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	Akebono	Y		Musashimaru	14	-	1	-	0
14	-	1	-	0		Takanohana*	Y	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Kaiō	O	ø	Chiyotaikai	2	-	2	-	11
7	-	8	-	0		Dejima	O		Miyabiyama	8	-	7	-	0
					ø		O		Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Wakanosato	S		Kotomitsuki	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Takanowaka	K		Tochinonada	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takanonami	M1		Tochisakae	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2	ø	Hayateumi	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0		Wakanoyama	M3		Kaihō	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Akinoshima	M4		Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tosanoumi	M5		Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Tochinohana	M6		Chiyotenzan	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Higonoumi	M7		Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M8	ø	Tōki	0	-	0	-	15
6	-	9	-	0		Hamanoshima	M9		Tokitsuumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M10	ø	Oginishiki	0	-	3	-	13
6	-	9	-	0		Kinkaiyama	M11		Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takatōriki	M12		Asashōryū	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M13		Tamarikidō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asanowaka	M14		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		Takanohana	Y		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Kaiō	O		Musōyama	12	-	3	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Miyabiyama	O		Dejima	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Chiyotaikai	O	ø
6	-	9	-	0		Wakanosato	S		Tochinonada	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tochiazuma	K		Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M1	ø	Kotoryū	1	-	6	-	8
7	-	8	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M2		Hayateumi	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takanonami	M3		Kotomitsuki	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M4		Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Akinoshima	M5	ø	Kyokushūzan	1	-	12	-	2
9	-	6	-	0		Asashōryū	M6		Kotonowaka	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tamakasuga	M7		Tochisakae	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tosanoumi	M8		Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M9		Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Tamanoshima	M10		Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Hamanoshima	M11		Tochinohana	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M12		Terao	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	5	-	7	ø	Kinkaiyama	M13		Jūmonji	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Minatofuji	M14		Daishi	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		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		Takanohana*	Y		Musashimaru	13	-	2	-	0
4	-	5	-	6	ø	Kaiō	O		Musōyama	12	-	3	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Dejima	O		Miyabiyama	9	-	6	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O	ø
4	-	11	-	0		Tochinonada	S		Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotomitsuki	K		Asashōryū	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Wakanosato	M1		Takanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	6	-	7	ø	Wakanoyama	M2		Chiyotenzan	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tamanoshima	M3		Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tamakasuga	M4		Hayateumi	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tochisakae	M5		Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kaihō	M6		Tokitsuumi	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Jūmonji	M7		Kyokutenhō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M8		Kotonowaka	9	-	6	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Terao	M9		Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Kotoryū	M10		Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Higonoumi	M11		Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Wakatsutomu	M12		Hamanishiki	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Tōki	M13		Tochinohana	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Daizen	M14		Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		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	Takanohana	Y		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
11	-	4	-	0	ø	Chiyotaikai	O		Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Miyabiyama	O	ø	Dejima	3	-	3	-	9
13	-	2	-	0		Kaiō	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Tochiazuma	S		Kotomitsuki	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Asashōryū	K		Wakanosato	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Hayateumi	M1		Takanonami	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2		Higonoumi	3	-	12	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tochinonada	M3		Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	M4		Ōtsukasa	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M5		Takanowaka	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Akinoshima	M6	ø	Tochisakae	4	-	5	-	6
8	-	7	-	0		Tamakasuga	M7		Tamanoshima	12	-	3	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tochinohana	M8		Chiyotenzan	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Jūmonji	M9		Kitazakura	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoryū	M10		Kaihō	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M11		Daizen	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Wakanoyama	M12		Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Asanowaka	M13		Tokitsuumi	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Wakatsutomu	M14		Oginishiki	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		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		Musashimaru	Y	ø	Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	4	-	11	ø	Kaiō	O	ø	Chiyotaikai	4	-	5	-	6
10	-	5	-	0		Musōyama	O	ø	Miyabiyama	3	-	7	-	5
12	-	3	-	0		Tochiazuma	S		Dejima	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Wakanosato	K		Tamanoshima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kotonowaka	M1		Asashōryū	10	-	5	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Kotomitsuki	M2		Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	M3		Tamakasuga	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kaihō	M4		Tokitsuumi	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Takanonami	M5		Tochinonada	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M6		Tōki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Hayateumi	M7		Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M8		Daizen	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Higonoumi	M9		Ōtsukasa	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	4	-	11	ø	Tochinohana	M10		Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M11		Akinoshima	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Wakanoyama	M12	ø	Tochisakae	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0		Kitazakura	M13		Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takatōriki	M14		Hamanishiki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Daishi	M15		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		Musashimaru	Y	ø	Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0		Musōyama	O	ø	Chiyotaikai	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0		Kaiō	O	ø
12	-	3	-	0		Tochiazuma	S		Kotomitsuki	9	-	6	-	0
					ø		S	ø	Miyabiyama	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0		Asashōryū	K		Kaihō	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Wakanosato	M1		Tamanoshima	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takanowaka	M2		Tosanoumi	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M3		Dejima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kotonowaka	M4		Tochinonada	7	-	8	-	0
1	-	1	-	13	ø	Kotoryū	M5		Kyokutenhō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Daizen	M6		Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tamakasuga	M7		Tōki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Oginishiki	M8		Chiyotenzan	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M9		Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Takanonami	M10	ø	Hayateumi	8	-	2	-	5
8	-	7	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M11		Kitazakura	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Hamanishiki	M12		Tochisakae	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Aogiyama	M13	ø	Higonoumi	4	-	8	-	3
8	-	7	-	0		Kōbō	M14		Aminishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tamarikidō	M15		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+1⁄2 in), due to a shortage of applicants. 13 tryouts are accepted.

March

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

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.

References

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

[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.

[tochi-4] "Tochiazuma promoted to ozeki". Japan Times. 29 November 2001. Retrieved 12 October 2017.

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