1999 in sumo

Last updated August 16, 2024

In 1999, Musashimaru firmly established his position as the dominant sumo wrestler of the year.^[1]^[2] Born in American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, Musashimaru became only the second foreign-born wrestler in history to achieve the highest rank of yokozuna or grand champion, in May 1999.^[3]^[4]^[1] He finished the year having won four tournaments, a rare accomplishment.^[1]

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 10 January – 24 January

1999 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
8	-	7	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Wakanohana	13	-	2	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Akebono	Y	ø
8	-	7	-	0		Musashimaru	O		Takanonami	6	-	9	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Chiyotaikai *	S		Kotonowaka	8	-	7	-	0
					ø		S		Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Dejima	K		Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotonishiki	K	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Kaiō	M1		Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takatōriki	M2		Tamakasuga	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Akinoshima	M3		Aogiyama	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Minatofuji	M4		Tōki	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M5		Kotoryū	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tochinowaka	M6	ø	Wakanosato	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0		Terao	M7		Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Shikishima	M8		Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochinonada	M9		Kaihō	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Gojōrō	M10		Ganyū	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Wakanojō	M11		Mitoizumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Oginishiki	M12		Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	9	-	0	ø	Asahiyutaka	M13		Asanosho	6	-	9	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M14		Kinkaiyama	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	8	-	3		Dewaarashi	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 14 March – 28 March

1999 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
5	-	5	-	5	ø	Takanohana	Y	ø	Wakanohana	8	-	3	-	4
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Akebono	Y	ø
13	-	2	-	0		Musashimaru	O	ø	Chiyotaikai	3	-	8	-	4
					ø		O		Takanonami	12	-	3	-	0
1	-	2	-	12		Musōyama	S		Kotonowaka	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochiazuma	K		Dejima	9	-	6	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Akinoshima	K		Kaiō	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takatōriki	M1		Kotonishiki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	M2		Shikishima	1	-	14	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M3		Terao	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Higonoumi	M4		Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tōki	M5		Tochinonada	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Minatofuji	M6		Wakanosato	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Miyabiyama	M7		Ganyū	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Aogiyama	M8		Tochinowaka	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M9		Hamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Mitoizumi	M10		Kotoryū	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Oginishiki	M11		Tokitsuumi	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Gojōrō	M12		Kaihō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Asanowaka	M13		Ōhinode	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Wakanojō	M14		Asanosho	8	-	7	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 May – 23 May

1999 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Takanohana	Y	ø	Wakanohana	3	-	5	-	7
11	-	4	-	0		Akebono	Y	ø
13	-	2	-	0		Musashimaru	O		Takanonami	9	-	6	-	0
					ø		O	ø	Chiyotaikai	0	-	0	-	15
6	-	9	-	0		Akinoshima	S		Kaiō	12	-	3	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Dejima	S	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Tochiazuma	K		Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	M1		Kotonowaka	2	-	13	-	0
3	-	9	-	3	ø	Tochinonada	M2		Miyabiyama	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M3		Kotonishiki	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M4		Aogiyama	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tochinowaka	M5		Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Musōyama	M6		Tokitsuumi	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Higonoumi	M7		Terao	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tōki	M8		Kotoryū	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Minatofuji	M9		Ōhinode	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M10		Wakanosato	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Daizen	M11		Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	7	-	1		Ganyū	M12		Wakanojō	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asanosho	M13		Hamanoshima	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Oginishiki	M14		Kyokutenhō	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Yōtsukasa	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 9 July – 23 July

1999 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Akebono	Y		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Wakanohana	Y		Takanohana	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takanonami	O		Chiyotaikai	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaiō	S		Dejima *	13	-	2	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tochiazuma	S	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Chiyotenzan	3	-	12	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonishiki	M1		Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Wakanosato	M2		Tōki	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Takatōriki	M3		Higonoumi	2	-	13	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Miyabiyama	M4		Minatofuji	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Aogiyama	M5		Kaihō	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Musōyama	M6		Tamakasuga	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M7		Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Tochinonada	M8		Asanosho	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Hamanoshima	M9	ø	Tochinowaka	2	-	8	-	5
9	-	6	-	0		Kotonowaka	M10		Kyokutenhō	7	-	8	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Wakanojō	M11		Terao	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Yōtsukasa	M12		Daizen	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M13		Wakanoyama	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Ōhinode	M14		Ganyū	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kotoryū	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 September – 26 September

1999 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
2	-	2	-	11	ø	Akebono	Y		Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
0	-	3	-	12	ø	Takanohana	Y		Wakanohana	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O	ø	Takanonami	3	-	4	-	8
10	-	5	-	0		Dejima	O	ø
9	-	6	-	0		Kaiō	S		Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotonishiki	K		Musōyama	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tochiazuma	M1		Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M2		Asanosho	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tōki	M3		Akinoshima	11	-	4	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Shikishima	M4		Kotonowaka	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Miyabiyama	M5		Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M6		Wakanosato	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Takatōriki	M7		Terao	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tochinonada	M8		Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaihō	M9		Ganyū	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M10		Kotoryū	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Wakanoyama	M11		Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M12		Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kinkaiyama	M13	ø	Yōtsukasa	0	-	3	-	12
8	-	7	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M14		Asanowaka	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ōhinode	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 7 November – 21 November

1999 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
12	-	3	-	0		Musashimaru	Y	ø	Wakanohana	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Akebono	Y		Takanohana	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O		Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takanonami	O	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Kaiō	S		Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Musōyama	K		Akinoshima	3	-	12	-	0
					ø		K		Tosanoumi	10	-	5	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Tamakasuga	M1		Miyabiyama	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	13	-	0		Takatōriki	M2		Kotonishiki	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M3		Asanosho	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Terao	M4		Aogiyama	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonowaka	M5		Tōki	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Wakanoyama	M6		Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Minatofuji	M7		Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M8		Chiyotenzan	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Asanowaka	M9	ø	Wakanosato	5	-	7	-	3
8	-	7	-	0		Hamanoshima	M10		Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M11		Ōtsukasa	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M12		Tochinonada	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Ōhinode	M13		Daizen	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	10	-	5	ø	Ganyū	M14		Takanowaka	9	-	6	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

January

At the Hatsu basho, the yusho or tournament championship is decided in a final day showdown between Wakanohana, still searching for his first yusho as a yokozuna, and sekiwake Chiyotaikai, who is one win behind him on 12–2. Chiyotaikai defeats Wakanohana in their regulation match, and in the subsequent playoff for the championship he wins a rematch after the first bout is judged too close to call, despite the referee originally awarding the bout to Wakanohana. Shortly after the tournament Chiyotaikai is promoted to ozeki, the first new holder of sumo's second highest rank since Musashimaru and Takanonami were promoted five years earlier. Akebono misses his second tournament in a row with a herniated disk in his lower back. His fellow yokozuna Takanohana turns in a mediocre 8–7 score. Special prizes are awarded to Chiyotaikai for Outstanding Performance and Fighting Spirit (shared with colleague Chiyotenzan) and Akinoshima for Technique. The juryo championship is won for the second time in a row by Miyabiyama. Former komusubi Asahiyutaka retires.

February

Asahiyutaka takes over the running of Tatsunami stable from his father-in-law, former sekiwake Annenyama, who has reached the mandatory elder retirement age of 65.
Akebono has his first practice session since November 1998.

March

Musashimaru wins his fourth top division championship with a 13–2 score. He has little competition from his top ranked rivals, as Takanohana, Wakanohana and Chiyotaikai all withdraw midway through injury, while Akebono is missing altogether. Takanonami is runner-up on 12–3. Makuuchi debutant Miyabiyama wins the fighting spirit prize, as does Chiyotenzan for the second time in just his second top division tournament. Veteran Akinoshima wins eleven bouts and the Outstanding Performance Prize. Mitoizumi is demoted from makuuchi for the first time since 1987. Daizen wins the juryo yusho with a 12–3 score and returns to the top division at the age of 34. Towanoyama wins the makushita championship. Former maegashira Toyonoumi and Tatsuhikari retire.

May

Musashimaru wins his second championship in a row with a 13–2 record, to become the second foreign yokozuna. He defeats fellow Hawaiian Akebono on the final day, who after losing his first two bouts comes through with a respectable 11–4 score on his comeback. Runner-up to Musashimaru is Kaio on 12–3, who wins the Fighting Spirit Prize. Chiyotenzan wins his third straight sansho, for Outstanding Performance, shared with Tosanoumi. Wakanosato wins the Technique prize. Takanohana sits the tournament out, recovering from an injured shoulder, while his brother Wakanohana is forced to withdraw for the second tournament in a row with a leg sprain. Otsukasa wins the juryo championship.
Musashimaru's promotion is confirmed, although he embarrasses himself by being unable to phrase his official acceptance correctly. It is the first time since May 1991 that four yokozuna are active at the same time.

July

The Nagoya basho fails to attract a sell-out crowd for the first time in ten years on the second day.
Sekiwake Dejima wins his first yusho, defeating Akebono in a playoff after both men finish on 13–2. Akebono is denied his first championship in over two years. Dejima's Musashigawa stablemate Musashimaru finishes on 12–3 in his debut tournament as a yokozuna. Wakanohana is out injured, while Takanohana can only manage 9–6 in his comeback. Dejima is awarded all three special prizes and after the tournament is promoted to ozeki. Tosanoumi also receives a share of the Fighting Spirit prize for his eleven wins at komusubi rank. Kinkaiyama wins the juryo title. Veteran Tochinowaka, at 37 the oldest man in the top division, announces his retirement. Former komusubi Kotoinazuma also retires. In makushita, Daishoho retires to seek treatment for pancreatic cancer.

September

Musashimaru needs only twelve wins to secure his first championship as a yokozuna. Takanohana, Takanonami and Akebono all withdraw early, while Wakanohana, clearly unfit, becomes the first yokozuna since Onokuni in 1989 to fight a full 15 days and fail to make his majority of wins. Thirty-two-year-old Akinoshima is runner-up on 11–4 and wins his fourth Technique Prize and eighth Fighting Spirit Award. This gives him a total of 19 special prizes, one more than the record of 18 previously held by Kotonishiki. Tochiazuma receives the Outstanding Performance Award. Hayateumi wins the juryo yusho. Former maegashira Tokitsunada, and juryo veteran Zenshinyama, announce their retirements.

November

Musashimaru wins his fourth yusho of the year by defeating Takanohana on the final day to finish on 12–3. Takanohana is runner-up with Kaio on 11–4. Kaio receives the Fighting Spirit prize. Sekiwake Tochiazuma and komusubi Tosanoumi each score ten and win special prizes, for Technique and Outstanding Performance respectively. Takanonami is demoted from the ozeki rank after managing only a 6–9 score on his comeback. In the juryo division, the lightweight Mainoumi, known as the "Department Store of Techniques", announces his retirement. Oginishiki wins the yusho.

Deaths

28 July: Former juryo Dairyu, aged 54, of cirrhosis of the liver.
3 Oct: Former juryo Haji (also known as Saganoumi), aged 53, in a car accident. He was also a professional baseball player.
11 Nov: Former maegashira Otayama, aged 75.
4 Dec: Former komusubi Daishoho, aged 32, of cancer.

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The following are the events in professional sumo during 2007.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2006.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2005.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2004.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2003.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2002.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2001.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2000.

The following are the events in professional sumo in 1998.

The following were the events in professional sumo during 1997.

In 1996, the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament set a record for the number of wrestlers in a playoff, after Musashimaru, Akebono, Wakanohana, Takanonami, and Kaio, all tied at 11–4. Musashimaru won the historic five-way playoff, taking his second tournament title since July 1994.

In 1995, yokozuna Takanohana finished first place, while fellow yokozuna Akebono ranked second. The third-ranked sumo wrestler was ōzeki Wakanohana, who took the championship title at the November Kyūshū Basho after winning in a playoff against his brother Takanohana, the first tournament bout between brothers in the history of sumo.

In 1994, Takanohana won two successive tournaments, unbeaten (15–0), earning promotion to the highest rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, in November. At the Nagoya tournament in July, ōzeki Musashimaru had won his first championship, also unbeaten (15–0), leading to speculation that he could become the next foreign-born sumo wrestler to be promoted to sumo's highest rank.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 1993.

The following are the events in professional sumo during 1992.

References

1 2 3 Kattoulas, Vesilarios (November 22, 1999). "Hawaiian Wins Again And Cements Dominance". New York Times. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
↑ "Musashimaru wins fourth sumo tournament of year". The Honolulu Advertiser . November 22, 1999. Retrieved February 20, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
↑ Lewis, Ferd (May 26, 1999). "Musashimaru earns place in sumo history". The Honolulu Advertiser . pp. C1, C4. Retrieved February 20, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
↑ "Fiamalu "Musashimaru" Penitani". Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 Kattoulas, Vesilarios (November 22, 1999). "Hawaiian Wins Again And Cements Dominance". New York Times. International Herald Tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

[2] "Musashimaru wins fourth sumo tournament of year". The Honolulu Advertiser . November 22, 1999. Retrieved February 20, 2024– via Newspapers.com.

[3] Lewis, Ferd (May 26, 1999). "Musashimaru earns place in sumo history". The Honolulu Advertiser . pp. C1, C4. Retrieved February 20, 2024– via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Fiamalu "Musashimaru" Penitani". Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 20, 2024.

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