2004 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2004.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 January – 25 January

2004 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
15	-	0	-	0			Asashōryū	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0			Tochiazuma	O			Chiyotaikai	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kaiō	O	ø		Musōyama	5	-	4	-	6
4	-	11	-	0			Tosanoumi	S			Tamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tochinonada	K			Wakanosato	9	-	6	-	0
1	-	11	-	3			Tōki	M1			Hokutōriki	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Iwakiyama	M2			Kyokushūzan	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Takamisakari	M3			Kyokutenhō	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M4			Kotomitsuki	13	-	2	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Kakizoe	M5	ø		Kasuganishiki	4	-	10	-	1
10	-	5	-	0			Dejima	M6			Takekaze	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Shimotori	M7			Miyabiyama	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Aminishiki	M8			Jūmonji	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotoryū	M9			Kinkaiyama	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Takanonami	M10			Kokkai	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Yōtsukasa	M11			Tochisakae	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asasekiryū	M12			Wakatoba	4	-	11	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Kotonowaka	M13			Takanowaka	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ushiomaru	M14			Buyūzan	10	-	5	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Kitazakura	M15			Kaihō	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Asanowaka	M16			Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Hayateumi	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 14 March – 28 March

2004 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
15	-	0	-	0			Asashōryū	Y	ø
13	-	2	-	0			Chiyotaikai	O			Kaiō	13	-	2	-	0
0	-	3	-	12	ø		Tochiazuma	O			Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Kotomitsuki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kakizoe	K			Shimotori	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Miyabiyama	M1			Kyokushūzan	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Dejima	M2			Kyokutenhō	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinonada	M3			Tamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Aminishiki	M4			Tosanoumi	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M5			Iwakiyama	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Hokutōriki	M6			Jūmonji	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tochisakae	M7			Kinkaiyama	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Takamisakari	M8			Takanonami	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Buyūzan	M9			Kokkai	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kasuganishiki	M10			Kotoryū	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanowaka	M11			Takekaze	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tōki	M12			Asasekiryū	13	-	2	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Kotonowaka	M13			Chiyotenzan	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Harunoyama	M14			Ushiomaru	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Futen'ō	M15			Toyozakura	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Wakanoyama	M16			Kaihō	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Yōtsukasa	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 May – 23 May

2004 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Asashōryū*	Y	ø
9	-	6	-	0			Chiyotaikai	O			Kaiō	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Musōyama	O	ø		Tochiazuma	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Kyokutenhō	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Miyabiyama	K			Kotomitsuki	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochinonada	M1			Hokutōriki	13	-	2	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Asasekiryū	M2			Kakizoe	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Shimotori	M3			Dejima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M4			Takamisakari	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonowaka	M5			Tamanoshima	12	-	3	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Buyūzan	M6			Iwakiyama	10	-	5	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kokkai	M7			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Takekaze	M8			Tochisakae	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kotoryū	M9			Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Harunoyama	M10			Tōki	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Aminishiki	M11			Hayateumi	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kaihō	M12			Jūmonji	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	3	-	0	ø		Takanonami	M13			Kinkaiyama	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Kasuganishiki	M14			Asanowaka	4	-	11	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Ushiomaru	M15			Futen'ō	7	-	8	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Hakuhō	M16			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kōbō	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 4 July – 18 July

2004 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Asashōryū	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0			Kaiō	O			Chiyotaikai	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Musōyama	O	ø
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Hokutōriki	3	-	12	-	0
					ø			S			Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotomitsuki	K			Tamanoshima	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M1			Iwakiyama	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kokkai	M2			Kotonowaka	3	-	12	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kotoryū	M3			Kyokushūzan	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Shimotori	M4			Dejima	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takekaze	M5			Kakizoe	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M6			Tochinonada	9	-	6	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Miyabiyama	M7			Takamisakari	8	-	7	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Hakuhō	M8			Kaihō	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Aminishiki	M9			Tochisakae	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Hayateumi	M10			Asasekiryū	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Tosanoumi	M11			Jūmonji	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Buyūzan	M12			Kinkaiyama	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	8	-	3			Kasugaō	M13			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Toyozakura	M14			Ōtsukasa	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Wakatoba	M15			Futen'ō	10	-	5	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Harunoyama	M16			Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tokitenkū	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 September – 26 September

2004 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
9	-	6	-	0			Asashōryū	Y	ø
13	-	2	-	0			Kaiō	O			Chiyotaikai	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	7	-	6	ø		Musōyama	O	ø		Tochiazuma	2	-	2	-	11
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Miyabiyama	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kyokutenhō	K			Kotomitsuki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Shimotori	M1			Kokkai	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Iwakiyama	M2			Tamanoshima	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hakuhō	M3			Tochinonada	11	-	4	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Asasekiryū	M4			Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Toyozakura	M5			Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Hokutōriki	M6			Kakizoe	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Takamisakari	M7			Takekaze	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotoryū	M8			Tokitsuumi	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kotonowaka	M9			Kaihō	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Futen'ō	M10			Kyokushūzan	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Jūmonji	M11			Buyūzan	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Hayateumi	M12			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochisakae	M13			Ōtsukasa	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotoōshū	M14			Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Rohō	M15			Toyonoshima	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Aminishiki	M16			Takanotsuru	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kitazakura	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 14 November – 28 November

2004 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Asashōryū	Y	ø
12	-	3	-	0			Kaiō	O			Chiyotaikai	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	4	-	0	ø		Musōyama	O	ø		Tochiazuma	3	-	3	-	9
11	-	4	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Miyabiyama	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kotomitsuki	K			Tochinonada	6	-	9	-	0
0	-	3	-	12	ø		Dejima	M1			Hakuhō	12	-	3	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kakizoe	M2			Kokkai	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Iwakiyama	M3			Kyokutenhō	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tamanoshima	M4			Kyokushūzan	2	-	13	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Shimotori	M5			Kotonowaka	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tosanoumi	M6			Takekaze	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Jūmonji	M7			Takamisakari	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Toyozakura	M8			Buyūzan	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoryū	M9			Rohō	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asasekiryū	M10			Kotoōshū	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Hayateumi	M11			Hokutōriki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Takanowaka	M12			Takanotsuru	4	-	11	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kaihō	M13			Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M14			Ama	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kasugaō	M15			Tokitenkū	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Futen'ō	M16			Kisenosato	9	-	6	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Tōki	M17	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

News

Asashoryu performs the dohyo-iri during a regional tour in 2004.

January

• The number of spots in the top division increases for the first time since January 1991, from 40 to 42. The second highest juryo division increases from 26 to 28.
• At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, achieving his first ever undefeated yusho, Yokozuna Asashoryu wins his 5th championship. Runner-up is former sekiwake Kotomitsuki, who has fallen temporarily to a maegashira rank but produces a fine 13–2 score and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize. Kakizoe wins 11 and is rewarded with the Technique Prize and promotion to the sanyaku ranks for the first time. Ozeki Tochiazuma, who was aiming at a yokozuna promotion after winning the previous tournament, can only produce a 9–6 score. Former komusubi Wakanoyama wins the juryo division championship. The makushita championship is won by the 17-year-old Hagiwara (now Kisenosato) with a perfect 7–0 record. Announcing their retirements are former komusubi Oginishiki and two former juryo veterans; the 38-year-old Argentine Hoshitango and the 39-year-old Mutsuhokkai, whose career spanned 23 years.
• The retirement ceremonies of former sekiwake Akinoshima and former komusubi Daizen take place at the Kokougikan.

February

• Former ozeki Takanohana Kenshi, head of the Futagoyama stable, previously known as Fujishima stable, steps down due to ill health and passes control over to his son Takanohana Koji, who renames the stable Takanohana stable.
• Former sekiwake Terao branches out from Izutsu stable and opens his own Shikoroyama stable.
• The Sumo Association hold exhibition tournaments in South Korea, visiting Seoul on the 14th and 15th, and Pusan on the 18th. Former top division wrestler Kasugao is from South Korea and is enthusiastically cheered on by the crowds. Asashoryu wins the exhibitions.

March

• At the Haru basho in Osaka, Asashoryu chalks up a second 15–0 championship in a row to take his 6th overall. His winning streak now stands at 30 matches. The ozeki Kaio and Chiyotaikai both have excellent tournaments and finish runners-up on 13–2. Tochiazuma, by contrast, drops out after only two days. The fourth ozeki Musoyama, who was in danger of demotion, retains his rank with a 9–6 score. Maegashira 12 Asasekiryu is the third runner-up on 13–2 and wins two special prizes for Outstanding Performance and Technique. Former sekiwake Kotonowaka, at the age of nearly 36, wins 11 matches and his fourth Fighting Spirit Prize. Mongolian Hakuho wins the juryo championship after a playoff with Hayateumi and earns promotion to the top makuuchi division. Bulgarian Kotoōshū wins the makushita championship with a 7–0 score and is promoted to juryo along with Hagiwara and Toyonoshima.
• The Takekuma stable, run by the former sekiwake Kurohimeyama, shuts down. This is because his only wrestler (his son Hagurokuni) is retiring. Takekuma is moving to Tomozuna stable and says he may re-open his stable at some point in the future.

May

Tochiazuma in 2004, a year in which was twice demoted from the ozeki rank after injury problems.

• At the Natsu basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu's winning streak is sensationally halted at 35 by maegashira Hokutoriki, who has never defeated a yokozuna before. Hokutoriki remains in contention for the title right up until the end of the tournament. Coming into Day 15 on 13–1, one win ahead of Asashoryu, he is defeated by Hakuho (who scores 12–3 and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize in his debut top division tournament) and subsequently loses a playoff to Asashoryu, who wins his 3rd championship in a row, and his 7th overall. Hokutoriki is rewarded with the Outstanding Performance and Technique Prizes. Tochiazuma is still unable to compete and loses his ozeki status. Veteran former ozeki Takanonami, who has been fighting in the maegashira ranks for most of the last four years, announces his retirement, leaving the newly renamed Takanohana stable without any sekitori ranked wrestlers. Former komusubi Hamanoshima, in the makushita division for the last two years, and former maegashira Wakanojo, who has fallen all the way to the jonidan division, also retire. Mongolian Tokitenku wins the juryo division championship. Two Estonian wrestlers, Baruto and Kitaoji, make their professional debuts. (Kitaoji quits after only three tournaments.)

July

• At the Nagoya basho, Asashoryu takes his 4th yusho in a row with a 13–2 record. His wins include an extraordinary victory over Kotonowaka on Day 8, in a rematch after he was on the brink of defeat in the first bout. ^[1] Runners-up are maegashira Miyabiyama and Toyozakura, who each score 12–3. Toyozakura wins the Fighting Spirit Award (no other prizes are given out this time). Kaio scores 11–4. Tochiazuma regains his ozeki rank by winning ten bouts, the fourth man to achieve this after Mienoumi, Takanonami and Musoyama. Hokutoriki, who was promoted to sekiwake after his fine performance in May, manages to win only three matches. Kotooshu wins the juryo championship with a 13–2 score and earns promotion to the top division.

August

• Former juryo wrestler Kanechika takes over the Miyagino stable, replacing the former maegashira Chikubayama, mentor of Hakuho, who stays on as an assistant coach. The new Miyagino Oyakata has no connection to the stable, having wrestled for Kitanoumi stable, but he has been adopted by the widow of a previous head of the stable.

September

Asashoryu accompanied by Asasekiryu and Kaiho during the September 2004 tournament.

• At the Aki basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu's chance for a clean sweep of the 2004 tournaments is dashed when he pulls off a poor 9–6 record and Kaio gets his 5th championship with a 13–2 record. Asashoryu's mediocre performance is attributed to a lack of training due to his wedding reception on 31 August. Tochinonada and Kyokushuzan finish runners-up on 11–4, with Tochinonada receiving the Outstanding Performance Prize, while Roho and Kotonowaka each score ten and share the Fighting Spirit award. Musoyama and Tochiazuma both drop out through injury and will be kadoban in November. Ama wins the juryo championship with an 11–4 score. Tamaasuka wins the makushita title with a perfect 7–0 record and reaches the sekitori ranks for the first time. Hagiwara is promoted to the top division alongside Ama, changing his name to Kisenosato. At 18 years and 3 months he is the second youngest after Takanohana II to achieve this.
• Former sekiwake Masudayama of the Kasugano stable leaves to open his own Chiganoura stable.

October

• 2: The retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki of the 67th yokozuna Musashimaru takes place at the Kokugikan.

November

• At the Kyushu basho, Asashoryu comes back with a 13–2 championship, his 9th overall. Kaio needed 13 wins to gain promotion to yokozuna but after losing to Kotomitsuki on opening day, Hakuho on Day 10 and Miyabiyama on Day 12 can only manage a runner-up score of 12–3 in his hometown tournament, just one win short. Musoyama announces his retirement on Day 3 and Tochiazuma is demoted once again after pulling out on Day 6, leaving Kaio and Chiyotaikai as the only ozeki. Maegashira 1 Hakuho is runner-up alongside Kaio and receives the Outstanding Performance Prize. Sekiwake Wakanosato records an impressive 11–4 and wins the Technique Award. The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Kotooshu who also scores 11 wins in his second makuuchi tournament. Ishide wins the juryo championship. Former maegashira Oikari retires.

Deaths

• 29 February: the 42nd Yokozuna Kagamisato, aged 80.
• 7 August: Yoshimura Ryuta, a sandanme ranked wrestler at Tagonoura stable, aged 17, of multiple organ failure due to meningitus.
• 16 October: Nakabuchi Koichi, a makushita wrestler at Takanohana stable, aged 32, of heart failure.

See also

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

References

1. "Pair remain tied for lead at Nagoya basho". Japan Times. 12 July 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2009.