1994 in sumo

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In 1994, Takanohana won two successive tournaments, unbeaten (15–0), earning promotion to the highest rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, in November.^[1] At the Nagoya tournament in July, ōzeki Musashimaru had won his first championship, also unbeaten (15–0), leading to speculation that he could become the next foreign-born sumo wrestler to be promoted to sumo's highest rank.^[2][3]

The following are the events in professional sumo in Japan during 1994.

Tournaments[edit]

Hatsu basho[edit]

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 January – 23 January

1994 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
11	-	4	-	0			Akebono	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Wakanohana	O			Takanohana	14	-	1	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Musashimaru	S			Takanonami	13	-	2	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotonishiki	HD			Konishiki	2	-	13	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tomonohana	K			Wakashoyo	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kotonowaka	M1			Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Akinoshima	M2			Kotobeppu	3	-	12	-	0
8	-	7	-	0	ø		Daizen	M3			Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Misugisato	M4			Kotofuji	3	-	12	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Oginishiki	M5	ø		Daishōhō	0	-	0	-	15
6	-	9	-	0			Kenkō	M6			Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takatōriki	M7	ø		Kushimaumi	1	-	2	-	12
8	-	7	-	0			Terao	M8			Kitakachidoki	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kiraiho	M9			Tamakairiki	2	-	13	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokudōzan	M10			Takamisugi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M11			Toyonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mainoumi	M12			Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Higonoumi	M13			Kasugafuji	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hamanoshima	M14			Kirishima	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Daishōyama	M15			Tokitsunada	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kototsubaki	M16	ø

Haru basho[edit]

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 13 March – 27 March

1994 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
12	-	3	-	0			Akebono*	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Takanohana	O	ø		Wakanohana	3	-	4	-	8
12	-	3	-	0			Takanonami	HD			Musashimaru	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kotonishiki	S			Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Tochinowaka	K			Daizen	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Misugisato	M1			Kaiō	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Wakashoyo	M2			Terao	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotonowaka	M3			Kitakachidoki	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kyokudōzan	M4	ø		Takamisugi	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tomonohana	M5			Daishōhō	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Oginishiki	M6			Mitoizumi	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kasugafuji	M7			Mainoumi	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M8			Higonoumi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Konishiki	M9			Kenkō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Akinoshima	M10	ø		Daishōyama	3	-	11	-	1
8	-	7	-	0			Tokitsunada	M11			Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Takatōriki	M12			Kotobeppu	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kirishima	M13			Kiraiho	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotofuji	M14			Toyonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Asanowaka	M15			Kotogaume	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Aogiyama	M16	ø

Natsu basho[edit]

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 May – 22 May

1994 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
10	-	2	-	3	ø		Akebono	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0			Takanonami	O			Takanohana	14	-	1	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Musashimaru	HD	ø		Wakanohana	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Kotonishiki	S			Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaiō	K			Terao	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Oginishiki	M1			Takatōriki	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Higonoumi	M2			Kenkō	4	-	11	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Akinoshima	M3			Kotonowaka	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Misugisato	M4			Daizen	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Konishiki	M5			Kitakachidoki	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kotobeppu	M6			Tokitsunada	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kiraiho	M7			Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hamanoshima	M8			Tomonohana	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kasugafuji	M9			Kyokudōzan	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Wakashoyo	M10			Takamisugi	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asanowaka	M11			Kirishima	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Mainoumi	M12			Kotofuji	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M13			Kotogaume	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M14			Daishōhō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Minatofuji	M15			Naminohana	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asahisato	M16	ø

Nagoya basho[edit]

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 3 July – 17 July

1994 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Akebono	HD	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Takanohana	O			Musashimaru	15	-	0	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Takanonami	O			Wakanohana	14	-	1	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Kotonishiki	S			Musōyama	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kaiō	K			Terao	4	-	11	-	0
					ø			K			Takatōriki	10	-	5	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochinowaka	M1			Oginishiki	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hamanoshima	M2			Tomonohana	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kasugafuji	M3			Kyokudōzan	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Mainoumi	M4			Kotofuji	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Daizen	M5			Asanowaka	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kirishima	M6			Misugisato	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonowaka	M7			Daishōhō	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kitakachidoki	M8			Kiraiho	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Minatofuji	M9			Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M10			Kenkō	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotobeppu	M11			Kotogaume	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Konishiki	M12			Takamisugi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M13			Tokitsunada	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Akinoshima	M14			Oginohana	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Daishi	M15			Kushimaumi	8	-	7	-	0

Aki basho[edit]

Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 September – 25 September

1994 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Akebono	HD	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Wakanohana	12	-	3	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Takanonami	O			Takanohana	15	-	0	-	0
13	-	2	-	0			Musōyama	S			Takatōriki	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Mainoumi	K			Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Misugisato	M1			Kotonowaka	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kaiō	M2			Kenkō	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Terao	M3			Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tomonohana	M4			Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M5			Tochinowaka	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takamisugi	M6			Kasugafuji	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokudōzan	M7			Kotobeppu	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Oginishiki	M8			Kirishima	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Daizen	M9			Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Konishiki	M10			Kitakachidoki	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kiraiho	M11			Mitoizumi	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kotofuji	M12			Tokitsunada	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Daishōhō	M13			Akinoshima	11	-	4	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotogaume	M14			Daishi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kushimaumi	M15			Minatofuji	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Wakanoyama	M16	ø

Kyushu basho[edit]

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 6 November – 20 November

1994 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
10	-	5	-	0			Akebono	HD	ø
15	-	0	-	0			Takanohana	O			Wakanohana	8	-	7	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Takanonami	O			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Musōyama	S			Takatōriki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaiō	K			Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M1			Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonowaka	M2			Kyokudōzan	2	-	13	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Daizen	M3			Misugisato	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotobeppu	M4			Akinoshima	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Konishiki	M5	ø		Tokitsunada	2	-	10	-	3
6	-	9	-	0			Daishi	M6			Higonoumi	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Daishōhō	M7			Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mainoumi	M8			Kenkō	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kushimaumi	M9			Terao	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Minatofuji	M10			Kirishima	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takamisugi	M11			Tomonohana	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kasugafuji	M12			Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kitakachidoki	M13			Kiraiho	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Oginishiki	M14			Mitoizumi	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Naminohana	M15			Oginohana	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Shikishima	M16	ø

News[edit]

January[edit]

• Ōzeki Takanohana wins his fourth top division yūshō with a 14–1 score. Second and third are sekiwake Takanonami on 13–2 and Musashimaru on 12–3, who both earn promotion to ozeki after the tournament. Takanonami wins the Fighting Spirit prize, and Musashimaru the Technique Award. Musōyama wins the Outstanding Performance prize. Sekiwake Konishiki, demoted from ōzeki after six years in the previous tourney, fails in his attempt to return to the rank after turning in a disastrous 2–13 score. Naminohana wins the jūryō championship. Former maegashira Tachihikari retires.

March[edit]

• Yokozuna Akebono wins his seventh championship after a three-way playoff with Takanonami, in his ōzeki debut, and maegashira 12 Takatōriki, after all finish on 12–3. Takanohana is one behind on 11–4. Takatōriki is awarded the Fighting Spirit Prize, shared with Terao. Kaiō wins the Outstanding Performance Prize for his defeat of Akebono, while the Technique Award is shared between Kotonishiki and Oginishiki. Shikishima wins the jūryō championship.

May[edit]

• Takahanada wins his fifth championship with a 14–1 score. Musashimaru is runner-up two wins behind on 12–3. Akebono is forced to withdraw after injuring his knee in a match with Takatoriki. Terao scores eight wins on his return to the san'yaku ranks and receives the Outstanding Performance prize. Mainoumi wins his fourth Technique Prize, and Takatōriki his fifth Fighting Spirit Award. Former maegashira Oginohana wins his third jūryō championship.

July[edit]

• Musashimaru wins his first championship with a perfect 15–0 score – the first wrestler to remain unbeaten in the top division since Chiyonofuji in 1989. Fellow ōzeki Wakanohana loses only to Musashimaru and is runner-up on 14–1. Takanohana fails again in his yokozuna promotion attempt, scoring only 11–4. Akebono is out injured. Takatōriki wins his third consecutive Fighting Spirit Award after scoring 10–5 at komusubi, and Mainoumi wins his second Technique prize in a row. Hamanoshima wins the Outstanding Performance Award, and both he and Mainoumi are promoted to komusubi for the first time. The jūryō championship is won by Tatsuhikari. Enazakura retires.

September[edit]

• Takanohana wins the championship, unbeaten on 15–0. Runner-up is sekiwake Musōyama on 13–2, who receives special prizes for Outstanding Performance (shared with Kotoinazuma) and Fighting Spirit. Akebono is out once again. Naminohana wins the jūryō championship for the second time this year.

November[edit]

• Takanohana wins the championship with his second successive unbeaten score, compiling a three tournament record of 41–4. After the tournament he is promoted to yokozuna, the first Japanese to hold the rank since Hokutoumi in 1992. Despite being held at the ōzeki rank for nearly two years, he is still the third youngest yokozuna in history after Kitanoumi and Taihō. Musashimaru finishes runner-up on 12–3, while Akebono scores ten on his return. Only one special prize is awarded, to Naminohana for Fighting Spirit. Wakashoyo wins the jūryō championship after a playoff with newcomer Tosanoumi. Former maegashira Hananokuni retires.

Deaths[edit]

• 9 Nov: Former maegashira Azumanishiki, aged 54.
• 22 Dec: Former maegashira Nachinoyama, also former Minezaki Oyakata, aged 74.
• 24 Dec: Former maegashira Nanatsuumi, aged 67.

See also[edit]

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of years in sumo
• List of yokozuna

References[edit]