2013 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2013.

Tournaments

*Hatsu basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January
*Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March
*Natsu basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May
*Nagoya basho, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 7 July – 21 July
*Aki basho, Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 15 September – 29 September
*Kyushu basho, Fukuoka Kokusai Center, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November

News

January

*10: The Nishonoseki stable is reported to close after the Hatsu basho due to the poor health of incumbent stablemaster Nishonoseki (ex-''komusubi'' Kongō). The stable produced the ''yokozuna'' Taihō as well as former ''sekiwake'' Rikidōzan, who later turned to professional wrestling.
*19: The 48th ''yokozuna'' Taihō, winner of a record 32 tournament championships, dies aged 72. He is generally regarded as the greatest sumo wrestler of the post-war period.
*27:
**''Yokozuna'' Harumafuji takes his fifth top division championship with a perfect 15–0 record, defeating fellow ''yokozuna'' Hakuhō who finishes on 12–3, having also lost to ''maegashira'' Myōgiryū and '' ōzeki'' Kotoōshū.
**Former ''maegashira'' Bushūyama and former ''komusubi'' Takamisakari announce their retirements. Takamisakari will stay in sumo as a coach at his Azumazeki stable under the name "Furiwake".
*28: The Japan Sumo Association announces the Nishonoseki stable's closure. Coaches Kitajin and Minatogawa transfer to the Matsugane stable, while coach Fujigane transfers to the Kasugano stable, and Nishonoseki's remaining three wrestlers retire.
*30: The spring tournament ''banzuke'' organization meeting is held. Tochihiryū makes his ''jūryō'' debut, while Oniarashi and Senshō return to the same rank from ''makushita''.

February

*14: Endō Shōta, an amateur ''yokozuna'' from Nihon University, joins the Oitekaze stable.
*15: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announces that Taihō will receive the 21st People's Honour Award. He is the second sumo wrestler to receive the award after Chiyonofuji in 1989.
*25: The People's Honour Award ceremony for Taihō is held in the Prime Minister's Official Residence.

March

*22: On the 13th day of the spring tournament, ''yokozuna'' Hakuhō defeats Gōeidō to earn a 13–0 record, and his championship victory is assured when Okinoumi is defeated. It is the fourth time that he has won a top division championship by the 13th day, a record for the 15-day tournament era that he shares with Chiyonofuji.
*24:
**Hakuhō, already determined to be the championship victor, defeats Harumafuji and wins a record ninth perfect victory.
**Former ''ōzeki'' Miyabiyama retires after facing demotion to ''makushita''. He will remain in sumo as a coach at his Fujishima stable, under the name "Futagoyama".
*25: The Tokyo District Court rules that the former wrestler Sōkokurai was wrongly dismissed in April 2011 over match fixing allegations. Sōkokurai says, “Let me return to the sumo ring.” The Sumo Association is considering whether to appeal the ruling.

April

*1: The Japan Sumo Federation transitions into a public juridical foundation.
*3: The Sumo Association announce that they will accept Sōkokurai's return, and that he will appear on the July banzuke at ''maegashira'' #15, his last rank before he was thrown out of sumo.
*25: The ''banzuke'' for the forthcoming May basho is released. Daikihō, Chiyoōtori, Homarefuji and Azumaryū make their ''makuuchi'' debut, with Kyokushūhō returning. Okinoumi is promoted to ''komusubi'', becoming the first new ''san'yaku'' wrestler from Shimane Prefecture in 121 years.

May

*21: On the 10th day of the summer tournament, Hakuhō defeats Gōeidō and sets a record for the highest amount of consecutive double-digit winning records at 38.
*26: Hakuhō's 25th championship victory is claimed when Kisenosato is defeated by Kotoshōgiku. Hakuhō then defeats Harumafuji and wins his tenth perfect championship.
*29:
**The Japan Sumo Association announces the retirement of 14 wrestlers, including former ''jūryō'' Kotoyutaka, and Yotsuguruma.
**A ''banzuke'' meeting is held in Nagoya. Seirō, Kotomisen, Endō and Ōsunaarashi make their ''jūryō'' debut. Endō reached this division in two tournaments, while Kotomisen reached it in 86, the fourth slowest climb in history. Egyptian Ōsunaarashi is the first African sumo wrestler.

June

*8: The Musashigawa stable, which was revived in April, opens.
*9: Former ''yokozuna'' Kitanoumi performs his ''kanreki dohyō-iri'' at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. He is the ninth person to perform the ''kanreki dohyō-iri'', and the fourth to do so while serving as the Japan Sumo Association's chairman.
*20: The Japan Sumo Association announces the retirement of stablemaster Nishonoseki, who was hospitalized in October 2012 following a stroke, and would have reached the mandatory retirement age in the upcoming November.

July

*13: Hakuhō defeats Chiyotairyū on the 7th day of the Nagoya basho, becoming the first wrestler since the Showa era to obtain a consecutive winning streak of 37.
*19: Hakuhō defeats Kotoōshū on the Nagoya basho's 13th day, and with a winning record of 13–0, Hakuhō's 26th championship victory is assured. This 26th victory is the third highest amount in sumo, and the highest for a foreign-born wrestler. It is also the first time since the introduction of 15-day tournaments that the victors of all divisions were decided on the 13th day.
*20:
**Hakuhō loses to Kisenosato on the Nagoya basho's 14th day, ending his winning streak at 43.
**Former ''jūryō'' Mutetsuyama, director of Toyo University's Ushiku High School Sumo Club, dies of heart failure in his home at 42.
*24: Terunofuji (formerly Wakamishō) and Chiyomaru are promoted to ''jūryō''. Chiyomaru is the brother of Chiyoōtori, becoming the 17th pair of ''sekitori'' brothers.

August

*4: In the final match of the sumo division in the Inter-High School Championships, Saitama Sakae defeats Tottori Johoku with a score of 3–2.
*24: The first sumo tour outside of Japan in five years is held in Jakarta.

September

*2: The ''banzuke'' for the autumn tournament is released. Endō makes his ''makuuchi'' debut in three tournaments, the fastest climb since the Showa era. Takayasu is promoted to ''komusubi'', becoming the first new ''san'yaku'' wrestler to have been born in the Heisei era.
*11: Former ''ōzeki'' Baruto announces his retirement after missing the last two tournaments due to injury.
*12: The Tokyo District Court dismisses Kotomitsuki's lawsuit against the Sumo Association for wrongful dismissal relating to his involvement in a baseball gambling ring.
*27: On the 13th day of the autumn tournament, Tenitsu is deemed the victor of the ''sandanme'' division. At 35 years and 10 months old, he is the oldest post-war wrestler to win a tournament under the ''makushita'' division.
*28:
**On the 14th day of the autumn tournament, Hakuhō defeats Kisenosato and claims his 27th championship victory.
**Former ''jūryō'' Toyonokuni announces his retirement.
*29: Terunofuji claims the ''jūryō'' title with a score of 12–3 in his division debut.

October

*2: A ''banzuke'' meeting is held in Kyūshū. Higonojō makes his ''jūryō'' debut, while Kotomisen and Kimurayama return to the rank from ''makushita''.
*3: The Mihogaseki stable closes due to the mandatory retirement of its stablemaster, former ''ōzeki'' Masuiyama II, and its six wrestlers transfer to the Kasugano stable.
*8: Former ''sekiwake'' Aran, who had transferred from the Mihogaseki stable to the Kasugano stable on the 3rd, announces his retirement due to his poor physical condition, and returns to Russia to become a businessman.
*31: A new discipleship inspection is conducted in Kyūshū, and five people, including Mongolian Altankhuyag Ichinnorov, pass. Ichinnorov, taking on the name Ichinojō, becomes the first foreign wrestler to debut at an elevated rank in the ''makushita'' division due to his success in amateur sumo.

November

*2: The National Student Sumo Championship is held. Kohei Ichinose of Nippon Sport Science University defeats Ryota Koyanagi of Tokyo University of Agriculture in the final match.
*3: A team competition of the National Student Sumo Championship is held, and Toyo University defeats Kindai University with 3 wins and 2 losses in the final match, achieving their third victory in 11 years.
*8: The concurrent stablemaster of Kasugayama stable, former ''maegashira'' Hamanishiki, announces that he will file a proceeding against the preceding stablemaster, former ''maegashira'' Kasugafuji, to hand over control of the elder stock.
*11: On the second day of the Kyūshū tournament, Hakuhō defeats Aminishiki, becoming the fourth wrestler to achieve 500 wins as ''yokozuna''. Within 38 tournaments, he achieved this milestone in the shortest time. He also achieves the most wins for a wrestler in 2013.
*13: Former ''yokozuna'' Takanohana steps in as acting director of the Isegahama stable due to the hospitalization of its stablemaster, former ''yokozuna'' Asahifuji.
*17: On the 8th day of the Kyūshū tournament, Hakuhō defeats Takekaze, achieving 700 total wins in the fastest time.
*19: On the 10th day of the Kyūshū tournament, Hakuhō defeats Tochinowaka and achieves 38 consecutive double-digit winning records as ''yokozuna'', the highest in history.
*20: On the 11th day of the Kyūshū tournament, Hakuhō defeats Tochiōzan and achieves 80 wins in a year for the third time in history.
*24:
**Harumafuji defeats Hakuhō and wins his sixth ''makuuchi'' tournament with a 14–1 record. Hakuhō's consecutive championship-winning streak is ended at four, and his consecutive Kyūshū championship-winning streak is ended at six.
**The Yokozuna Deliberation Council indicate that Kisenosato will have to capture the title with at least 13 wins in the next basho to earn promotion to sumo's highest rank.
*27: The ''banzuke'' meeting for the New Year tournament is held. Mongolian Sakigake makes his ''jūryō'' debut after 62 tournaments, the third slowest climb for a foreign wrestler, and four other wrestlers return to the rank from ''makushita''.

December

*19: Magaki stablemaster, former ''yokozuna'' Wakanohana Kanji II, retires for health reasons.
*20: Former ''maegashira'' Hōchiyama announces his retirement and adopts the elder name Kimigahama.

Deaths

* 16 January: Former ''sekiwake'' Hōō, aged 56, of heart disease.
* 19 January: The 48th ''yokozuna'' Taihō, aged 72 (see January entry).
* 24 April: Former ''maegashira'' Ōko, aged 56, after a short illness.
* 20 July: Former ''juryo'' 11 Mutetsuyama, also known as Kurimoto and an amateur champion at Chuo University, aged 42, of heart failure.
* 25 July: Former ''makushita'' 13 Ozora, born Troy Talaimatai from Hawaii, aged 41, of a heart attack.

See also

*Glossary of sumo terms
*List of active sumo wrestlers
* List of years in sumo
*List of yokozuna

References

{{Years in sumo

Sumo by year
Sumo