Monday, September 14, 1998
TOKYO -- Hawaii-born yokozuna (grand champion) Akebono suffered an upset along with ozeki (champion) Takanonami today, the second day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. Akebono
suffers upsetYokozunas Takanohana and Wakanohana and Hawaii-born ozeki Musashimaru remained undefeated at 2-0.
In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in downtown Tokyo, komusubi (junior champion second class) Dejima grabbed Akebono's belt quickly and bulldozed him out for his second victory against no defeats.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan, is 1-1.
Takanohana, who won the last tournament in Nagoya, central Japan, for his 19th career victory, held off No. 1 maegashira (senior wrestler) Tochiazuma's pushing and arm throw attempts and threw him down at the ring's edge, handing Tochiazuma his second defeat against no victories.
Wakanohana, Takanohana's elder brother, toppled down No. 1 maegashira Kaio with an arm throw, leaving Kaio at 0-2.
Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani from Hawaii, charged No. 2 maegashira Minatofuji with hand thrusts, grabbed his foe's belt and forced him out, leaving Minatofuji at 0-2.
No. 2 maegashira Kotonowaka sent out Takanonami from behind, leaving both wrestlers at 1-1.
In other major bouts, No. 5 maegashira Kyokushuzan, Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, fought off No. 7 maegashira Kotonishiki's pushing attempts at the ring's edge and twisted him down for his first victory against one defeat. Kotonishiki is 0-2.
In the 26-member juryo division, just below the senior makuuchi division, No. 13-ranked Hoshitango, or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, picked up his second victory against no defeats by sending out No. 12-ranked Toyozakura (1-1).
No. 5-ranked Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, threw down No. 7-ranked Kitakachidoki (0-2) for his first victory against one defeat.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 12-ranked Kaishinzan (1-0), or American Henry Armstrong Miller, thrust down No. 13-ranked Tamanonada.
No. 45-ranked Kitaazuma (1-0), or Brazilian Tetsuya Takeda from Sao Paulo, pushed out equally-ranked Takinooto.
No. 49-ranked Yamato (1-1), or American George Kalima, thrust out equally-ranked Shoeito.
No. 20-ranked Wakaazuma (0-1), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, was thrown down by No. 21-ranked Takanowaka.
In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 6-ranked Kyokutenzan (0-1), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, was toppled by No. 5-ranked Shindo.
No. 33-ranked Azumakaze (0-1), or Brazilian Tussato Guiuliano Kotinda, was driven out by equally-ranked Yoshigatake.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day tournament.