1997 in sumo

The following were the events in professional sumo during 1997.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January

1997 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
12	-	3	-	0			Akebono	Y			Takanohana	13	-	2	-	0
14	-	1	-	0			Wakanohana	O			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takanonami	O	ø
6	-	9	-	0			Kaiō	S			Kotonishiki	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Musōyama	K			Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tosanoumi	M1			Takatōriki	11	-	4	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tamakasuga	M2			Kenkō	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M3			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tochinowaka	M4			Higonoumi	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanowaka	M5			Kitakachidoki	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Oginishiki	M6			Kotonowaka	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Aogiyama	M7			Asanosho	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Mitoizumi	M8			Terao	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Hamanoshima	M9			Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Daihishō	M10			Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Daishi	M11			Kotoryū	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Ganyū	M12			Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Konishiki	M13			Rikiō	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	2	-	11	ø		Daishōhō	M14			Yamato	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Shikishima	M15			Misugisato	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotobeppu	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March

1997 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
12	-	3	-	0			Takanohana *	Y			Akebono	12	-	3	-	0
3	-	1	-	11	ø		Wakanohana	O			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Takanonami	O	ø
7	-	8	-	0			Musōyama	S			Takatōriki	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tosanoumi	K			Kyokushūzan	4	-	11	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Kaiō	M1	ø		Kotonowaka	2	-	10	-	3
7	-	8	-	0			Akinoshima	M2			Asanosho	7	-	8	-	0
2	-	12	-	1	ø		Terao	M3			Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotoryū	M4			Tochiazuma	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Kenkō	M5			Daishi	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tamakasuga	M6			Ganyū	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kitakachidoki	M7			Kotoinazuma	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M8			Higonoumi	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asanowaka	M9			Tochinowaka	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M10			Konishiki	6	-	7	-	2
8	-	7	-	0			Aogiyama	M11			Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Rikiō	M12			Yamato	7	-	8	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Dejima	M13			Hamanoshima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Minatofuji	M14			Misugisato	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Oginishiki	M15			Daihishō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Gojōrō	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won 3-Way Playoff

Playoff

(Two consecutive victories required to win the Playoff and the yūshō)

• Match 1: Takanohana defeated Kaiō
• Match 2: Takanohana defeated Akebono

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May

1997 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Takanohana	Y			Akebono *	13	-	2	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami	10	-	5	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Wakanohana	O	ø
7	-	5	-	3	ø		Kaiō	S			Tosanoumi	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Musōyama	K			Takatōriki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tamakasuga	M1			Kotonishiki	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochinowaka	M2			Akinoshima	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanosho	M3			Dejima	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanowaka	M4			Kyokushūzan	2	-	13	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Mitoizumi	M5			Oginishiki	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Tochiazuma	M6			Aogiyama	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ganyū	M7			Shikishima	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotoryū	M8			Kotoinazuma	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Daishi	M9			Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Hamanoshima	M10			Kotonowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kenkō	M11			Kitakachidoki	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Minatofuji	M12			Asahiyutaka	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15			Terao	M13			Gojōrō	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Konishiki	M14			Yamato	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Mainoumi	M15			Rikiō	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tochinonada	M16	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 6 July – 20 July

1997 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Takanohana	Y			Akebono	12	-	3	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Takanonami	O			Musashimaru	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanohana	O	ø
8	-	7	-	0			Tosanoumi	S			Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Oginishiki	K	ø		Kaiō	0	-	0	-	15
					ø			K			Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Musōyama	M1			Takatōriki	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Aogiyama	M2			Kotoinazuma	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Akinoshima	M3			Higonoumi	2	-	13	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Dejima	M4			Kotonowaka	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotonishiki	M5			Asahiyutaka	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochinowaka	M6	ø		Kenkō	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0			Asanosho	M7			Minatofuji	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asanowaka	M8			Ganyū	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Mainoumi	M9			Konishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M10			Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tochinonada	M11			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Rikiō	M12			Kotoryū	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Terao	M13			Kitakachidoki	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Hamanoshima	M14	ø		Daishi	2	-	4	-	9
4	-	11	-	0			Gojōrō	M15			Yamato	6	-	9	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 September – 21 September

1997 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Takanohana *	Y			Akebono	9	-	6	-	0
13	-	2	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami	12	-	3	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Wakanohana	O	ø
5	-	10	-	0			Tosanoumi	S			Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
					ø			S			Takatōriki	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	3	-	12	ø		Musōyama	K	ø		Kaiō	0	-	0	-	15
					ø			K			Tamakasuga	6	-	9	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Dejima	M1			Ganyū	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tochinonada	M2			Konishiki	0	-	11	-	4
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Oginishiki	M3			Kyokushūzan	3	-	12	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Aogiyama	M4	ø		Rikiō	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0			Akinoshima	M5			Kotoinazuma	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Mitoizumi	M6			Kotonowaka	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Shikishima	M7			Asahiyutaka	8	-	7	-	0
4	-	7	-	4	ø		Asanosho	M8			Terao	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Minatofuji	M9			Kotonishiki	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asanowaka	M10			Hamanoshima	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinowaka	M11			Chiyotaikai	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotoryū	M12			Higonoumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanojō	M13			Kushimaumi	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mainoumi	M14			Kitakachidoki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Akinoshū	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November

1997 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
14	-	1	-	0			Takanohana	Y	ø		Akebono	0	-	0	-	15
12	-	3	-	0			Musashimaru	O			Takanonami *	14	-	1	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanohana	O	ø
7	-	8	-	0			Tochiazuma	S	ø		Dejima	5	-	3	-	7
					ø			S			Takatōriki	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tochinonada	K			Akinoshima	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tamakasuga	M1			Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Asahiyutaka	M2			Hamanoshima	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Oginishiki	M3			Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonishiki	M4			Tochinowaka	3	-	12	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Chiyotaikai	M5			Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Musōyama	M6			Kotoinazuma	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ganyū	M7			Wakanojō	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotonowaka	M8			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Mainoumi	M9			Terao	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Aogiyama	M10			Shikishima	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Mitoizumi	M11			Kitakachidoki	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Yamato	M12			Minatofuji	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Akinoshū	M13			Asanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	9	-	0	ø		Konishiki	M14			Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Asanosho	M15			Kushimaumi	3	-	12	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

News

January

• At the Hatsu basho, ozeki Wakanohana wins his third makuuchi division championship with a 14–1 score. His brother, Yokozuna Takanohana returns from a back injury and is runner-up on 13–2. Yokozuna Akebono and ozeki Musashimaru take third place with 12–3. Mongolian Kyokushuzan wins the Technique Prize. The Outstanding Performance Prize goes to Tosanoumi and the Fighting Spirit Award to Kotoryu. Dejima wins the juryo yusho.

March

• In Osaka, Takanohana takes his 16th championship after an unusual four way playoff also involving Akebono, Musashimaru and maegashira 1 Kaio, after all finish on 12–3. He defeats Kaio and then Akebono, who had eliminated Musashimaru. Kaio, who had upset both Takanohana and Akebono earlier in the tournament, is awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. Dejima receives Technique and Fighting Spirit prizes for scoring eleven wins in his top division debut. Tamakasuga also receives a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. Wakanohana withdraws early after tearing a muscle in his right leg. Terao is also forced to withdraw after breaking his big toe, ending a run of 1359 consecutive bouts from his debut in 1979. Chiyotaikai wins the juryo championship. Former komusubi Naminohana retires.

May

• Akebono wins his 9th yusho, and first for over two years, by defeating Takanohana twice on the final day, once in regulation and once in a playoff after both yokozuna finish on 13–2. It is the first time that Takanohana and Akebono alone have fought a playoff, and comes after Akebono had lost seven times in a row to his rival. Wakanohana sits the tournament out. Kaio suffers a serious leg injury after standing at 7–4 on the 11th day and has to withdraw. Tamakasuga wins his second successive sansho, for Outstanding Performance. Tosanoumi and Tochiazuma share the Fighting Spirit Award. Oginishiki wins the Technique Prize. Tokitsuumi wins the juryo yusho in his debut in the division. Toki wins the makushita championship. Former sekiwake Kotogaume retires, as does juryo wrestler Sunahama (William Taylor Hopkins) from Hawaii.
• Former ozeki Daiju takes over the running of Asahiyama stable following the death of its stablemaster.

June

• To mark 100 years of trade relations between Japan and Australia a tour by top division wrestlers visits Melbourne on the 6th and 7th, where an exhibition tournament is held at Melbourne Park (home of the Australian Open), and Sydney on the 13th and 14th, at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

July

• Takanohana defeats Akebono on the final day in Nagoya to claim his 17th championship with a 13–2 record. Akebono is runner-up on 12–3. Takatoriki is third on 11–4 and wins the Outstanding Performance Prize. Tochiazuma wins his first Technique Award, and Tochinonada receives the Fighting Spirit Prize. Wakanohana just preserves his ozeki status with an 8–7 record. Chiyotaikai wins his second juryo championship and promotion to makuuchi, the first top division wrestler produced by the former Chiyonofuji (Kokonoe-oyakata). Former juryo veteran Dairyu retires at the age of 37 after 21 years in sumo.

September

• At the Aki basho Takanohana wins back-to-back titles for the first time in a year, defeating Musashimaru in a playoff after both men finish on 13–2. Takanonami is third on 12–3. Dejima finishes on 11–4 and wins Technique and Outstanding Performance Prizes. Tochiazuma also receives a share of the Technique Prize in his debut tournament at sekiwake. The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Tochinonada for the second time in a row. In the juryo division Oginohana wins his fourth championship. Toyozakura wins the makushita yusho. Rikio retires after a disagreement with his stablemaster (the former Takanosato).

November

• In Kyushu, former ozeki Konishiki retires after winning only five bouts at maegashira 14, bringing to an end a career that encompassed three yusho and 81 consecutive top division tournaments. His final match proves to be his eighth defeat in his bout against Kotonowaka on Day 13, as he is not allowed onto the dohyo to face Misugisato on the following day due to his stablemaster having already handed in his retirement papers. Former sekiwake Wakashoyo, and maegashira Kotobeppu also retire. The championship is won by Takanonami, his second. He defeats his stablemate Takanohana in a playoff after both wrestlers finish on 14–1. All the sekiwake and komusubi record losing scores, the first time this has happened in seven years. Unsurprisingly only one special prize is awarded, to Musoyama for Fighting Spirit. Akebono sits the tournament out. Wakanosato wins the juryo title after a playoff with Susanoumi. Kitazakura wins the makushita yusho.

Deaths

• 20 May: Asahiyama Oyakata (former komusubi Wakafutase), aged 55.
• 5 July: Former sekiwake Kainoyama (also briefly Onogawa Oyakata), aged 57.
• 18 August: Former sekiwake Tochiakagi, aged 42.
• 17 September: Tatsutayama Oyakata (former maegashira Amanoyama), aged 43.
• 24 September: Asakayama Oyakata (former komusubi Aobayama), aged 47.

See also

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