1998 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo in 1998.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, January 11 – January 25

1998 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
8	-	5	-	2	ø		Takanohana	Y			Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Takanonami	O			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanohana	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0			Musōyama	S			Tochiazuma	11	-	4	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaiō	K			Kotonishiki	10	-	5	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Takatōriki	M1			Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Dejima	M2			Tochinonada	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tosanoumi	M3			Kotonowaka	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M4			Asahiyutaka	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Oginishiki	M5			Aogiyama	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Minatofuji	M6			Tamakasuga	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Shikishima	M7			Hamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Chiyotaikai	M8			Higonoumi	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Ganyū	M9			Akinoshū	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Mitoizumi	M10			Kitakachidoki	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotoryū	M11			Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asanowaka	M12			Tochinowaka	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Wakanojō	M13			Terao	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Yamato	M14			Mainoumi	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Asanosho	M15			Kyokutenhō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Gojōrō	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, March 8 – March 22

1998 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Akebono	Y	ø		Takanohana	1	-	4	-	10
8	-	7	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
14	-	1	-	0			Wakanohana	O	ø
2	-	4	-	9	ø		Tochiazuma	S			Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kotonishiki	K			Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Chiyotaikai	M1			Shikishima	3	-	12	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Dejima	M2			Akinoshima	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tochinonada	M3			Ganyū	3	-	12	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonowaka	M4			Takatōriki	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kotoryū	M5			Tochinowaka	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tosanoumi	M6			Wakanojō	5	-	10	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M7			Aogiyama	11	-	4	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Terao	M8			Oginishiki	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Minatofuji	M9			Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M10			Mainoumi	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M11			Asanosho	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M12			Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kitakachidoki	M13			Gojōrō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Higonoumi	M14			Mitoizumi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Akinoshū	M15			Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Yamato	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Tokyo, May 10 – May 24

1998 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
10	-	5	-	0			Akebono	Y			Takanohana	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Wakanohana	O			Musashimaru	10	-	5	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Takanonami	O	ø
5	-	10	-	0			Musōyama	S			Kaiō	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Chiyotaikai	K			Akinoshima	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tochinonada	M1			Aogiyama	3	-	12	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Kotonishiki	M2			Tosanoumi	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kotonowaka	M3			Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Minatofuji	M4			Tamakasuga	4	-	11	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Takatōriki	M5	ø		Tochiazuma	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0			Shikishima	M6			Asahiyutaka	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Gojōrō	M7			Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Ganyū	M8			Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Higonoumi	M9			Wakanojō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Mitoizumi	M10			Kotoryū	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kitakachidoki	M11			Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Akinoshū	M12			Terao	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asanowaka	M13			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asanosho	M14			Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tōki	M15			Wakanosato	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaihō	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, July 5 – July 19

1998 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
11	-	4	-	0			Akebono	Y			Takanohana	14	-	1	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanohana	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0			Takanonami	O			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
3	-	4	-	8	ø		Akinoshima	S			Chiyotaikai	11	-	4	-	0
1	-	2	-	12	ø		Kotonishiki	K			Kaiō	7	-	8	-	0
2	-	9	-	4	ø		Oginishiki	M1			Takatōriki	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Musōyama	M2			Tochinonada	5	-	10	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Gojōrō	M3	ø		Shikishima	4	-	9	-	2
3	-	12	-	0			Tochinowaka	M4			Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Ganyū	M5			Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Hamanoshima	M6			Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	7	-	1	ø		Tosanoumi	M7			Wakanojō	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M8			Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Terao	M9			Kotonowaka	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Minatofuji	M10			Tamakasuga	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Wakanosato	M11			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asanosho	M12			Kotoinazuma	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M13			Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaihō	M14			Dewaarashi	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kinkaiyama	M15			Kyokutenhō	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asanowaka	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Tokyo, September 13 – September 27

1998 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Takanohana	Y			Akebono	10	-	5	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Wakanohana	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Chiyotaikai	S			Takatōriki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Musōyama	K			Dejima	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kaiō	M1			Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotonowaka	M2			Minatofuji	3	-	12	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M3			Tamakasuga	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Aogiyama	M4			Wakanosato	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M5	ø		Akinoshima	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0			Tochinonada	M6			Kotoryū	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotonishiki	M7	ø		Shikishima	0	-	0	-	15
5	-	10	-	0			Mitoizumi	M8	ø		Oginishiki	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Tosanoumi	M9			Gojōrō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaihō	M10			Higonoumi	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinowaka	M11			Ganyū	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hamanoshima	M12			Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanojō	M13			Asanosho	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kotoinazuma	M14			Tokitsuumi	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tōki	M15			Akinoshū	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Terao	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Center, November 8 – November 22

1998 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
12	-	3	-	0			Takanohana	Y			Wakanohana	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Akebono	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Chiyotaikai	S			Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Musōyama	K			Dejima	9	-	6	-	0
					ø			K			Kotonowaka	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tochiazuma	M1			Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Higonoumi	M2			Kaihō	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochinowaka	M3			Ganyū	3	-	12	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tōki	M4			Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Hamanoshima	M5			Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	7	-	1	ø		Wakanosato	M6			Tochinonada	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Aogiyama	M7			Shikishima	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Wakanojō	M8			Oginishiki	6	-	9	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Tosanoumi	M9			Minatofuji	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M10			Asanosho	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoryū	M11			Terao	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M12			Kotonishiki	14	-	1	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M13			Gojōrō	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Akinoshū	M14			Mitoizumi	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Asanowaka	M15			Ōikari	5	-	10	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

News

January

• At the Hatsu tournament in Tokyo, Ozeki Musashimaru wins his third top division championship or yusho, his first since November 1996, with a 12–3 record. He finishes one win ahead of sekiwake Tochiazuma who wins the Outstanding Performance Prize. The other sekiwake Musoyama gets the Fighting Spirit Award, and komusubi Kotonishiki receives his seventh Technique Prize. Yokozuna Takanohana loses three in a row from 8–1 and then withdraws. In the juryo division, Kinkaiyama wins the yusho in his first tournament in the division. Announcing their retirements are former maegashira Asahisato and former juryo Daiki, from Hawaii.

February

• In the Japan Sumo Association board elections, Tokitsukaze Oyakata (former ozeki Yutakayama) becomes the new chairman or rijicho, replacing Sakaigawa (the former yokozuna Sadanoyama), who had held the post since 1992. The elections prove controversial for the Takasago ichimon, with Jinmaku (former yokozuna Kitanofuji) leaving the Association altogether after failing to receive enough support from his fellow directors, and the Takadagawa stable thrown out of the ichimon after its head coach (former ozeki Maenoyama) runs as an independent candidate.

March

• In Osaka, ozeki Wakanohana wins his fourth yusho with a 14–1 score. He finishes one win ahead of yokozuna Akebono, who drops his first two bouts but then wins thirteen in a row. Takanohana drops out after five days with a liver disorder. Chiyotaikai wins the Technique prize and Kaio the Outstanding Performance award. The Fighting Spirit prize is shared between Tosanoumi and Aogiyama. The juryo championship is won by veteran Kushimaumi after a playoff with Toki.

May

• The first day of a Tokyo tournament fails to sell out for the first time since 1970.
• Wakanohana wins his second consecutive championship, and earns promotion to yokozuna, creating the first ever sibling grand champions. He defeats Musashimaru on the final day to finish on 12–3. Runners-up are Takanonami and Kotonishiki on 11–4. Musashimaru, Takanohana, and Akebono all score 10–5. There are six special prize winners: Akinoshima (Technique), Kotonishiki and Oginishiki (Outstanding Performance), Dejima and Wakanosato (Fighting Spirit). Dejima wins 10 bouts after being out for two tournaments. The juryo championship is won by Oikari after a three way playoff.

June

• Sumo Canada Basho in Vancouver.

July

• In Nagoya, Takanohana returns from illness to win his 19th championship with a 14–1 score. Musashimaru is runner-up, two wins behind. New sekiwake Chiyotaikai wins eleven and the Technique Prize. Kotonowaka also wins eleven and gets the Fighting Spirit Award. Dejima defeats two yokozuna and wins the Outstanding Performance prize. Wakanohana finishes on 10–5 in his debut yokozuna tournament. In the juryo division, two former makuuchi veterans, maegashira Oginohana and komusubi Misugisato, retire after winning only one and three bouts respectively. The championship is won by Akinoshu, his first yusho after 14 years in sumo.

September

• Takanohana becomes only the fourth man, after Taiho, Kitanoumi, and Chiyonofuji, to reach twenty top division championships. He finishes on 13–2, one win ahead of his brother. Kotonowaka wins the Outstanding Performance prize, and Chiyotaikai the Technique Award. Chiyotenzan wins the juryo championship. Former maegashira Yamato from Hawaii, now in makushita, and former komusubi Tomoefuji, who has fallen to sandanme, announce their retirements.

November

• Kotonishiki becomes the first wrestler ever to win two championships as a maegashira after winning in Kyushu with a 14–1 score, seven years after his first yusho in September 1991. He finishes two wins ahead of Takanohana and Tosanoumi, and is awarded Technique and Outstanding Performance prizes. Tochiazuma shares the Technique Prize, and Tosanoumi gets the Fighting Spirit award. Wakanohana can score only 9–6, and Akebono sits the tournament out through injury. The juryo yusho goes to former amateur champion Miyabiyama. Kushimaumi retires, having fallen into the makushita division.

Deaths

• 10 March: Former komusubi Kenko, aged 30, of leukemia.
• 26 September: Former maegashira Toyonishiki, first Japanese American to reach makuuchi, aged 78.
• 4 November: Former sekiwake Maedagawa, aged 61.

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of years in sumo
• List of yokozuna