the dohyō.
At least in Japan a Georgia Dawg can win it all. Go Dawgs!
Yeah, Tochinoshin is the first “real” white guy to go at it. Kotoohshu and Baruto were both good, but Tochinoshin has a shot at Yokozuna.
He’s definitely getting Sekiwake. He just needs to watch that knee of his. He was Komusubi before and lost it after that injury.
Tochinoshin is going to finish what Kotooshu started, and I think it will help the sport transition from the Hakuho era. Omedetou!
At one time we could see this sport in America. It’s very hard to find now.
Yaocho adds soooo much to the sport..!
I wonder who the Yamaguchi-gumi has pre-selected as next year’s champion, right..?!
Can’t wait..!
NHK Online provides a 30 minute summary of the makuuchi bouts each day of the basho as part of its schedule.
My cable provider has Grand Sumo Highlights on NHK World.
When PBS used to carry NHK’s Japan Today broadcast, I used to be able to follow Sumo. Now, not so much.
Ship was in Yokosuka in the 70s. Got a chance to watch Takamiyama in two different tournaments. My favorite was Takanohana. Watched him defeat both Akebono and Musashimaru in tournaments that were shown on TV.
There’s a boatload on YouTube.
When I taught English in Imabari in ‘97, I had two stuffed animals, an octopus we called Takobono and a shark we called Musamemaru. I was also at Yokosuka in the late 60s, but I was a brat, Dad worked at 69 Shop as an electronics tech.
For the first time, I followed a Sumo Tournament from beginning to end, I was really into it when I lived in Hawaii. I totally got into it.
Hakuho wins record 41st title
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/09/22/sumo/basho-reports/hakuho-wins-record-41st-title/#.W6fdiRM3lE4
Hakuho went 15-0. He is the “Alabama” of Sumo.
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