Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with January 2022 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:
MARCH SUMO: ON LOCATION! (13 VIDEOS, ALMOST ALL LESS THAN 10 MINUTES).
The Playlist videos cover each Day from Day 3-15, in chronological order. All major Top Division and numerous lower division bouts are analyzed.
NOTE: TABLES RESOLVE BEST IN LANDSCAPE VIEW ON A MOBILE PHONE
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March 2022 (Haru) Basho
Summary; Cumulative Statistics; Selected Comparisons with January 2022 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 April 10). 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
PLAY OFF (Yusho=Playoff Winner and Tournament Champion; JUN-YUSHO (2ND PLACE)
Wakatakakage (S1e) (12-3--YUSHO) v Takayasu (M7e) (12-3--JUN-YUSHO) (Match Video) Wakatakakage is on the left.
Wakatakakage Post Match: Includes the full match, from a closer angle, the Champion receiving the Emperor's Cup, (about 29 Kg--about 64 pounds), and an interview with the Champion (Japanese)
Quotable:
"I don't really have a sense of having won the championship yet. I just remember that I kept myself there, that I was at the edge but stayed inside. My family came to see me, so I wanted to show them something good."
Wakatakakage, summing up his his Yusho. (Kyodo News)
"Over these past 11 years, I really feel I've given my all for the folks back home, and that they really can see that. In the final match, somehow I stayed in, just went with the flow, really."
Wakatakakage, the first shin-Sekiwake to win a Basho in 86 years, the first Fukushima native to win a Top Division Basho in 50. (Chris Sumo Youtube)
"I gave my all, and I still lost. Hence my training didn't suffice."
Takayasu (M7e) on his bitter playoff loss to Wakatakakage (S1e) in the Playoff. (Chris Sumo Youtube)
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The March 2022 Basho Banzuke featured 626 Rikishi (wrestlers) in 6 Divisions. There were 2,260 results. If you had a "season pass", i.e. all matches, all days, you would have seen an average of 150 matches every day. 22 of the results were "fusen" (forfeits).
The January 2022 Basho Banzuke featured 649 Rikishi (wrestlers) in 6 Divisions. There were 2,272 results. If you had a "season pass", i.e. all matches, all days, you would have seen an average of 151 matches every day (Source: Ichimon results listing at Sumo Forum--see below). 16 of the results were "fusen" (forfeits).
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Notable: (Also see Day 15)
The Basho came to a fantastic conclusion, with a 19 second playoff in which Wakatakakage (S1e) literally plucked victory from the hands of defeat by Uwatedashinage (Pulling Overarm Throw) over Takayasu (M7e). Both had lost their regular matches to finish the Basho at 12-3. The winner became the first Shin-Sekiwake (first Basho at the rank) Yusho since Futabayama, who achieved the feat in 1936, as part of his still standing record of 69 consecutive victories). He also became the first Fukushima native to win since Tochiazuma (Wikipedia) in 1972 (using the same finishing move).
It concluded a great Basho for the Sekiwake, who is now on an "Ozeki run" (33 wins in 3 consecutive Basho). At the heart of the run was an 8 match winning streak from Day 5-12, which left him at 11-1. He then lost two of his last three, but won the "big one." For Takayasu (M7e), it was another heart breaking result at this venue. Last year he started this Basho 9-1 and 10-2 before losing his last 3 matches. This year he started this Basho at 10-0 (the longest winning streak of the Basho) and 12-1 before losing his last two to help force the playoff. The ex-Ozeki is still looking for his first Makuuchi (Top Division) championship, having finished second 5 times.
The third contender, Kotonowaka (M6w), was in contention until his last match (a loss), that ended his Basho tied for third with 11 wins. He began the Basho 9-1 before losing 3 of his last 5. Mitakeumi (O2w), in his Shin-Ozeki Basho, also finishied 11-4. He began with 9 wins in his first 11 matches. Takakeisho (O1w) avoided "Kadoban" (2nd consecutive losing Basho by an Ozeki, resulting in loss of Ozeki Rank), but after he got his 8th win, he lost his last 4 matches, and did not look particularly impressive.
Terunofuji (Y1e) entered his 4th Basho as a Yokozuna with a nagging heel injury picked up in the January Basho. He was severely limited by it, and when his 2nd loss ended up with him being thrown out of the dohyo (ring) and aggravating one of his surgically repaired knees, he dropped out with a final record of 3-3-9 (absences). It is hoped that he can use the time off to fully recover from his injuries. He was greatly missed, but his absence opened up the Basho, and led to an exciting and entertaining conclusion.
The three top finishers, not counting the playoff, lost four of their last 6 matches. Wakatakage, fighting the last match of the day knowing the Basho was his if he won, lost to Shodai (O1e) (9-6)--more on him below. On Day 13 he lost to Mitakeumi (O2w). Takayasu lost his last match to Abi (S1w) (8-7) who retained his Rank in his Shin-Sekiwake Basho. He also lost Shodai on Day 14. Kotonowaka lost to Hoshoryu (K1) (8-7) on Day 15 in a match that allowed the winner to retain his Rank in his Shin-Komusubi Basho. He also lost to the eventual Champion on Day 12. So the two Maegashira (Rank and Filers) were 0-4 against Top Rankers (Komusubi, Sekiwake, and Ozeki) at the end of the Basho. All of the two Maegashira contenders' defeats came at the hands of Top Rankers.
The untold story of this Basho has to be Shodai. Entering this Basho "Kadoban" (on the heels of a losing Basho, with the knowledge that another one would cost him his Ozeki Rank, the only Rank that can be promoted to Yokozuna), his 4th Kadoban Basho since his promotion to Ozeki in November 2020 (8 Basho), he knew the stakes. Six days in, he was 1-5, had the body language of a totally defeated Rikishi, and was certainly going to be Sekiwake Shodai in May. Speculation swirled among fans and some experts that he was still suffering from the effects of a recent bout with Covid. Drop out, they said. Get well and come back as Sekiwake in May (and exploit the loophole in the relegation--an ex-Ozeki has one Basho to win 10 or more matches to regain his rank--if he fails, then he has to go through the 33 in 3 merry-go-round). To this Shodai answered with 8 wins in his final 9 matches, including wins over both playoff contestants and a win in his one O v O bout. It was an astonishing display that not only retained his rank, but turned the Basho on its head twice in the last two days. He seemed to become stronger with each passing day. Perhaps it was the waning of his Covid battle. But perhaps it was also it was something more, a Rikishi clearly lost in confidence, reaching deep down to show everyone why he attained Ozeki in the first place.
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Makuuchi [Top Division] Basho Standings FINAL--8 wins or more (Kachi-koshi)
Key: Rikishi; Rank; Number of wins (n* = fusen--forfeit) (Strike through=eliminated from contention) (Rikishi links link to their individual Basho, match by match, white circles= wins, black circles= losses, white or black squares=fusen. From the match by match link, simply click on ther Rikishi name for a link to his career information)
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Playoff
Wakatakakage(S1e) 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 11 12 12 1
Takayasu(M7e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 12 12 12 0
Kotonowaka(M6w) 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 11 11
Mitakeumi(O2e) 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11
Kiribayama (M4e) 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10
Shodai (O1e) 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9
Ichinojo(M2e) 0 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 9 9
Wakamotoharu(M9w) 0 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 9
Kotoeko (M12e) 0 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 7 7 8 9 9
Tochinoshin(M15w) 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9 9
Nishikigi (M16e) 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 7 8 9 9
Takakeisho(O1w) 1 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 8 8 8 8
Abi (S1w) 0 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 8
Hoshoryu (K1w) 0 0 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 6 6 7 8
Daieisho (M1e) 1 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 7 8
Endo (M4w) 0 1 2 3*3 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 7 7 8
Shimanoumi (M10e) 0 0 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 8
Terutsuyoshi (M11w) 1 1 2 2 2 3 4*4 5 6 6 6 7 8 8
Ichiyamamoto (M17w) 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 6 7 8
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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Juryo (Division 2) Basho Standings FINAL: 8 wins or more (Kachi-koshi)
Key: Rikishi; Rank; Number of wins (Strike through=eliminated from contention)
Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ryuden (J13e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 8 9 10 11 12 13
Midorifuji (J6e) 1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 10 11 12
Kitanowaka (J10e) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 9 10 11
Oho (J1e) 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 10
Azumaryu (J2e) 0 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 10 10
Mitoryu (J7e) 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10 10
Daishoho (J9e) 0 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10
Enho (J11w) 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 9 10
Hidenoumi (J2w) 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 8
Yago (J8e) 1 2 2 3 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 8
Shimazuumi (J13w) 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8
FULL JURYO (DIVISION 2) BANZUKE (RECORD BY RANK) (Source: Sumo Reference) See legend at the bottom of the link for key to abbreviations.
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Summary of Wakatakakagi/Takayasu Tournament, Day by Day
Key: Day #; Time of the match in seconds; Rank; Name; Record; Kimarite (winning technique with link to demonstration of that technique--NHK); Rank, Name, Record.
Note: Day number is linked to a video of the match when available. (L) or (R) identify the Rikishi for the JSA Youtube videos
Day 1: 01.3s S1e Wakatakakage (1-0) Thrust Down (Tsukiotoshi) M2w Tamawashi (0-1)
Day 1: 16.0s M7e Takayasu (1-0) Over Arm Throw (Uwatenage) M7w Okinoumi (0-1)
Day 2: 03.0s S1e Wakatakakage (2-0) Frontal Crush Out (Yoritaoshi) M3e Onosho (1-1)
Day 2: 19.6s M7e Takayasu (2-0)