Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with November 2021 Basho and Index to all Videos and Photos (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
Links to selected Basho (Tournament) Blog Posts--March 2020--Present
NOTE: CHRIS SUMO YOUTUBE HAS ORGANIZED ALL OF HIS VIDEOS FOR THIS BASHO INTO A PLAYLIST:
JANUARY 2022 SUMO: THE FULL 15! (23 VIDEOS, ALMOST ALL LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. REQUIRED VIEWING FOR NEW (AND NOT SO NEW) SUMO FANS.
THE PLAYLIST IS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND INCLUDES HIS DAILY REPORTS AND BEST LOWER DIVISION BOUTS REPORTS.
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January 2022 (Hatsu) Basho (Tournament)
Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with November 2021 Basho and Index to all Videos and Photos (Scroll to the bottom of the page)
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Match Videos: (For a full index, see below, under the summary)
Selected Chris Sumo Youtube Post Tournament Videos
Post Tournament videos will be added as they become available.
All NHK Video Highlights from one link (available through February 6). Note: Full match videos may be available at other Youtube sites. They are bootleg videos that are copyright violations. I will not link to them, but a simple Youtube query will allow you to find them.
Daily Japan Sumo Association Youtube Videos (no commentary): see below under Index
Post Tournament:
Japan Sumo Association
Mitakeumi Ozeki Promotion Ceremony (Japanese)
Chris Sumo Youtube
January 26: Mitakeumi's Ozeki Promotion
More will be added as they become available
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The January 2022 Basho Banzuke featured 649 Rikishi (wrestlers) in 6 Divisions. There were 2,272 results. (Source: Ichimon results listing at Sumo Forum--see below).
Notable:
Mitakeumi (S1e) (13-2) won the Yusho (Japan Sumo Association Youtube) by beating Yokozuna Terunofuji (11-4) by Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out) in a 7 second match that he dominated almost from the start. It was the last match of a wild day in which there could have been a three way playoff had the Yokozuna won. Earlier, Abi (M6w) (12-3) had beaten (JSA Youtube) Kotonowaka (M14e) (11-4) by Hikiotoshi (Hand Pull Down) in one of (if not the most) exciting matches of the entire Basho. It was a 15.7 second wild, back and forth, both men surviving at the edge struggle. That knocked Kotonowaka out of contention. Abi had to then wait through 10 matches before the finale.
All credit is due to Mitakeumi, for the entire Basho and this match, but there was speculation as to whether Teru might have injured one of his knees during a loss (JSA Youtbe) to Meisei (K1e) by Katasukashi (Under Shoulder Swing Down) on Day 12. He won on Day 13 but looked like the injury had taken a toll when he gingerly walked off the Dohyo (Ring) after. And he looked like the knee was bothering him again after the final match.
However, even if the Yokozuna had been 100 percent fit, he would have still had his hands full against the winner. Mitakeumi has been criticized in the past for petering out at the end of Basho, for possible lack of concentration at times, and for failure to fulfill what seemed limitless expectations. Whatever credence those criticisms may have had, he "put them to bed" in this Basho. Bolting out of the blocks with 9 consecutive wins (6 by Oshidashi--Frontal Push out, and 3 by Yorikiri--Frontal Force out), he was like a runaway train, unstoppable and blowing out of the way anything that came into his path. It was a relentless journey and one that constantly challenged his powers of concentration (according to his own quotes). But he never lagged, and when it was over, he won not only his 3rd Top Division Yusho (all as a Sekiwake, third highest rank, an unprecedented feat), but also his third Technique Prize (Gino-sho), proving that a Rikishi doesn't have to have a toolbox full of finishing moves when only a few, executed to perfection, are needed to accommodate his style of Sumo. His final win was also his 33rd over the last three Basho, paving the way to promotion to Ozeki, the 2nd highest Rank in the sport. Only Ozeki can be promoted to Yokozuna. And, to top it off, he became the first Rikishi from Nagano Prefecture to reach Ozeki Rank since the legendary Raiden, "peerless Rikishi" and only non-Yokozuna who's name is inscribed on the Yokozuna Stone, who won an astounding 96% of his matches. Raiden was promoted to Ozeki in 1795 (yes that is 1795, 6 years after the French Revolution).
Terunofuji had a very good Basho but faded at the end and missed a chance to become the first Yokozuna to win his first 3 Basho as a Yokozuna since 32nd Yokozuna Taminishiki in 1919. He won his first 5 matches and 10 of his first 11, before losing 3 of his last 4. He won his 11 matches with 6 different Kimarite (finishing moves), 5 of which came in the first 7 Days. 5 of his last 6 wins came via Yorikiri. The sting of not winning the Yusho may have been alleviated somewhat by the 288 Kensho envelopes (sponsors' winning match prizes--about the equivalent of 630 US dollars per envelope) he won over the course of the Basho. That was 99 more envelopes than Mitakeumi, although the Basho Champion did take 55 envelopes away from the Yokozuna in the final Match.
Mitakeumi now joins Takakeisho and Shodai at the rank of Ozeki. In this time of transition, when the two Yokozuna have retired in the last year, when the sport has lost arguably the greatest practitioner in its centuries long history (Hakuho), the presence of a crop of strong Ozeki is of great importance. Terunofuji rocketed up the Banzuke (Ranking Tables) and quickly reached Yokozuna. But the other three Ozeki in the last 2 years (Asanoyama has been suspended and when he returns will have to fight his way back from 3rd Division [Makushita--non salaried], have flattered to deceive. All three of them have been Kadoban (a losing tournament record which, if followed by another, means demotion from Ozeki), and frankly, disappointing. Takakeisho pulled out of this Basho early with an ankle injury and Shodai finished with an embarrassing 6-9 record. The sport, it seems, is slightly diminished with only one Yokozuna. Perhaps Mitakeumi will succeed as the other three have so far failed.
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Yusho Race (links are to each Rikishi's match by match performance--source: Sumo Reference) Record listed is the sum of the opponents record at the end of each bout--top 4 contenders only
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Day 15 Contenders
Mitakeumi (S1e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 13 (62-58)
Abi (M6w) 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 12 (67-53)
Terunofuji (Y1e) 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 11 11 (60-60)
Kotonowaka (M14e)1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 11 11 (68-52)
Other 10+wins
Hoshoryu (M6e) 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11
Ishiura (M12e) 1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Onosho (M5e) 1 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 10 10
Summary: of Mitakeumi's Tournament, Day by Day
Day links to video of each match (Source for Videos 1-3,5: Chris Sumo Youtube--direct link to the bout; 4, 6-15: Japanese Sumo Association Youtube)
Key: Day; Time of match (seconds); Rank; Winner; Record; Kimarite; (Finishing Move); Rank; Loser; Record
Day 1: 03.2s S1e Mitakeumi (1-0) oshidashi M2e Ura (0-1
Day 2: 07.6s S1e Mitakeumi (2-0) oshidashi M2w Ichinojo (1-1)
Day 3: 15.0s S1e Mitakeumi (3-0) yorikiri M1e Wakatakakage (0-3)
Day 4: 02.4s S1e Mitakeumi (4-0) oshidashi K1e Meisei (2-2)
Day 5: 06.3s S1e Mitakeumi (5-0) oshidashi M1w Kiribayama (1-4)
Day 6: 02.3s S1e Mitakeumi (6-0) oshidashi M3w Endo (2-4)
Day 7: 05.1s S1e Mitakeumi (7-0) yorikiri M3e Tamawashi (5-2)
Day 8: 09.7s S1e Mitakeumi (8-0) oshidashi K1w Daieisho (3-5)
Day 9: 02.3s S1e Mitakeumi (9-0) yorikiri M4e Okinoumi (2-7)
Day 10: 03.8s M4w Hokutofuji (4-6) oshidashi S1e Mitakeumi (9-1)
Day 11: 21.1s S1e Mitakeumi (10-1) yorikiri O1w Shodai (4-7)
Day 12: 02.3s M5e Onosho (8-4) hikiotoshi S1e Mitakeumi (10-2)
Day 13: 05.7s S1e Mitakeumi (11-2) oshidashi M6w Abi (10-3)
Day 14: 06.4s S1e Mitakeumi (12-2) okuridashi M7w Takarafuji (9-5)
Day 15: 07.0s S1e Mitakeumi (13-2) yorikiri Y1e Terunofuji (11-4)
FULL MAKUUCHI (TOP DIVISION) BANZUKE (RECORD BY RANK) (Source: Sumo Reference) See legend at the bottom of the link for key to abbreviations.
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MITAKEUMI (S1E)--WINNER OF JANUARY 2022 BASHO
Kimarite (Finishing Move) Summary (total in Basho)
Source: Sumo Reference Bout Query
Winning:
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)................7(76)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)................5(73)
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)..................1(12)
Losing:
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)................1(76)
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi).................1(14)
Winning:
Out 13, Down 0
Frontal 12, Rear 1
Push 8, Force 5
Losing
Out 1, Down 1
Frontal 1
Push 1, Pull 1
Hand 1
TERUNOFUJI (Y1e)--WINNER OF NOVEMBER 2021 BASHO
Kimarite (Finishing Move) Summary (total in Basho)
Source: Sumo Reference Bout Query
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi)................3(71)
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri)................3(70)
Arm Barring Force Out (Kimedashi)...........2(2)
Hooking Inner Thigh Throw (Kakenage)........1(3)
Over Thigh Scooping Body Drop (Komatasukui).1(1)
Arm Lock Throw (Kotenage)...................1(2)
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)..............1(6)
Beltless Arm Throw (Sukuinage)..............1(2)
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)..................1(8)
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)..............1(7)
Out 9; Down 6
Frontal 8; Barring 2; Hooking Inner 1; Scooping Body 1
Force 5; Push 4; Throw 4; Crush 1; Drop 1
Over 2
Arm 5; Thigh 2
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Match Time
Mitakeumi--January Basho
Total Time: 1 minutes, 40.2 seconds (100.2)
Longest: 21.1 s (v Shodai, Day 11)
Shortest: 2.3 s (v Endo, Day 6; Okinoumi, Day 9; Onosho, Day 12)
Average 6.7 s
Median: 5.7 s
Mitakeumi Time (seconds/#)
0-4.9.......6
5-9.9.......7
10-19.9.....1
20-29.9.....1
Terunofuji Match Time--November Basho
Total Time: 3 minutes, 54.1 seconds (231.4)
Longest: 38.7 s (v Ichinojo, Day 11)
Shortest: 3.4 s (v Endo, Day 8)
Average: 15.4 s
Median: 11.7 s
Terunofuji Time (seconds/#)
0-4.9.......2
5-9.9.......4
10-19.9.....4
20-29.9.....4
30-39.9.....1
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Special Prizes: Source: Sumo Reference Sansho page
Gino-Sho (Technique Prize): Mitakeumi (S1w) (his 3rd)
Shukun-Sho (Outstanding Performance Prize): Abi (M6w) (his 1st)
Kanto-Sho (Fighting Spirit Prize): Kotonawaka (M14e) (his 2nd)
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Other Championships: Source for Banzuke (Record by Ranking Chart) is Sumo Reference. See legend at the bottom of each link for more information.
Division 2 (Juryo--salaried): KOTOSHOHO (J2w) (Playoff)
Kotoshoho (11-4) defeated Yago (J14w) (11-4) by Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out)
Direct link to full match video (Japan Sumo Association, no commentary)
Kotoshoho is on the left.
Another view: (Chris Sumo Youtube)
Both leaders lost on Day 15 to set up the playoff. The winner will be promoted to Makuuchi (Top Division), which he last participated in one year ago. This was his 2nd Juryo Yusho.
Quotable: "I was too tense against Nishikifugi (J9e--10-5) (a lost chance at the Yusho previously) But against Yaho I focused on the charge and earnestly drove forward." (Chris Sumo Youtube)
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MAKUSHITA--DIVISION 3: NISHIKAWA (M35e) (7-0)
Nishikawa defeated Ryuden (Ms5e) (6-1) by Hikiotoshi (Hand Pull Down).
Direct link to full match video (Chris Sumo Youtube)
Full match video from another angle (OneLoveLulit Twitter)
Ryuden has a top knot.
Ryuden earned Juryo (2nd Division--salaried) promotion even though he lost this Yusho match. His rank was high enough (barely) to get the promotion on his record alone. He is a long time ex-Makuuchi (Top Division) Rikishi and one time Komusubi (one of the Top Ranks) who is making his way back up after Covid restriction violations caused a 6 month suspension and demotion to M47w). This was Ryuden's only loss in two Makushita Basho.
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SANDANME-DIVISION 4: MUKAINAKANO (Sd81w) (Playoff)
Mukainakano (7-0) defeated Osani (Sd19e) (7-0) by Yorikiri (Frontal Force Out)
Direct link to full match video (Chris Sumo Youtube)
Quotable: "I get nervous easily, particularly in front of a big crowd. And so narrowed things down to one strategy and went for the blast out. I now want to push my way to Division 2 this year."
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JONIDAN--DIVISION 5: ASAHANSHIN (Jd27w) (7-0)
Asahanshin defeated Kawamura (Jd69w) (6-1) by Okuritaoshi (Rear Push Down)
Direct link to full match video (Chris Sumo Youtube)
Another view (Zeal Twitter)
Quotable: "It was good I could track his movement so well. True, my legs got slightly tangled at the end, but my spirit got me through. It was like opening night nerves, but I vowed to go on the attack come what may."
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JONOKUCHI--DIVISION 6 : NAKASHIMA (Jk16w) (7-0)
Nakashima defeated Nishikimaru (Jk4w) (5-2) by Oshidashi (Frontal Push Out)
Full match video (Tachiai.org)
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Sekitori Leader Board Day by Day (Division 1--Makuuchi and 2--Juryo) (Sumo Forum)
Lower Division Leader Board (Beginning with Bout 3) (Division 3--Makushita, 4--Sandamne, 5--Jonidan, and 6--Jonokuchi) (Sumo Forum)
Stable Report (Sumo Forum--January Basho)
Stable Report (Sumo Forum--Cumulative for March 2021 to January 2022 by winning percentage)
Stable Report (Sumo Forum--Cumulative 2021 by Kachi-koshi (winning record percentage) (appears to be the same table posted after the NOvember 2021 Basho)
Stable (Beya) Guide (Japanese Sumo Association [in English])
Cumulative Basho Ichimon Statistics: (for component stables of each Ichimon as of August 2021, see Wikipedia listing, and sort by Ichimon). There are, at present (August 2021) 42 stables. There are 5 Ichimon. Ichimon "tend to cooperate closely on inter-stable training and the occasional transfer of personnel." (Wikipedia Sumo Glossary of terms)
Kensho Report (Sumo Forum--Day by Day)
Kensho refers to the envelopes that winning Rikishi receive after selected bouts. There is money in the envelopes (representing approximately 60,000 yen [about 550 US dollars]--note: these figures may be out of date), although there is only about half that amount of money in the envelopes. The money is put up by corporate sponsors, whose banners are paraded around the Dohyo (ring) before the match. The winner gets all the envelopes, but not all the money (Sumo Association gets some, etc.). For a more complete explanation see the Introductory Post. The higher ranked the Rikishi, for the most part, the more prize money that is put up.
Terunofuji (Y1e) (11-4) finished with the most envelopes, 288, for an average of 26.2 envelopes per win.
Mitakeumi (S1e) (13-2) finished 2nd with 187 (including the 55 he earned by beating Terunofuji on Day 15), for an average of 14.4.
Abi (M6w) (12-3) finished 3rd with 93, for an average of 7.7.
Kotonowaka (M14e) (11-4), the fourth contender on Day 15, finished with 52 envelopes, for an average of 4.7. Abi took the 12 envelopes in their elimination match on Day 15. Kotonowaka finished 7th.
Kimarite (Finishing Move) Statistics for all Divisions (Sumo Forum--Forthcoming)
Kimarite (Finishing Moves) Statistics for all Divisions (Sumo Reference)
To sort by Division, modify the query and check the Division(s) you are interested in. For Individual results, click on "expand). Note that each Kirmarite is counted twice, once for the winner and once for the loser. Simply divide all cumulative totals by 2.
It isn't as elegant as the Sumo Forum source, but is workable.
13 finishing moves were used only once in the Tournament (11 winning and 2 non-winning (losing). One of those occurred in Makuuchi (Top Division). Ishiura used a Susoharai (Rear Foot Sweep) on Day 7.
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Number of winning Finishing Moves as a percent of all winning finishing moves (November Basho--10 wins or more)
Day 15 Contenders
Mitakeumi (S1e): 13-2
Winning: 3 of 13 (.231): Oshidashi 7; Yorikiri 5; Okuridashi 1
Losing: 2: Oshidashi 1; Hikiotoshi 1
Abi (M6w): 12-3
Winning: 5 of 12 (.416): Oshidashi 6; Hatakikomi 2; Hikiotoshi 2; Uwatenage 1; Tsukidashi 1
Losing: 3: Tsukiotoshi 1; Yorikiri 1; Oshidashi 1
Terunofuji (Y1e): 11-4
Winning: 6 of 11 (.546): Hatakikomi 1; Kotenage 1; Uwatenage 2; Tsukitaoshi 1; Yorikiri 5; Shitatenage 1
Losing: 4: Tsukiotoshi 1; Katasukashi 1; Oshidashi 1; Yorikiri 1
Kotonowaka (M14e): 11-4
Winning: 7 of 11 (.636): Hikiotoshi 1; Hatakikomi 1; Yoritaoshi 1; Oshitaoshi 1; Katasukashi 1; Oshidashi 4; Uwatenage 2
Losing: 4: Yorikiri 2; Shitatenage 1; Hikiotoshi 1
Other 10+ Winners
Hoshoryu (M6e) 11-4
Ishiura (M11e) 11-4
Winning: 6 of 11 (.545): Yorikiri 3; Shitatenage 2; Oshidashi 2; Susoharai 1; Shitatehineri 2; Hikiotoshi 1
Losing 4: Oshidashi 1; Hatakikomi 2; Tsukidashi 1
Onosho (M5e) 10-5
Winning: 7 of 10 (.700): Hatakikomi 1; Hikiotoshi 2; Oshidashi 3; Yoritaoshi 1; Tsukiotoshi 1; Okuritaoshi 1; Kubinage 1
Losing 5: Tsukiotoshi 1; Yoritaoshi 1; Oshidashi ; Yorikiri; Katasukashi 1
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Finishing Moves (291 TOTAL--there were four Fusen--Forfeit) Note: finishing move links below link to short NHK videos demonstrating the technique.
Key: Finishing Move: #(January 2022--29, 27 winning and 2 non-winning; (losing); #November 2021--30, plus 1 Fusen and 1 Hansuko (disqualification)
Source: Sumo Reference Bout Queries (divide by 2):
Frontal Push Out (Oshidashi).................76--71
Frontal Force Out (Yorikiri).................73--70
Slap Down (Hatakikomi).......................18--29
Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi)....................15--22
Hand Pull Down (Hikiotoshi)..................14--14
Rear Push Out (Okuridashi)...................12--11
Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage)...................12---8
Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi)...............11---7
Frontal Push Down (Oshitaoshi)................9---6
Frontal Thrust Out (Tsukidashi)...............9--18
Under Arm Throw (Shitatenage).................7---5
Under Shoulder Swing Down (Katasukashi).......6---5
Pulling Over Arm Throw (Uwatedashinage).......5---5