The 53rd All Japan Sumo Championship on Dec 12

[Jonosuke 28]

The 53rd All Japan Sumo Championship will be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on December 12. It is the stage to crown the year's top amateur rikishi in the country and this year we have the Tournament's only High School student vying for the top position.

Gotaro Sawai, 18, from Saitama Sakae High School, already captured the so-called High School Sumo Triple Crown - Spring Sumo Championship, All Japan All Sports Festival in summer and the Fall Sports Festival Group Youth Tournament.

Sawai won a total of 11 major national titles in his three years at the High School. Now he will be trying to become the second High School student ever to win the title since Keita Kushima (former Kushimaumi) from Wakayama Prefecture's Shingu High did it in 1983.

Gotaro Sawai was born in Neyagawa City, Osaka and started taking sumo lessons when he turned nine years old at a famed Furuichi Dojyo (run by Makushita Furuichi's father) in Katano City. Two years later he won All Japan "Wanpaku Sumo" Tournament for Elementary School students but he never made it to any national level tournament while he was in Middle School as he could not gain enough weight. "I was regularly attending the practices at the dojo but since I couldn't win at all I really did not work out harder," Sawai said.

When he was wondering about his future plan after graduating from the Middle School, he got a call from Manager of Saitama Sakae Sumo Club Michinori Yamada, 38, who recognized Sawai's potential since he saw him at All Wanpaku Sumo Tournament years ago and invited him to join them. Sawai took the offer and decided to go to Saitama Sakae. Sawai was taken into the school sumo club's dormitory by Yamada and his wife while he continued his high school studies at the

Saitama Sakae.

Manager Yamada encouraged him to learn a rapid sumo style by charging straight from tachiai and then take the right and then get the left uwate to take advantage of his speed as he could run 50 meters in 7 seconds. He kept practicing Chiyonofuji style hard hitting head first technique daily. "He always had a great hidden ability so once we got him to get motivated, his progress was quick," Yamada said.

Sawai became a regular team member in his first year and contributed in their capture of the group title at All Japan High School Tournament and National Sports Festival. He also won the individual class Yusho at the National Sports Festival for two straight years. His weight also went up to 130 kg.

To prepare for this year's National Sports Festival held in Saitama, Sawai trained with members of the sumo club at Nihon Tsuun which won All Japan Corporate Tournament and got their members mesmerized. Several college sumo coaches

are already predicting for him to finish in the Best 8.

At All Japan Championship, there are three preliminary rounds and the top 32 will advance to the final phase. Sawai partcipated in the last year's Championship but he had only 1 win and 2 losses record and did not advance to the final.

This year he will face this year's College Yokozuna Hakiai of Kinki University, Ikeura (Shimizu High School teacher in Kochi Prefecture and the third place finisher in the 2002

All Japan College Championship) and Hirayama of Nihon University Sumo Club. Sawai will need to win at least two bouts to advance to the Final.

He is the same age as Maegashira Lead Kisenosato who joined Ozumo right after his graduation from Middle School. "Turning pro is the only way to go. I'd like to make my

dohyo debut at the Hatsu Basho next year," Sawai said. If Sawai wins the All Japan, he will become the first High School student ever to earn Makushita Tsukedashi qualification.

Edited December 12, 2004 by Jonosuke

[Jonosuke 28]

BTW he does NOT look like Kaiho (Being unsure...)

[Asashosakari 19,306]

Thank you very much Jonosuke. (Being unsure...) I was just wondering today that it can't be long until the All Japan Championship, and here you are with plenty of information about it.

I take your penultimate paragraph to mean that the complete first-round draws have already been announced?

[Kintamayama 45,086]

BTW he does NOT look like Kaiho (Being unsure...)

No, but he looks like Giant Baba.

[Kintamayama 45,086]

Thank you very much Jonosuke.  (Being unsure...) I was just wondering today that it can't be long until the All Japan Championship, and here you are with plenty of information about it.

Certain people on this forum update the forum calendar regularly. On the front page of the forum, towards the bottom, you can see all important dates for the coming 30 days. Therein, the dates of the All Japan tournament have been prominently displayed for some time now. When you move your mouse over the entry, you get the date.

FYI...

Edited December 3, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 19,306]

Certain people on this forum update the forum calendar regularly. On the front page of the forum, towards the bottom, you can see all important dates for the coming 30 days. Therein, the dates of the All Japan tournament have been prominently displayed for some time now. When you move your mouse over the entry, you get the date.

FYI...

I know. I was wondering about it while I wasn't home. (Being unsure...) And then Jonosuke's post was there before I even remembered that I meant to check the calendar.

Edited December 3, 2004 by Asashosakari

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

He is the same age as Maegashira Lead Kisenosato who joined Ozumo right after his graduation from Middle School.

Thanks for your translation as usual. I think Kisenosato is the correct one at age 18, but Hakuho was the one with the Maegashira lead.

[Kintamayama 45,086]

Another picture of kawaii Sawai, this time with Sakae boss Yamada-san:

[Jonosuke 28]

More update:

The year's top amateur rikishi in Japan will be decided at the 53rd All Japan Championship to be held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on December 12. A total of 64 selected athletes made up of 31 non-student amateurs, 32 College students and 1 High School student will be vying for the honor of being awarded the title of

"Amateur Yokozuna of the Year".

At this year's All Japan, the only high schooler, 181 cm tall and weighing 130 kg Gotaro Sawai is attracting the most attention. Sawai from Saitama Sakae High can become the second high school student ever to win 12 national level sumo titles in his three high school years. The only other to accomplish this was Keita Kushima (former Maegashira Lead Kushimaumi and the current Tagonoura oyakata) twenty one years ago. Kushima went on to lead the famed Nihon University Sumo Club before joining Ozumo. Sawai has already won the two premier national high school sumo events this year. His favorite technique is going with migi-yotsu and taking his opponent's left front-mawashi but he is versatile to go with oshi-zumo as well.

The Preliminary rounds will have four participants competing and those finishing the first or second will proceed to the Final phase with 32 participating. Sawai will face this year's College/University Yokozuna Akifumi Hakiai (4th year, Kinki University), Akira Hirayama (4th year, Nihon University) who won the individual 135 kg class at this year's East Japan University Sumo Championship, and Toru Ikeura (teacher, Shimizu High School, Kochi Prefecture) who placed the third in the All Japan School Teacher Sumo Championship.

The current pre-tournament favorite is University/College Yokozuna Hakiai who will be turning pro next year as he has already acquired his Makushita Tsukedashi qualification. Among University and College ranks, other contenders are this year's World Championship Heavyweight Class winner Takayuki Ichihara of Nihon University and another Nichi-Dai member Keisho Shimoda who won Open Class at the World Championship. Ichihara has a traditional yotsu-zumo style by taking advantage of his size while Shimoda displays a quick and fast charging sumo style. Kenichi Sakaizawa of the Nichi-Dai Club is another strong contender.

Among non-student amateurs, the notable competitors are the last year's winner 31 year old Kouichi Kato (teacher, Yaizu Fishery High School, Shizuoka Prefecture), the last year's second place finisher Tadao Ogasawara (staff, Aomori Future Creation Foundation), this year's All Japan Corporate Sumo Championship winner Hisashi Maeda (staff, Wakayama Prefectural Government) and Tsuyoshi Iozaki (teacher, Mattou High School, Ishikawa Prefecture) who won the Group Class B at the National Sports Festival Sumo Tournament this year.

[Asashosakari 19,306]

The Preliminary rounds will have four participants competing and those finishing the first or second will proceed to the Final phase with 32 participating.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What happens when 3 of the 4 rikishi in a group finish with 2-1? (i.e. they each lost a bout among themselves, and all of them won against the 4th guy)

[Jonosuke 28]

The Preliminary rounds will have four participants competing and those finishing the first or second will proceed to the Final phase with 32 participating.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What happens when 3 of the 4 rikishi in a group finish with 2-1? (i.e. they each lost a bout among themselves, and all of them won against the 4th guy)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did not quite put it correctly. The first finishers are those with 3-0 and the second finishers are those with 2-1 record. Those two level finishers will proceed to the final round so basically you need to win 2 to get past the first round.

If they don't come up with the exact 32 rikishis for the final round, I believe they will go with those with 2-1 records or more. Last year they started with 68 participants but there were only 32 rikishis left with better than 2-1 records after the preliminary so they did the final round with the 32 athletes.

Here's a break down of 36 University participants for the preliminary round:

Nihon University: 10 (2 with 3-0 Kokumae & Shimoda, 3 with 2-1, 5 with 1-2)

Nihon Taiiku University: 4 (1 with 3-0 Onishi, 1 with 2-1, 1 with 2-1, 1 with 0-3)

Toyo University: 3 (2 with 3-0, 1 with 2-1)

Komazawa University: 3 (1 with 3-0, 1 with 1-2, 1 with 0-3)

Senshu Universtiy: 3 (2 with 1-2, 1 wtih 0-3)

Tokyo Agricultural University: 2 (1 with 2-1, 1 with 1-2 <- this was a Mongolian.)

Daitodai University: 2 (1 with 1-2, 1 with 0-3)

Chuo University: 1 (1 with 1-2)

Takushoku University: 1 (1 with 1-2)

Kinki University: 5 (1 with 3-0 Kanbayashi, 3 with 2-1 including Haikiai, 1 with 1-2)

Ritsumeikan University: 1 (1 with 0-3)

Kansai Gakuin University: 1 (1 with 1-2)

A breakdown of 2 High School participants:

Sawai of Saitama Sakae 1-2

Matsumoto of Meitoku Gijutsu 1-2

Non-student amateurs (30):

5 wtih 3-0 including the eventual winner Kato

11 with 2-1 including Ogasawara who placed the second

9 with 1-2

5 with 0-3

[Mattjila 0]

Jonosuke, those results are for last year, right?

BTW, is there a website for the All Japans? I tried my saddest to search the Japan internets and no go. I figure it's probably something simple...

Edited December 11, 2004 by Mattjila

[Jonosuke 28]

Jonosuke, those results are for last year, right?

BTW, is there a website for the All Japans?  I tried my saddest to search the Japan internets and no go.  I figure it's probably something simple...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was from the last year. This year's is on this Sunday. Actually there are more than a few people interested in this and I am also looking for it but can't find any information at all. I really like to know who will be there but I am sure most of the non-student rikishis are the same as last year but we should have different college students as likely most have graduated last year.

So far I got the information from newpapers but by Sunday night either Kintamayama or I can come up with more solid information. I actually contacted Katrina by e-mail but apparently she is pretty much swamped at the moment so we may be on our own this time around unless someone in Japan can watch it on TV as it's on NHK from 17:00 for an hour.

[Jonosuke 28]

Here are the results:

29 year old Takayuki Toganoki from Nihon Tsuun (shipping/transportation) company won the 53rd All Japan Sumo Championship held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on December 12 and was crowned the title of "Amateur Yokozuna". 186 cm tall and 150 kg Toganoki graduated from Toyo University.

The second place went to Yuuki Mori, second year student at Nihon University Sumo Club.

This was Toganoki's first All Japan victory and the second straight year, a non-student amateur won the Championship. Last year Kouichi Kato, teacher at Yaizu High School in Shizuoka Prefecture) won the Yusho.

"High School Yokozuna" Gotaro Sawai of Saitama Sakae High School became the fourth high school student in its history to place in the top four by finishing the third since Keiji Tamiya (currently Komusubi Kotomitsuki) finished second in 1994.

This year's "College/University Yokozuna" Hakiai lost to Sawai in the quarter-final while the last year's winner Kato was beaten in the first round of the Final phase. This year's National Sports Festival Group Adult A Class ("Kokutai Seinen A") champion Akifumi Saito (teacher Saiko-Honan High School in Saga Prefecture) was out in the preliminary rounds.

Edited December 12, 2004 by Jonosuke

[Jonosuke 28]

Takayuki Toganoki

-----------------

(Finally winning All Japan and title of Amateur Yokozuna in his ninth appearence)

"I still cannot believe I actually won yet."

"In the last 16, we only had three non-student amateurs. And we even had a high schooler. So that gave me an extra incentive."

Toganoki faced Saitama Sakae's Sawai in the semi-final. He had training sessions with him just prior to the National Sports Festival held this year in Saitama Prefectures and he said he could not beat him at all that time. However he disclosed that he did not show his favorite "kotenage" during the training. Toganoki said he used to go with hidari-uwate throws but after suffering so much injury he naturally shifted to "kotenage" centered sumo.

Toganoki said right now about 90% of his wins come from "kotenage". "At All Japan unless you go with your own favorite technique, you won't have any chance. I never thought about going with anything else and I was just focusing on this technique," Toganoki added.

He is ideally built for sumo with height of 186 cm and weight of 150 kg. He will be 30 years old next February. "Last year Kato san (Kouichi Kato) won the Yusho when he was 30 years old so I believe I still can go on," Toganoki said.

The sumo club at Nittsu has a new atmosphere this year. They completed a brand new dohyo and welcomed a new promising member Satoru Shibuya (third place finisher at All Japan two years ago, former Chuo University Sumo Club). "I was really able to focus on sumo as I represented our Prefecture at the National Sports Festival as the oldest member and learned to withstand the pressure," Toganoki said.

Due to the age restriction, he will no longer be eligible for Makushita Tsukedashi and for Ozumo but he wants to be the wall to college and high school rikishis at All Japan.

Gotaro Sawai

-----------------

(Losing to Toganoki's Takanonami-like Kotenage but finishing in the third)

"Right now I feel some regret. Once you get all the way to there, I really wanted to win in the final. But I was able to have a good sumo today. This gave me a lot of self-confidence. Now I want to turn pro and do my best there."

___________

Final Results:

Quarter Final:

Morishita (Tokyo Agricultural University) over Maeda (Nihon University ) by yorikiri

Mori (Nihon University) over Kitazono (Toyo University) by uwatenage

Sawai (Saitama Sakae High) over Hakiai (Kinki University) by yorikiri

Toganoki (Nihon Tsuun) over Masuda (Kinki University) by Kotenage

Semi-Final:

Mori (Nihon University) over Morishita (Tokyo Agricultural University) by yoritaoshi

Toganoki (Nihon Tsuun) over Sawai (Saitama Sakae High) by kotenage

Final:

Toganoki (Nihon Tsuun) over Mori (Nihon University) by kotenage

Toganoki - the first Yusho.

[Kintamayama 45,086]

Gotaro Sawai

-----------------

(Losing to Toganoki's Takanonami-like Kotenage but finishing in the third)

"Right now I feel some regret. Once you get all the way to there, I really wanted to win in the final.  But I was able to have a good sumo today. This gave me a lot of self-confidence. Now I want to turn pro and do my best there."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He will be joining Iwakiyama at Sakaigawa -beya. He's 18 , yet he can benchpress 130 kilos, squat 300 kilos , and runs 50 meters in 7 seconds.

He starts at the bottom, since he didn't qualify for tsukedashi status, although he does qualify for tsukebito status.

Edited December 12, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,086]

Here is Toganoki beating Mori in the finals- he resembles Takanonami , no, kotenage and all?

Or does he look more like Kaihou??

Edited December 13, 2004 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,086]

Sawai himself:

Edited December 13, 2004 by Kintamayama