The following are the events in professional

sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a '' rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ('' dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by t ...

during 1987.

Tournaments

*Hatsu basho,

Ryōgoku Kokugikan , also known as Ryōgoku Sumo Hall or Kokugikan Arena, is the name bestowed to two different indoor sporting arenas located in Tokyo. The fist ''Ryōgoku Kokugikan'' opened its doors in 1909 and was located on the lands of the Ekōin temple in Ry ...

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...

, 11 – 25 January *Haru basho,

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium is an indoor sporting arena located in Namba, Osaka, Japan. It first opened in 1952 and the current building was constructed in 1987. It is the venue of a professional sumo tournament ( honbasho) held in March every year. The capacity of the ...

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

, 8 – 22 March *Natsu basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 – 24 May *Nagoya basho,

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium , also known as , is a multi-purpose gymnasium in Nagoya, Japan, built in 1964. Overview Located on the site of the secondary enclosure of Nagoya Castle, it is host to numerous concerts and events. The gymnasium has 4,375 fixed seats, and can ...

Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most po ...

, 5 – 19 July *Aki basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 – 27 September *Kyushu basho, Fukuoka International Centre,

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...

, 6 – 20 November

News

January

*25:

Chiyonofuji , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler and the 58th ''yokozuna'' of the sport. Following his retirement as a wrestler, he was the stable master of Kokonoe stable until the time of his death. Chiyonofuji was considered one of the gr ...

wins his twentieth ''

yūshō is the term for a championship in Japanese. This article focuses on championships in the sport of professional sumo. It is awarded in each of the six annual '' honbasho'' or official tournaments, to the wrestler who wins the most bouts. ''Y� ...

'', becoming the third man after Taihō and

Kitanoumi , born , was a Japanese professional sumo wrestler. He was the dominant wrestler in the sport during the 1970s. Kitanoumi was promoted to '' yokozuna'' at the age of 21, becoming the youngest ever to achieve sumo's top rank. He won 24 tournament ...

to reach this landmark. He defeats fellow ''

yokozuna , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers (''rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the on ...

'' Futahaguro in a playoff after both men finish on 12–3. Futahaguro had beaten Chiyonofuji in their regulation match but could not do so a second time. Although this is his sixth runner-up performance, his first top division championship continues to elude him. ''

Sekiwake , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

Konishiki Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e (born December 31, 1963), professionally known as is an American former sumo wrestler.Franz LidzMeat Bomb, 05.18.92 - ''Sports Illustrated'' He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach '' ōzeki'', the second ...

scores 10–5 and wins the Outstanding performance prize for his wins over both yokozuna.

Masurao is a Japanese former sumo wrestler, born in Itoda, Fukuoka Prefecture. Making his professional debut in 1979, he reached the top division in 1985. His highest rank was ''sekiwake'' and he won five special prizes in his top division career. ...

wins the Technique Award. Former ''

komusubi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

'' Ōyutaka, who lost ''

sekitori A ''sekitori'' (関取) is a '' rikishi'' (力士, sumo wrestler) who is ranked in one of the top two professional divisions: '' makuuchi'' and ''jūryō''. The name literally translates to having taken the barrier, as only a relatively small fra ...

'' status in 1985, announces his retirement. He assumes the Arashio ''

toshiyori A is a sumo elder of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). Also known as , former wrestlers who reached a sufficiently high rank are the only people eligible. The benefits are considerable, as only ''toshiyori'' are allowed to run and coach in su ...

'' or elder name and stays on as a coach at his stable.

March

*22:

Ōzeki Ozeki or Ōzeki may refer to: * Ōzeki, a rank in ''Makuuchi'', the top division of professional sumo ** List of ōzeki * Ōzeki station (disambiguation), the name of two railway stations in Japan * Ōzeki Masutoshi (1849–1905), 16th daimyō o ...

Hokutoumi is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō. He was the sport's 61st ''yokozuna'' and won eight top division championships. He wrestled for Kokonoe stable, as did Chiyonofuji, and the two were the first ''yokozuna'' stablemat ...

wins his second championship with a score of 12–3, finishing one win ahead of stablemate Chiyonofuji and Konishiki on 11–4. New ''

'' Masurao has a superb tournament, defeating two ''yokozuna'' and four ''ōzeki'' in the first seven days and is awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. Hananoumi wins the Technique prize and Tochinowaka the Fighting Spirit Award. Futahaguro drops out on the tenth day. In jūryō

Takamisugi Takamisugi Takakatsu (born 1 March 1961 as Takashi Kanao) is a former sumo wrestler from Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan. His highest rank was ''komusubi''. He is now the head coach of Tokiwayama stable, renamed from Chiganoura stable. Career Kanao ...

wins the ''yūshō'' while Kaiki announces his retirement. He stays in sumo as Takashima Oyakata.

May

*24: Ōzeki Onokuni wins his first ''yūshō'' with a perfect 15–0 record. He is the first man other than Chiyonofuji to win in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan which opened over two years before in January 1985. Runner-up is Hokutoumi on 13–2, who is promoted to ''yokozuna'' after the tournament.

Kokonoe stable is a stable of sumo wrestlers, one of the Takasago group of stables. It was formed in 1967 and until 2021 was located in Ishiwara, Sumida, Tokyo. As of November 2022 it had 27 sumo wrestlers, four of whom are of '' sekitori'' rank. It is the most ...

becomes the first since Takasago in 1949 to have two active ''yokozuna'' simultaneously. Konishiki is also promoted to ''ōzeki'' after a fine 12–3 score, becoming the first foreigner ever to reach sumo's second highest rank. He wins the fighting spirit prize while the other ''sekiwake''

Asahifuji is a Japanese former professional sumo wrestler from Aomori. He joined professional sumo in 1981, reaching the top '' makuuchi'' division just two years later. He reached the second highest rank of '' ōzeki'' in 1987 and became the 63rd '' yo ...

gets the Technique prize. Masurao has another giant-killing tournament and wins another Outstanding performance prize. The ''jūryō yūshō'' is won by Onohana; the ''

makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions. Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on the merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. Fo ...

'' championship by

Akinoshima Akinoshima Katsumi (born 16 March 1967 as Katsumi Yamanaka) is a former sumo wrestler from Akitsu, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He made his professional debut in 1982, and after reaching the top division in 1988 he remained there for 15 years ...

. Former ''sekiwake'' Kaneshiro (also known as Tochihikari) retires rather than face demotion to ''makushita''. Unable to obtain elder stock, he leaves the sumo world.

July

*19: After an unremarkable 10–5 last time out, Chiyonofuji wins the ''yūshō'' in style with a 14–1 record. Ōnokuni turns in another good performance, finishing runner-up on 12–3. New ''yokozuna'' Hokutoumi wins eleven bouts and new ''ōzeki'' Konishiki is on 9–6. Futahaguro can manage only 8–7. Ōzeki

Wakashimazu (born 12 January 1957 as Mutsuo Hidaka) is a Japanese former sumo wrestler from Nakatane, Kagoshima, Japan. His highest rank was '' ōzeki''. He won two top division ''yūshō'' or tournament championships. He retired in 1987 and founded Matsug ...

retires, leaving

Futagoyama stable was a stable of sumo wrestlers, created in 2004 when Takanohana Kōji took over the running of Futagoyama stable from his father Takanohana Kenshi. Formerly of the Nishonoseki '' ichimon'' or group of stables, it became the leader of a breaka ...

without anyone in ''

san'yaku The following words are terms used in sumo wrestling in Japan. A B C D E F G H ...

'' for the first time in 15 years. Also announcing his retirement is

Hattori is a Japanese surname. Notable people * , mathematician *, Japanese footballer * , Japanese samurai * , Japanese classical composer * , manga artist * , Japanese classical violinist * , Japanese racing driver and journalist * , Japanese baske ...

(also known as Fujinokawa), a former amateur champion who was plagued by injuries in his four years as a professional. Special prizes are awarded to Asahifuji for Technique, Tochinowaka for Outstanding Performance and Dewanohana for Fighting Spirit. Veteran former ''sekiwake'' Masudayama wins the ''jūryō'' championship.

September

*27: Hokutoumi wins his first championship as a ''yokozuna'' with a 14–1 record. His only defeat is to Ōnokuni, whose 13–2 runner-up performance earns him promotion to ''yokozuna'' as well.

is simultaneously promoted to ''ōzeki'' after scoring 12–3 and winning Technique and Fighting Spirit prizes. Konishiki also finishes in third on 12–3.

Sakahoko Sakahoko Nobushige (born Yoshiaki Fukuzono; 18 June 1961 – 16 September 2019) was a Japanese sumo wrestler. The son of Tsurugamine, he made his professional debut in 1978, reaching the top ''makuuchi'' division in 1982. His highest rank w ...

is awarded the Outstanding Performance prize for his defeat of Chiyonofuji on Day 6. (Chiyonofuji later withdrew from the tournament because of injury.) The lightweight ''jūryō'' veteran Hachiya retires and becomes Onogawa Oyakata.

November

*22: Chiyonofuji returns from injury to win his 22nd yūshō with a perfect 15–0 record (his fourth). Futahaguro has his best performance for some time, finishing runner-up on 13–2 alongside Hokutoumi. Ōnokuni can manage only 8–7 in his ''yokozuna'' debut. Sakahoko wins his second Outstanding performance prize in a row — he had defeated two ''ōzeki'' and a ''yokozuna'' in the first three days. Tochitsukasa receives the Technique award. Nankairyu from

Western Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...

, only the third non-Japanese to reach the top division, scores 8–7 on his debut in ''

makuuchi , or , is the top division of the six divisions of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers ('' rikishi''), ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments. This is the o ...

''. Former ''sekiwake'' Hō'ō wins the jūryō division ''yūshō'' for the fourth time.

December

*31: Futahaguro is forced to retire by the

Sumo Association The is the body that operates and controls professional sumo wrestling (called ''Ōzumō'', 大相撲) in Japan under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). '' Rikishi'' (activ ...

after a heated argument with his stablemaster (former ''sekiwake'' Haguroyama) four days earlier led to him storming out of the stable, allegedly slapping his boss's wife on the way. He becomes the first ''yokozuna'' ever to be forced out of the sumo world.

Deaths

*27 September: Kataonami Oyakata (former sekiwake Tamanoumi Daitaro), aged 64.

References

{{Years in sumo Sumo by year

Sumo is a form of competitive full-contact wrestling where a '' rikishi'' (wrestler) attempts to force his opponent out of a circular ring ('' dohyō'') or into touching the ground with any body part other than the soles of his feet (usually by t ...