Sumo
Thursday, March 6, 1997
Two consecutive tournament titles usually bring promotion to yokozuna, a rank Takanohana already holds. But Wakanohana, who won the last tournament in January, could gain promotion by winning 14 of his 15 bouts, even if he doesn't capture the championship.
At least 40 sets of brothers have wrestled simultaneously in past tournaments, but never have brothers held yokozuna rank at the same time, said an official of the Japan Sumo Association. The history goes back to Shiganosuke Akashi, chosen as the first yokozuna in the late Edo period (1603-1867).
If the 26-year-old Wakanohana wins promotion in the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, he would be the sport's 66th yokozuna.
The path is slightly easier for ozeki (champion) Wakanohana than for some other wrestlers.
Unless a tournament comes down to a playoff, he doesn't face younger brother Takanohana, ozeki Takanonami or sekiwake (junior champion) Takatoriki in any matches. Wrestlers from the same training stable normally do not meet in tournaments.
But he does have to wrestle Akebono, the only other active yokozuna aside from Takanohana, and ozeki Musashimaru, both of whom came to the sport from Hawaii.
Takanohana, who has won 15 tournaments, finished the last one at 13-2, one victory behind his brother. Akebono, or Chad Rowan, and Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, both had 12-3 records.
This time, the sports newspaper Nikkan Sports reported, Akebono is in his best condition and more confident in his wrestling skills as he seeks his ninth tournament title.
Wakanohana was in position once before to gain promotion to yokozuna, after he won the Kyushu Grand Sumo tournament in November 1995.
But he lost his first three matches in the next tournament and withdrew on the fourth day.
After the "spiritual pressures" of that experience, Wakanohana said that this time, "I am not thinking of the promotion too much. If I fail to become yokozuna in this tournament, I will make another effort."
Oguruma, a stable master who rose to ozeki rank as Kotokaze, said in a television interview that "if Wakanohana maintains the same forceful wrestling as in the previous tournament, he has a chance to clinch the tournament.'' again."
One threat to the top wrestlers is newly promoted komusubi (junior champion second class) Kyokushuzan, or Batbayar Davaa from Mongolia, whose speed and technique helped him gain a 9-6 record in the January tournament.
Meanwhile, Takanonami faces the risk of losing his ozeki rank if he loses a majority of bouts in this tournament. Takanonami ended the previous tournament at 6-9, and two consecutive losing tournaments means demotion for ozekis.
The 25-year-old Takanonami faced a similar risk after a 6-9 record in the May 1995 tournament, but has kept his rank.