SPECIAL AWARDS
Technique award: Dejima
Fighting spirit award: Dejima, Tamakasuga
Outstanding performance award: Kaio
15th Day
Kaio defeated Tosanoumi, Musashimaru lost to Takanonami, and Akebono touched the ground
with his hand first when he and Takanohana were both falling out of the ring.
As a result, a 4-way playoff took place between those tied with a record of 12 wins 3 losses.
Takanohana and Kaio were the first on the ring. Kaio tried to shove the yokozuna out of the
ring but failed. Next, Akebono and Musashimaru clashed, and Akebono proved to be
superior. So finally, the 2 yokozuna faced each other for the spring tourney crown.
It was a short bout. Takanohana's thrust made Akebono fall right in the middle of the ring.
Takanohana clinched his 16th Emperor's Cup.
14th Day
Kaio showed power in his sumo against newcomer Dejima. He took hold of the kids belt and
threw him over to improve his record 11 to 3. Musashimaru faced Takanohana and it was the Hawaiian
who took control of the belt first. The two stood on the ring motionless until
Maru, with all the his might, dropped the yokozuna outside the ring. Meanwhile,
Akebono threw out ozeki Takanonami. The 2 Hawaiian born wrestlers are the leaders,
followed by Takanohana and Kaio. It's a very competitive tournament!
13th Day
For sure, Konishiki can stay in the makuuchi division. He won another bout by taking
Asahiyutaka easily out of the ring.
Chuo University alumni, Tamakasuga and Dejima faced each other for the first time.
The senior Tamakasuga won and Dejima suffered his 3rd loss. Kaio also marked his
3rd loss by losing to Asanoshoh who defeated the yokozuna the previous day.
Terao fell to the bottom of the ring during his bout against Kyokushuzan.
It was discovered later that day that he has actually broken a toe in his right foot.
He will not only miss rest of the tournament, but also the next Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
His makuuchi appearance streak which has continued for 18 years stopped this day.
The Hawaiian born high rankers clashed. Akebono quickly grasped
Musashimaru's belt. Ake tried to throw him. Maru lost his balance and was pushed out.
Musashimaru is down to 2 losses joining Akebono and Takanohana.
12th Day
Konishiki has clinched his 5th win that he needs to stay in the top division.
It doesn't mean he's completely safe yet, because depending on how well the top juryo
rankers perform he may have to give up his post to one of them.
The bout everyone's attention was focused on was between the top runners Kaio and Musashimaru.
But to the disappointment of fans, Maru won so easily. Also, Akebono's bout
was really upsetting. He took off by attacking Asanoshoh's throat, but suddenly started to pull back.
The yokozuna recorded his 2nd loss. Musashimaru leads the pack alone, followed by Kaio, Akebono, Takanohana
and newcomer Dejima.
11th Day
The great big Konishiki walked the 198cm. Daihisho out of the ring. So now the former ozeki
has 4 wins. New makuuchi wrestler Dejima is continuing to be doing well.
He threw the "Saltshaker" Mitoizumi to clinch his 9th win this tournament.
Ozeki Takanonami lost to quick moving Kotonishiki.
He is now 8 to 3.
The other ozeki and yokozuna have all won. So the top candidates for the
tourney have not changed.
10th Day
Konishiki took out Ganyu to mark his 3rd win.
He needs 2 more wins to stay in the makuuchi division.
Takanonami saved himself from being demoted from the status of ozeki by
marking a majority win this day against Musoyama.
Akebono's forehead was red and swollen from the previous day. But he showed power by
thrusting Terao out of the ring.
The other leaders Kaio and Musashimaru also won to stay on top of the pack with only one loss..
9th Day
The ozeki who is in danger of losing his title if he has a majority loss has been
beaten again. Takanonami is now 7 to 2. Musashimaru over powered Kyokushuzan.
The bout of the day was definitely Akebono vs Kaio. Akebono was about to take Kaio
out of the ring easily, but Kaio endured the push. Then Kaio was the one to take action.
He got hold of the yokozuna's belt and toppled him out of the ring and himself falling
on the ground. Akebono landed on his forehead and scraped it rather badly.
Akebono suffered his first loss and is tied for the lead with Kaio and Musashimaru.
8th Day
To everyone's dismay, Konishiki was pushed out by fellow Hawaiian born Yamato.
One of the most exciting bout of the day was between 20 year-old Tochiazuma and
the menacing Takatoriki. The youngster was at one point about to go over the ring.
But he was able to fight Takatoriki back and dropped him on the ground.
Another great bout was fought between Takanonami and Kaio. Kaio was more or less
swinging the gigantic ozeki all over the ring. In the end, Kaio pushed the ozeki
from behind to improve his record 7 to 1. Takanonami succumbed to his first loss
this tourney. Akebono had an easy defeat over Kyokushuzan. The Hawaiian born yokozuna is
the only one with 8 perfect wins, and the first to record a majority win or a kachikoshi.
7th Day
A second straight win for Konishiki! He was able to withstand the aggressive Asanowaka.
Kyokushuzan is having difficulty this tournament. He was again defeated this day.
This time by Kotoryu. The Mongolian wrestler has only one win and 6 losses.
A great upset occurred in the final bout! Takanohana was thrown out of the ring by the
strong armed Kaio. The yokozuna faced his 2nd loss while Kaio has only one loss
as of this day. Akebono and Takanonami remain on top with no loss.
6th Day
The 275 kilo guy was finally able to win his first bout this tourney.
Konishiki pushed Misugisato out.
Takatoriki is in great shape. He forced Kyokushuzan so easily out the ring.
Musashimaru was suprisingly helpless. Kotonishiki took the ozeki's belt and pushed him out.
It's Maru's first loss. Now Akebono and Takanonami are the only ones undefeated.
5th Day
Konishiki dropped to the ground again. He hasn't won a bout yet.
Kyokushuzan slapped Takanonami as they took off to fight. However, that didn't do anything
to the ozeki. Takanonami got hold of his opponent's mawashi or belt and carried him out of the ring.
Takanohana had an easy win over Kotonishiki, this time. Actually, Kotonishiki
lost balance and fell on his right knee.
Akebono, Musashimaru and Takanonami still have perfect wins.
4th Day
Wakanohana is out from this day. He has ripped a muscle in his right leg in the bout
against Kyokushuzan the previous day. It will take him 3 months to recover.
That means, he may have to miss the next tournament as well.
Waka's promotion to yokozuna has been shattered this time.
Focus now has shifted to his younger brother Takanohana.
However, as soon as he took off to fight his bout, Kotonowaka grapped the back of his head
and pulled him down. It was a quick defeat for Taka.
The two Hawaiians and Takanonami remain undefeated.
Konishiki showed great fighting spirit but went down on the ring.
Kyokushuzan lost to Kotonishiki.
3rd Day
Konishiki is back, after missing the first 2 days of this tourney.
He attacked Kitakachidoki with fervor.
But his legs wouldn't move smoothly enough that he fell down.
The fans were, at any rate, delighted to see Konishiki.
Konishiki said after the bout that he was happy to receive such big cheers.
The Mongolian gave Wakanohana a tough time. Wakanohana went behind Kyokushuzan at one point.
Waka would've easily won from that position, but he couldn't.
The powerful sumo went on for a while, and Waka finally was able to take Kyokushuzan
to the floor. The other ozeki and yokozuna won their bouts.
Michiyo's Note: By the way, in the juryo division, the 2 smallest high ranking sumo wrestlers
faced eachother. They are Tomonohana and Mainoumi.
They went to the same university and have had the chance to be in the school's sumo club
at the same time. Now, what happened in this bout was that Mainoumi carried
Tomonohana out of the ring. Who would have even imagined seeing the small guy picking
a sumo wrestler up.
It was in fact the first time he did it in the official tournament.
2nd Day
Cheers amounted as Kyokushuzan hopped onto the ring. He was matched up with the poker faced Akinoshima.
Kyokushuzan got behind Aki and took hold of his left leg. Aki was driven out of the ring
in that awkward position. Another exciting bout took place between Takanonami and Tochiazuma.
With legs entangled, they fell outside the ring. Although the gyoji or refree gave Tochiazuma
the bout, the judges ruled that they dropped at the same time, so another bout was
played between them. As a result, Takanonami threw Tochiazuma out the ring.
All ozeki and yokozuna ranking wrestlers have won their bouts.
By the way, former komusubi Naminohana officially announced his retirement this day.
1st Day
A new face in the makuuchi division this time is Dejima. He took to a great start
by taking fellow collegiate graduate wrestler Hamanoshima, out of the ring.
Popular wrestlers Kaio and Musoyama was matched up from the start.
Kaiyo overwhelmed his rival.
The spectators certainly enjoyed Tochiazuma's never-give-up attitude
even though he was pushed by Musashimaru rigorously near the edge of the ring.
Everyone gave him a big applause even though he lost as a result.
In the final bout of the day, new komusubi, Kyokushuzan, was set to
fight Takanohana. The Mongolian wrestler tried to trick the yokozuna in the beginning.
He couldn't put the yokozuna off balance. Taka thrusted Kyokushuzan to
win the bout.
Pre tourney highlights
Wakanohana gets to try out for the ultimate title of yokozuna this time.
The spotlight is definitely on Mongolian wrestler Kyokushuzan. He was been promoted
to komushubi, or the 4th highest titled ranking. Whereever he goes, the press follows.
Meanwhile, the popular Hawaiian born former ozeki, Konishiki
has been hospitalized since Mar. 4. He's been infected with a virus and
his fever soared to 40 degress celsius.
However, as maegashira number 10, he cannot miss the entire tournament, because
if he does, he will surely be demoted to the juryo division. For him, that would
mean retirement.