1996 in sumo

In 1996, the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament set a record for the number of wrestlers in a playoff, after Musashimaru, Akebono, Wakanohana, Takanonami, and Kaio, all tied at 11–4.^[1] Musashimaru won the historic five-way playoff, taking his second tournament title since July 1994.^[1]

The following are the events in professional sumo during 1996.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 January – 21 January

1996 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
14	-	1	-	0		Takanohana	Y	ø	Akebono	0	-	3	-	12
0	-	4	-	11	ø	Wakanohana	O		Musashimaru	9	-	6	-	0
14	-	1	-	0		Takanonami*	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Kaiō	S		Kotonishiki	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Takatōriki	M1		Mitoizumi	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2		Kotoinazuma	2	-	13	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Misugisato	M3		Minatofuji	4	-	11	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Akinoshima	M4		Asahiyutaka	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kenkō	M5		Kotobeppu	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tochinowaka	M6		Kitakachidoki	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Terao	M7		Asanosho	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Konishiki	M8		Daishōhō	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Naminohana	M9		Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Wakashoyo	M10		Kasugafuji	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Oginohana	M11		Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Oginishiki	M12		Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kirishima	M13		Daishi	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Higonoumi	M14		Tomonohana	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Mainoumi	M15		Kyokudōzan	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tamakasuga	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March

1996 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
14	-	1	-	0		Takanohana	Y	ø	Akebono	0	-	0	-	15
11	-	4	-	0		Takanonami	O		Musashimaru	9	-	6	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Wakanohana	O	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Kaiō	S		Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Musōyama	S		Takatōriki	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kenkō	M1		Naminohana	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Oginohana	M2		Aogiyama	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Higonoumi	M3		Oginishiki	2	-	13	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Misugisato	M4		Kotonowaka	11	-	4	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Asanowaka	M5		Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M6		Mainoumi	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokudōzan	M7		Daishi	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Mitoizumi	M8		Tochinowaka	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Minatofuji	M9		Konishiki	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Wakashoyo	M10		Daishōhō	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Terao	M11		Asanosho	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kitakachidoki	M12		Kotobeppu	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotoinazuma	M13		Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kasugafuji	M14		Kirishima	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Ganyū	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May

1996 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
14	-	1	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Wakanohana	O		Takanonami	12	-	3	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Musashimaru	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Musōyama	S		Kaiō	11	-	4	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kotonishiki	S		Takatōriki	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotonowaka	K		Asahiyutaka	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Misugisato	M1		Tosanoumi	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Akinoshima	M2		Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Terao	M3		Naminohana	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kitakachidoki	M4		Daishōhō	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Asanosho	M5		Kenkō	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tamakasuga	M6		Kotoinazuma	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotobeppu	M7		Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Ganyū	M8		Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Higonoumi	M9		Mainoumi	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Mitoizumi	M10		Kasugafuji	2	-	13	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Daishi	M11		Oginohana	4	-	11	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asanowaka	M12		Tochinowaka	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Oginishiki	M13		Kyokudōzan	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Konishiki	M14		Wakashoyo	4	-	11	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Shikishima	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 7 July – 21 July

1996 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Akebono	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Wakanohana	O		Takanonami	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Musashimaru	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Kaiō	S		Musōyama	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Asahiyutaka	K		Takatōriki	10	-	5	-	0
					ø		K		Daishōhō	2	-	13	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tamakasuga	M1		Aogiyama	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2		Kotonishiki	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Daishi	M3		Mitoizumi	4	-	11	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Naminohana	M4		Minatofuji	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tosanoumi	M5		Akinoshima	10	-	5	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Misugisato	M6		Terao	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoinazuma	M7		Asanosho	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kenkō	M8		Konishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kitakachidoki	M9		Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotobeppu	M10		Tochinowaka	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Shikishima	M11	ø	Mainoumi	2	-	1	-	12
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokudōzan	M12		Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ganyū	M13		Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Higonoumi	M14		Rikiō	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoryū	M15		Kushimaumi	6	-	9	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 September – 22 September

1996 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
15	-	0	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Takanonami	O		Wakanohana	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Musashimaru	O	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Kaiō	S		Takatōriki	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Musōyama	K		Kotonowaka	4	-	11	-	0
					ø		K		Kotonishiki	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asahiyutaka	M1		Akinoshima	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kenkō	M2		Kotoinazuma	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tamakasuga	M3		Kotobeppu	3	-	12	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Konishiki	M4		Kitakachidoki	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Asanowaka	M5		Daishōhō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Aogiyama	M6		Tosanoumi	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Minatofuji	M7		Daishi	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Mitoizumi	M8		Higonoumi	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kyokudōzan	M9		Rikiō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asanosho	M10		Terao	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Oginishiki	M11		Naminohana	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ganyū	M12		Hamanoshima	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochinowaka	M13		Kotoryū	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Misugisato	M14		Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M15		Daihishō	8	-	7	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November

1996 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Takanohana	Y		Akebono	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Wakanohana	O		Musashimaru*	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Takanonami	O	ø
6	-	9	-	0		Takatōriki	S		Kaiō	11	-	4	-	0
					ø		S		Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Asahiyutaka	K		Musōyama	8	-	7	-	0
1	-	14	-	0		Daishōhō	M1		Tosanoumi	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Akinoshima	M2		Mitoizumi	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Terao	M3		Kotonowaka	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Oginishiki	M4		Asanosho	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tamakasuga	M5		Hamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kenkō	M6		Kotoinazuma	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Ganyū	M7		Kyokushūzan	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochinowaka	M8		Kotoryū	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Konishiki	M9		Kitakachidoki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Aogiyama	M10		Higonoumi	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asanowaka	M11		Shikishima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kotobeppu	M12		Minatofuji	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Daihishō	M13		Daishi	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Naminohana	M14	ø	Kyokudōzan	0	-	0	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Rikiō	M15		Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner *Won 5-Way Playoff

Playoff

(Lots are drawn. Four rikishi face in semifinals, and one is a reserve. The reserve and the two winners face in a 3-Way Playoff, where two consecutive victories are required to win the Playoff and the yūshō)

Match 1: Musashimaru defeated Wakanohana
Match 2: Takanonami defeated Kaiō
Match 3: Musashimaru defeated Akebono
Match 4: Musashimaru defeated Takanonami

News

January

Ozeki Takanonami wins his first top division yusho, defeating his yokozuna stablemate Takanohana in a playoff after both record 14–1 scores. Takatoriki is third on 11–4 and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, shared with Kenko and newcomer Tamakasuga. Sekiwake Kaio gets the Outstanding Performance Award. Rikio wins the juryo championship after a playoff with Wakahayato. Saganobori, a former maegashira who has been fighting in the unsalaried ranks for three years, retires.

March

Takanohana wins his 12th championship, finishing on 14–1, two wins ahead of his stablemate and brother Wakanohana and sekiwake Musoyama, who gets the Technique Award. Asahiyutaka is the only man to beat Takanohana and wins the Outstanding Performance Award. Kotonowaka wins eleven and the Fighting Spirit Award. Kyokushuzan wins the juryo yusho after a playoff with Saigo. Former ozeki Kirishima retires, as do former maegashira Owakamatsu and Tamakairiki (who has fallen to the jonidan division).

May

Takanohana wins with a 14–1 record again, two wins ahead of Wakanohana and Takanonami, underlining the dominance of Futagoyama stable. Yokozuna Akebono returns from three tournaments sidelined by injury to score 10–5. Tamakasuga wins the Technique Prize and Kaio the Outstanding Performance Award. Veteran former ozeki Konishiki avoids demotion and certain retirement by winning ten bouts from maegashira 14. Rikio wins his second juryo championship. The makushita yusho is won by Dejima.

July

At the Nagoya basho, Takanonami is eliminated from the yusho race on the final day when he is defeated by Kaio. The championship is decided in the final bout between Takanohana and Akebono, tied on 12–2. Takanohana wins to claim his 14th championship, while Akebono has his first runner-up performance since September 1995. Takatoriki wins his eighth Fighting Spirit Prize. Kaio and Kotonowaka share the Outstanding Performance Prize. The 95 kg Mainoumi is injured when the 275 kg Konishiki falls on his leg. He has to withdraw from the tournament, meaning he will fall to juryo. Daizen wins his second juryo championship. Former maegashira Kiraiho retires. Kyokushuzan becomes the first wrestler from Mongolia to earn promotion to the top division.

September

Takanohana wins four consecutive championships for the first time. He finishes with an unbeaten 15–0 score (zensho-yusho), his fourth. Wakanohana, Takatoriki and Musashimaru all finish four wins behind on 11–4. Takatoriki shares the Fighting Spirit Prize with Asahiyutaka. Kotonishiki wins ten bouts from the komusubi rank and receives his sixth Technique Prize. Tochiazuma wins the juryo championship, his fifth yusho in five different divisions. Former maegashira Kasugafuji, Hitachiryu and Kyokugozan all retire.

November

Takanohana misses the first tournament of his career after injuring his back on tour. In his absence Musashimaru wins his second championship in a five-way playoff after he, Wakanohana, Akebono, Takanonami, and Kaio all finish on 11–4. Kaio receives the Fighting Spirit Prize alongside newcomer Tochiazuma. Tosanoumi wins the Outstanding Performance Award. Tochinonada wins the juryo title in his debut. Former komusubi Kyokudozan retires to become a politician in the Diet of Japan.

Deaths

4 Jan: Former maegashira Oedo, former Irumagawa Oyakata, aged 73.
14 Jan: Former komusubi Ohikari, former Onomatsu Oyakata, aged 68.
14 April: Former sekiwake Kotetsuyama, former Onaruto Oyakata, aged 53.
8 Dec: Kagamiyama Oyakata, the former yokozuna Kashiwado, aged 58.

References

^ ^a ^b "Musashimaru wins in five-man playoff". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Associated Press. November 25, 1996. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

[:0-1] "Musashimaru wins in five-man playoff". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Associated Press. November 25, 1996. Retrieved February 29, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.

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