1998 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo in 1998.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, January 11 – January 25

1998 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
8	-	5	-	2	ø	Takanohana	Y		Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Takanonami	O		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Wakanohana	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Musōyama	S		Tochiazuma	11	-	4	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaiō	K		Kotonishiki	10	-	5	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Takatōriki	M1		Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Dejima	M2		Tochinonada	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tosanoumi	M3		Kotonowaka	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M4		Asahiyutaka	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Oginishiki	M5		Aogiyama	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Minatofuji	M6		Tamakasuga	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Shikishima	M7		Hamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotaikai	M8		Higonoumi	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Ganyū	M9		Akinoshū	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Mitoizumi	M10		Kitakachidoki	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotoryū	M11		Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Asanowaka	M12		Tochinowaka	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Wakanojō	M13		Terao	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Yamato	M14		Mainoumi	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asanosho	M15		Kyokutenhō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Gojōrō	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, March 8 – March 22

1998 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Akebono	Y	ø	Takanohana	1	-	4	-	10
8	-	7	-	0		Musashimaru	O		Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
14	-	1	-	0		Wakanohana	O	ø
2	-	4	-	9	ø	Tochiazuma	S		Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotonishiki	K		Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyotaikai	M1		Shikishima	3	-	12	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Dejima	M2		Akinoshima	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tochinonada	M3		Ganyū	3	-	12	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonowaka	M4		Takatōriki	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kotoryū	M5		Tochinowaka	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tosanoumi	M6		Wakanojō	5	-	10	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M7		Aogiyama	11	-	4	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Terao	M8		Oginishiki	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Minatofuji	M9		Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotoinazuma	M10		Mainoumi	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M11		Asanosho	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M12		Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kitakachidoki	M13		Gojōrō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Higonoumi	M14		Mitoizumi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Akinoshū	M15		Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Yamato	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Tokyo, May 10 – May 24

1998 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
10	-	5	-	0		Akebono	Y		Takanohana	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Wakanohana	O		Musashimaru	10	-	5	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Takanonami	O	ø
5	-	10	-	0		Musōyama	S		Kaiō	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyotaikai	K		Akinoshima	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tochinonada	M1		Aogiyama	3	-	12	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Kotonishiki	M2		Tosanoumi	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kotonowaka	M3		Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Minatofuji	M4		Tamakasuga	4	-	11	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Takatōriki	M5	ø	Tochiazuma	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0		Shikishima	M6		Asahiyutaka	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Gojōrō	M7		Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ganyū	M8		Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Higonoumi	M9		Wakanojō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Mitoizumi	M10		Kotoryū	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kitakachidoki	M11		Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Akinoshū	M12		Terao	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Asanowaka	M13		Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asanosho	M14		Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tōki	M15		Wakanosato	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, July 5 – July 19

1998 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
11	-	4	-	0		Akebono	Y		Takanohana	14	-	1	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Wakanohana	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Takanonami	O		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
3	-	4	-	8	ø	Akinoshima	S		Chiyotaikai	11	-	4	-	0
1	-	2	-	12	ø	Kotonishiki	K		Kaiō	7	-	8	-	0
2	-	9	-	4	ø	Oginishiki	M1		Takatōriki	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Musōyama	M2		Tochinonada	5	-	10	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Gojōrō	M3	ø	Shikishima	4	-	9	-	2
3	-	12	-	0		Tochinowaka	M4		Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Ganyū	M5		Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Hamanoshima	M6		Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	7	-	1	ø	Tosanoumi	M7		Wakanojō	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M8		Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Terao	M9		Kotonowaka	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Minatofuji	M10		Tamakasuga	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Wakanosato	M11		Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Asanosho	M12		Kotoinazuma	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Mitoizumi	M13		Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M14		Dewaarashi	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kinkaiyama	M15		Kyokutenhō	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asanowaka	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Tokyo, September 13 – September 27

1998 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Wakanohana	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Musashimaru	O		Takanonami	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotaikai	S		Takatōriki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Musōyama	K		Dejima	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaiō	M1		Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2		Minatofuji	3	-	12	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M3		Tamakasuga	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Aogiyama	M4		Wakanosato	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M5	ø	Akinoshima	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0		Tochinonada	M6		Kotoryū	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotonishiki	M7	ø	Shikishima	0	-	0	-	15
5	-	10	-	0		Mitoizumi	M8	ø	Oginishiki	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Tosanoumi	M9		Gojōrō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M10		Higonoumi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochinowaka	M11		Ganyū	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Hamanoshima	M12		Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Wakanojō	M13		Asanosho	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kotoinazuma	M14		Tokitsuumi	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tōki	M15		Akinoshū	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Terao	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Center, November 8 – November 22

1998 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
12	-	3	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Wakanohana	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Akebono	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Musashimaru	O		Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Chiyotaikai	S		Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Musōyama	K		Dejima	9	-	6	-	0
					ø		K		Kotonowaka	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tochiazuma	M1		Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Higonoumi	M2		Kaihō	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tochinowaka	M3		Ganyū	3	-	12	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tōki	M4		Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Hamanoshima	M5		Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	7	-	1	ø	Wakanosato	M6		Tochinonada	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Aogiyama	M7		Shikishima	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Wakanojō	M8		Oginishiki	6	-	9	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Tosanoumi	M9		Minatofuji	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M10		Asanosho	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoryū	M11		Terao	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M12		Kotonishiki	14	-	1	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M13		Gojōrō	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Akinoshū	M14		Mitoizumi	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Asanowaka	M15		Ōikari	5	-	10	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

January

At the Hatsu tournament in Tokyo, Ozeki Musashimaru wins his third top division championship or yusho, his first since November 1996, with a 12–3 record. He finishes one win ahead of sekiwake Tochiazuma who wins the Outstanding Performance Prize. The other sekiwake Musoyama gets the Fighting Spirit Award, and komusubi Kotonishiki receives his seventh Technique Prize. Yokozuna Takanohana loses three in a row from 8–1 and then withdraws. In the juryo division, Kinkaiyama wins the yusho in his first tournament in the division. Announcing their retirements are former maegashira Asahisato and former juryo Daiki, from Hawaii.

February

In the Japan Sumo Association board elections, Tokitsukaze Oyakata (former ozeki Yutakayama) becomes the new chairman or rijicho, replacing Sakaigawa (the former yokozuna Sadanoyama), who had held the post since 1992. The elections prove controversial for the Takasago ichimon, with Jinmaku (former yokozuna Kitanofuji) leaving the Association altogether after failing to receive enough support from his fellow directors, and the Takadagawa stable thrown out of the ichimon after its head coach (former ozeki Maenoyama) runs as an independent candidate.

March

In Osaka, ozeki Wakanohana wins his fourth yusho with a 14–1 score. He finishes one win ahead of yokozuna Akebono, who drops his first two bouts but then wins thirteen in a row. Takanohana drops out after five days with a liver disorder. Chiyotaikai wins the Technique prize and Kaio the Outstanding Performance award. The Fighting Spirit prize is shared between Tosanoumi and Aogiyama. The juryo championship is won by veteran Kushimaumi after a playoff with Toki.

May

The first day of a Tokyo tournament fails to sell out for the first time since 1970.
Wakanohana wins his second consecutive championship, and earns promotion to yokozuna, creating the first ever sibling grand champions. He defeats Musashimaru on the final day to finish on 12–3. Runners-up are Takanonami and Kotonishiki on 11–4. Musashimaru, Takanohana, and Akebono all score 10–5. There are six special prize winners: Akinoshima (Technique), Kotonishiki and Oginishiki (Outstanding Performance), Dejima and Wakanosato (Fighting Spirit). Dejima wins 10 bouts after being out for two tournaments. The juryo championship is won by Oikari after a three way playoff.

June

Sumo Canada Basho in Vancouver.^[1]

July

In Nagoya, Takanohana returns from illness to win his 19th championship with a 14–1 score. Musashimaru is runner-up, two wins behind. New sekiwake Chiyotaikai wins eleven and the Technique Prize. Kotonowaka also wins eleven and gets the Fighting Spirit Award. Dejima defeats two yokozuna and wins the Outstanding Performance prize. Wakanohana finishes on 10–5 in his debut yokozuna tournament. In the juryo division, two former makuuchi veterans, maegashira Oginohana and komusubi Misugisato, retire after winning only one and three bouts respectively. The championship is won by Akinoshu, his first yusho after 14 years in sumo.

September

Takanohana becomes only the fourth man, after Taiho, Kitanoumi, and Chiyonofuji, to reach twenty top division championships. He finishes on 13–2, one win ahead of his brother. Kotonowaka wins the Outstanding Performance prize, and Chiyotaikai the Technique Award. Chiyotenzan wins the juryo championship. Former maegashira Yamato from Hawaii, now in makushita, and former komusubi Tomoefuji, who has fallen to sandanme, announce their retirements.

November

Kotonishiki becomes the first wrestler ever to win two championships as a maegashira after winning in Kyushu with a 14–1 score, seven years after his first yusho in September 1991. He finishes two wins ahead of Takanohana and Tosanoumi, and is awarded Technique and Outstanding Performance prizes. Tochiazuma shares the Technique Prize, and Tosanoumi gets the Fighting Spirit award. Wakanohana can score only 9–6, and Akebono sits the tournament out through injury. The juryo yusho goes to former amateur champion Miyabiyama. Kushimaumi retires, having fallen into the makushita division.

Deaths

10 March: Former komusubi Kenko, aged 30, of leukemia.
26 September: Former maegashira Toyonishiki, first Japanese American to reach makuuchi, aged 78.
4 November: Former sekiwake Maedagawa, aged 61.