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Sumo
OSAKA, March 8 (Kyodo) - Yokozuna Takanohana broke a title drought stretching back to autumn 1998 when he won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January. Then as he toweled down afterwards, he warned his rivals, "You ain't seen nothing yet." Takanohana eyeing
second helping of
mid-1990s dominationThe 21-time Emperor's Cup winner, who defeated fellow yokozuna Musashimaru in a championship playoff in Tokyo, will get the chance to make good on that promise at the Spring tourney, which gets under way Sunday at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
Takanohana will start as favorite to win only his third title in Osaka - and add to victories in 1996 and 1997 - especially with former yokozuna Akebono out of the frame following the Hawaiian-born giant's decision to retire in January.
Depending on how the mood takes him, however, Musashimaru could throw a spanner in the works as Takanohana attempts to repeat the domination he showed in the mid-1990s, when he won 15 of the 24 Emperor's Cups from 1994 to 1997 before being slowed by ill health.
The Samoan-born grinder, who toppled Takanohana in their regulation bout on the final day of the New Year tourney to force a playoff, has the power to win his ninth Emperor's Cup if he keeps his hips low and stays focused throughout.
When healthy, though, Takanohana is in a different league and his superior footwork, tactical awareness and belt technique make the 28-year-old Futagoyama star odds-on to bag the silverware and various other goodies on offer for the winner.
Among the four participating ozeki wrestlers, Kaio appears best positioned to challenge for the title in Osaka after posting 10 wins - the minimum requirement for an ozeki - in the New Year, but only if the Kyushu native can inject more oomph into his charge.
Unlikely to be involved in the title race, ozeki Dejima, meanwhile, will be battling to escape demotion after a nightmare start to the new millennium.
A 7-8 record last time out means the feisty Musashigawa stable wrestler must post a majority of wins in Osaka to avoid a slip down the rankings in his 10th tournament since reaching sumo's second highest post.
With Chiyotaikai sidelined due to an ankle injury, the onus will be on two more Musashigawa grapplers, Musoyama and Miyabiyama, to salvage some ozeki pride after both failed to record double-digit wins last time out.
Dark horses could be sekiwake Wakanosato and komusubi Tochiazuma, who returns to "sanyaku" - the three ranks between yokozuna and the maegashira-class wrestlers - after a 10-5 record at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
In the maegashira ranks, all three of the elite makuuchi division's Mongolian grapplers will be looking to prove their winning records in Tokyo were no fluke and could provide one or two upsets with all three ranked between Nos. 1-6.
Meanwhile, 38-year-old crowd favorite Terao, promoted from the second-tier juryo division on the back of an 8-7 record, will want to put on a show in what could be his swan song in sumo's "Premier League."
TOKYO (AP) - Upholding traditions that exclude women, sumo wrestling officials have for the second straight year forbidden Japan's first female governor from presenting a prize to the winner of a local tournament. Sumo officials reject
female governor’s demand
to present awardJapan Sumo Association Chairman Tokitsukaze on Wednesday rejected Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota's request to enter the ring for the presentation, citing the sport's "men only" policy, said Osaka city spokesman Kiyoshi Nakao.
Sumo elders say sumo's roots are entwined with Japan's indigenous Shinto religion, which holds that the ring is sacred and women cannot enter because they are considered impure.
Ota, however, is not likely to give up. She renewed her request Wednesday that sumo officials let a female governor present the award, Nakao said.
Ota was elected to the Osaka governorship on Feb. 6, last year. Osaka, Japan's second-largest city, is located 408 kilometers (253 miles) west of Tokyo and will host the 15-day tournament starting March 11.
The tradition banning women from the sumo ring had only been challenged once before Ota.
As chief Cabinet secretary, Mayumi Moriyama was set to present the prime minister's award at a sumo tournament in 1990. She also backed down after the issue became too divisive.
For more sumo information online, try:
Sumo Web
Da Kine Sumo E-zine
Ozumo
Kyodo News Service