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Sumo
TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Kyodo) - Grand champion Musashimaru overwhelmed No. 4 maegashira Takatoriki for an easy win Tuesday to remain the unbeaten leader in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, taking a one-win advantage into the final five days of the 15-day tourney. Musahimaru breezes
to win No. 10Keeping his own back-to-back championship hopes alive, yokozuna Akebono defeated Hayateumi for a ninth win while newly-promoted ozeki Kaio, 8-1 at the start of the day, fell to a second loss at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
In Tuesday's featured final, Musashimaru fended off a challenge from Takatoriki (3-7) at the face-off before nonchalantly bundling him out of the ring to remain on course for his first championship of the year.
Akebono, looking to pick up the Emperors Cup for the second time in a row following his triumph at the Nagoya tourney in July, grabbed No. 2 maegashira Hayateumi (5-5) by the throat at the tachiai and then quickly marching him out for a one-sided win.
Kaio, meanwhile, slipped to 8-2 after his attempt to get a firm grip on the right side of Tochinonada's belt failed. The No. 3 maegashira took control then and dragged the ozeki down for a third win to improve to 3-7.
In a showdown of ozeki, Chiyotaikai (7-3) returned to winning ways, only needing an instant to haul down Miyabiyama (6-4) at the face-off.
Ozeki Dejima (8-2) dished out a series of slaps before forcing fourth-ranked maegashira Toki (5-5) over the bales, while sekiwake Musoyama (6-4) overpowered komusubi Akinoshima (4-6).
Musoyama still needs to win four out of the last five matches to return to ozeki rank.
Mongolia's No. 14 maegashira Kyokushuzan (8-2) yanked out seventh-ranked maegashira Tochinohana (7-3) to become the first maegashira of the tourney to post a winning record and ensure himself a promotion for November's Kyushu tourney.
Meanwhile, No. 3 maegashira Kyokutenho, also from Mongolia, was easily backed out by maegashira top gun Tosanoumi (3-7) to slump to his eighth loss and a slide down the rankings in November.
American Sentoryu (3-7), wrestling as a No. 12 maegashira, fell to a seventh loss as eighth-ranked maegashira Asanowaka (4-6) evaded the St. Louis native's lunge at the face-off before sending him over the edge with a simple push.
TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts on Tuesday, the 10th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan (+ denotes juryo division wrestler): Results of main bouts for
10th day of autumn sumoWon Technique Lost
+Oikari 5-5 oshidashi Kinkaiyama 4-6
Hamanoshima 6-4 okuritaoshi Minatofuji 3-7
Higonoumi 6-4 sotogake Tokitsuumi 3-7
Tochisakae 6-4 okuridashi Tamakasuga 4-6
Daishi 3-7 oshidashi Kaiho 4-6
Asanowaka 4-6 okuridashi Sentoryu 3-7
Kyokushuzan 8-2 hikitoshi Tochinohana 7-3
Wakanoyama 6-4 oshidashi Otsukasa 4-6
Kotonowaka 7-3 tsukiotoshi Wakanosato 7-3
Takanowaka 4-6 yoritaoshi Aminishiki 6-4
Oginishiki 1-9 shitatenage Chiyotenzan 2-8
Tosanoumi 3-7 oshidashi Kyokutenho 2-8
Takanonami 7-3 yorikiri Kotoryu 1-9
Musoyama 6-4 oshidashi Akinoshima 4-6
Chiyotaikai 7-3 hatakikomi Miyabiyama 6-4
Tochinonada 3-7 shitatenage Kaio 8-2
Dejima 8-2 oshidashi Toki 5-5
Akebono 9-1 oshidashi Hayateumi 5-5
Musashimaru 10-0 yorikiri Takatoriki 3-7
Wednesday's bouts
Kyokushuzan 0 - 0 Tochisakae
+Aogiyama x - x Sentoryu
Otsukasa 0 - 3 Kinkaiyama
Tokitsuumi 4 - 3 Minatofuji
Wakanosato 0 - 0 Aminishiki
Higonoumi 7 - 12 Asanowaka
Wakanoyama 6 - 0 Hamanoshima
Tamakasuga 2 - 1 Takanowaka
Oginishiki 3 - 4 Daishi
Takatoriki 3 - 1 Kaiho
Kyokutenho 0 - 1 Tochinonada
Chiyotenzan 2 - 1 Kotoryu
Hayateumi 0 - 1 Takanonami
Tosanoumi 10 - 8 Musoyama
Chiyotaikai 1 - 1 Tochinohana
Akinoshima 4 - 4 Miyabiyama
Kaio 10 - 7 Dejima
Kotonowaka 13 - 20 Musashimaru
Akebono 3 - 0 Toki
TOKYO, Sept. 12 (Kyodo) - The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Tuesday named popular playwright Makiko Uchitate to the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which oversees the promotion of wrestlers to sumo's highest rank. JSA selects woman
to yokozuna councilThe head of the JSA, sumo elder Tokitsukaze, invited Uchitate to join the council on the 10th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, making her the first woman to be selected to the advisory body of the JSA since it was founded in 1950.
The decision comes after Tokitsukaze indicated to the council in May that he would like to see a woman on the panel, breaking a tradition that has excluded women from prominent positions in sumo.
"Sumo is a sport which has a large number of female fans and I've been toying with the idea of having a female member on the council for quite some time now," Tokitsukaze said following the decision.
"Ms. Uchitate also has a deep interest in sumo and I'm sure her ideas and opinions will be of great value," he added.
Uchitate, a noted dramatist, penned a number of novels and essays including the popular "Hirari" a television serial drama about a woman raised in downtown Tokyo who is a sumo fanatic, aired on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) in 1992.
Uchitate's latest drama, "Watashi No Aozora," (My Blue Sky) is currently being broadcast on NHK.
Over the last 10 years, women have attempted on occasion to break into the inner sanctum of male-dominated sumo, beginning with then Chief Cabinet Secretary Mayumi Moriyama, who wanted to present the Prime Minister's Cup to the winner at the 1990 New Year tourney, but was denied.
In 1993, then Education Minister Ryoko Akamatsu voiced displeasure over the fact that women were not represented on the council.
In March of this year, Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota was refused the chance to present the governor's trophy to the winner of the spring tourney held in Osaka .
Yoshio Ishibashi, head of the Kyoritsu Joshi Gakuen educational organization, was also named, making him the 10th member of the advisory board.
TOKYO (AP) - Hawaii-born yokozuna (grand champion) Musashimaru, seeking his eighth tournament victory, sent out lower-ranked Takatoriki and kept the sole lead at 10-0 Tuesday, the 10th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo tournament. Musashimaru keeps
sole lead at 10-0One victory behind Musashimaru at 9-1 is Akebono, another Hawaii-born Yokozuna. Ozeki (champion) Kaio suffered his second upset defeat.
Tied with Kaio at 8-2 are ozeki Dejima and No. 14 maegashira (senior wrestler) Kyokushuzan from Mongolia.
In the day's final bout at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani, charged No. 4 maegashira Takatoriki with hand thrusts and bulldozed him out, leaving Takatoriki at 3-7.
Akebono, or Chad Rowan, attacked No. 2 maegashira Hayateumi with his hand thrusts against his foe's throat and sent him out. Hayateumi is 5-5.
Kaio grabbed No. 3 maegashira Tochinonada's belt and tried to drive him out, but Tochinonada suddenly threw him down for his third victory against seven defeats.
Dejima charged No. 4 maegashira Toki with hand thrusts and sent him out, leaving Toki at 5-5.
Kyokushuzan, or Mongolian Batbayar Davaa, pulled down No. 7 maegashira Tochinohana, handing Tochinohana his third defeat against seven victories.
In other major bouts, Chiyotaikai sidestepped to the left and slapped down fellow ozeki Miyabiyama for his seventh victory against three defeats. Miyabiyama is 6-4.
No. 1 maegashira Tosanoumi forced out No. 3 maegashira Kyokutenho, or Mongolian Tsevegnyam Nyamjav, for his third victory against seven defeats. Kyokutenho is 2-8.
No. 8 maegashira Asanowaka sidestepped to left in the initial charge and sent out No. 12 maegashira Sentoryu from behind for his fourth victory against six defeats. Sentoryu, or American Henry Armstrong Miller from St. Louis, Missouri, is 3-7.
In the 26-member juryo division just below the senior makuuchi, No. 13-ranked Tomikaze downed No. 7-ranked Asashoryu, or Mongolian Dolgorsvren Dagvadrj, with a leg trick for his eighth victory against two defeats. Asashoryu fell to 6-4.
No. 9-ranked Kuniazuma, or Brazilian Vander Ramos, sent out No. 3-ranked Aogiyama from behind for his sixth victory against four defeats. Aogiyama is 4-6.
In makushita, the top junior division, No. 8-ranked Hoshitango (4-1), or Argentine Imach Marcelo Salomon, slapped down No. 11-ranked Kotonomine.
No. 18-ranked Wakaazuma (2-3), or Yoshinobu Kuroda from Brazil, was thrust out by No. 18-ranked Ushiomaru.
No. 33-ranked Kyokutenzan (1-4), or Mongolian Enkhbat Batmunkha, was forced out by No. 29-ranked Dewaarashi.
In sandanme, the second highest junior division, No. 65-ranked Azumaoh (4-1), or Brazilian Yasuto Morita, slapped down No. 59-ranked Yokutsukasa.
No. 75-ranked Kaihakusan (3-2), or South Korean Baeg Yun-gi, was thrown down by No. 68-ranked Ooami.
No. 90-ranked Ryuo (2-3), or Wang Yu from Shanghai, China, was sent out by No. 88-ranked Yakigaya.
In jonidan, the third highest junior division, No. 54-ranked Ryuo (2-3), or Mongolian Erkhem Ochirsanchirbold, pushed out No. 59-ranked Shotsukasa.
No. 75-ranked Orora (2-3), or Russian Mikhakhanov Anatolivaleryevich, was driven out by No. 72-ranked Takayutaka.
No. 94-ranked Daibanjaku (5-0), or Mongolian Batsukh Khaidavmunkh, crushed down No. 92-ranked Tochitaiho.
No. 96-ranked Ryukizan (3-2), or South Korean Kim Soo-young, threw down No. 93-ranked Nishisegawa.
In jonokuchi, the lowest junior division, No. 41-ranked Daionji (4-1), or Mongolian Ulziibayar Ulziijargal, crushed down No. 35-ranked Kubo.
Wrestlers in junior divisions have only seven bouts during the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo tournament.
TOKYO (AP) - Results of main bouts Tuesday, the 10th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena: Results of Main Sumo Bouts
Winners Losers
Oikari (juryo) (5-5) Kinkaiyama (4-6)
Hamanoshima (6-4) Minatofuji (3-7)
Higonoumi (6-4) Tokitsuumi (3-7)
Tochisakae (6-4) Tamakasuga (4-6)
Daishi (3-7) Kaiho (4-6)
Asanowaka (4-6) Sentoryu (3-7)
Kyokushuzan (8-2) Tochinohana (7-3)
Wakanoyama (6-4) Otsukasa (4-6)
Kotonowaka (7-3) Wakanosato (7-3)
Takanowaka (4-6) Aminishiki (6-4)
Oginishiki (1-9) Chiyotenzan (2-8)
Tosanoumi (3-7) Kyokutenho (2-8)
Takanonami (7-3) Kotoryu (1-9)
Musoyama (6-4) Akinoshima (4-6)
Chiyotaikai (7-3) Miyabiyama (6-4)
Tochinonada (3-7) Kaio (8-2)
Dejima (8-2) Toki (5-5)
Akebono (9-1) Hayateumi (5-5)
Musashimaru (10-0) Takatoriki (3-7)
Juryo Division
Tomikaze (8-2) Asashoryu (6-4)
Kuniazuma (6-4) Aogiyama (4-6)
Junior Divisions:
Makushita
Hoshitango (4-1) Kotonomine
Ushiomaru Wakaazuma (2-3)
Dewaarashi Kyokutenzan (1-4)
Sandanme
Azumaoh (4-1) Yokutsukasa
Oonami Kaihakusan (3-2)
Yakigaki Ryuo (2-3)
Jonidan
Ryuo (2-3) Shotsukasa
Tagayutaka Orora (2-3)
Daibanjaku (5-0) Tochiyutaka
Ryukizan (3-2) Nishikawa
Jonokuchi
Daionji (4-1) Kubo(Junior division wrestlers have only seven bouts during the tournament. Records of foreign wrestlers' opponents were not available.)
Kyokushuzan Tochisakae Wednesday's main bouts:
Aogiyama (juryo) Sentoryu
Otsukasa Kinkaiyama
Tokitsuumi Minatofuji
Wakanosato Aminishiki
Higonoumi Asanowaka
Wakanoyama Hamanoshima
Tamakasuga Takanowaka
Oginishiki Daishi
Takatoriki Kaiho
Kyokutenho Tochinonada
Chiyotenzan Kotoryu
Hayateumi Takanonami
Tosanoumi Musoyama
Chiyotaikai Tochinohana
Akinoshima Miyabiyama
Kaio Dejima
Kotonowaka Musashimaru
Akebono Toki
TOKYO (AP) - The Japan Sumo Association, fending off charges of sexism, on Tuesday named a woman to sit on its governing body for the first time in its 50-year history, Japanese media reported. Japanese playwright
is first woman named
to sumo panelThe Japan Sumo Association appointed popular playwright Makiko Uchitate to the council that decides which wrestlers are promoted to the rank of yokozuna, the highest of sumo's six divisions, Kyodo News Agency said.
Association officials were not available for comment late Tuesday.
Uchitate's appointment follows a controversy earlier this year about its ban on women in the ring.
The association in February refused to let Fusae Ota, Japan's first female governor, present an award to the winner of a local tournament. Ota eventually sent a man to present the award but urged sumo officials to work toward equality.
In May, the association said it was ready to add as many as two women this year to its governing board.
The ancient sport, which has its roots in Japan's native Shinto religion, has been declining in popularity because some critics charge it has failed to adapt to modern Japanese society.
Sumo, which traces its roots back some 2,000 years, is fought one-on-one by wrestlers trying to push each other down or out of an elevated clay ring.
The ring is considered sacred ground, and sumo's ruling body has refused to allow women into it because Shinto belief holds that women are impure.
"Sumo is a sport which has a large number of female fans, and I've been toying with the idea of having a female member on the council for quite some time now," Kyodo quoted sumo elder Tokitsukaze as saying.
"Ms. Uchitate also has a deep interest in sumo and I'm sure her ideas and opinions will be of great value."
Uchitate has written a number of novels and essays and television shows, including a drama about a woman sumo fanatic that aired in 1992, Kyodo said.
Results in Scoreboard
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Kyodo News Service