2022 Collegiate Sumo + Banzuke

[Katooshu 3,333]

Wow - thanks for that post, great to know! He has height and skill for sure.

Edited July 17, 2022 by Katooshu

[Seiyashi 4,108]

Might be the next Hakuhō in terms of strength of lineage. His father won Mongolia's Nadaam 4 times (vs Hakuhō's father's 6).

[Akinomaki 40,777]

On 17/07/2022 at 11:43, Katooshu said:

The National Kanazawa Tournament was just held. To sum it up - West Japan underdogs score big; the usual stars sitting out.

I mentioned earlier that Kanazawa Gakuin University was putting together a good team, and today really showed it. They won the team event, with a 3-2 victory in the final over Nippon Sports Science University. While NSSU fell short, it was a very good result for them considering their 2 best competitors (Nakamura and Hanada) didn't compete, and I don't think Choijil (probably their #3 or #4) did either. From the results, it looks like Naoya Kusano and Kazuma Kawabuchi were also absent for Nihon University, so that's a lot of top talent absent from this tournament.

The individual event was won by a tall Mongolian from Doshisha University, whose name escapes me. He has caught my eye before and has solid belt skills, though has generally been overpowered by the top competitors. Runner-up was Shun Ikeda of Kanazawa Gakuin, and losing semifinalists were Masai Hanaoaka from Nihon University and Ryoma Ishizaki from NSSU. 

Pics from the papers

individuals - Takada from Todai

o

best 4

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the rest are Kanazawa gakuin members

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team final bout  - against another Nittaidai Mongolian member, ブフチョローン ?Buhchoroon?, from Kashiwa high like Hoshoryu

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from the sf vs. Takushoku

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winners Kanazawa gakuin

o

[Katooshu 3,333]

If I recall correctly, NSSU's blog stated that Buchooron won a national high school title in wrestling. He was best 8 at the East Japan Championships and scored important wins in the team competition there too, including the decisive victory to win the event. He clearly has skill but needs more power and acclimatization to sumo - this is his first year of regular competition. 

By the way, I wonder what's up with Choijil's high school buddy, Dalai (I forgot the spelling)? He hasn't been seen in ages - if he's injured it must be very serious. Already in his 2nd-year he made the All Japan best 8, best 8 at this event, and won the fighting spirit prize for going 7-0 at the 9-man 'league' tournament. He looked poised to be among the top competitors in his 3rd and 4th years, and NSSU would be even tougher to beat with him active on the team.

Edited July 18, 2022 by Katooshu

[Katooshu 3,333]

NSSU's posted some of the team matches - and from their blog seem unhappy with the call in the match that won it for Kanazawa Gakuin - Buchooron vs Omori.

They have good reason to be upset too. Omori in the white looks out there, but was called the winner.

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by Katooshu

[Bakayokozuna 52]

Here is some coverage from the youtube channel that was actually recommanded in this discussion (thanks for that  )

https://youtu.be/9X1GkrZaiGM

Only one video as i write this but more from this event to come i assume.

[Katooshu 3,333]

The same channel posted the team finals too, and presumably will post the individuals. 

The wrong call was definitely made in the team final - honest mistake, or pulling for the home team? 

 

Edited July 27, 2022 by Katooshu

[Katooshu 3,333]

East Japan and West Japan both held their weight class tournaments today. Haven't seen the West Japan tournament yet, but in East Japan Nippon Sports Science University won a record 7 of the 8 divisions.

Defending amateur yokozuna Nakamura won the 135kg+ division, while team mate Choijilsuren won openweight. Rising Mongolian Bucheroon won at 115kg for NSSU, beating former sekitori Ryuko's brother in the final. Masei Hanaoaka of Nihon University was the only winner not from NSSU, putting his smooth skills to use in the 135kg division. Hidetora Hanada didn't compete in this one, and thus won't be at nationals in 3 weeks either. Kazuma Kawabuchi, formerly Nihon University's top competitor, hasn't been in action at all this year after suffering a serious injury at the National Student Championship last fall.

The Nihon coaches handled that situation terribly by the way, and I hope Kawabuchi doesn't pay the price long-term. He was badly injured in a quarterfinal team match and couldn't leave the dohyo on his own, yet was in the lineup for the semifinal match shortly after, where he immediately collapsed and needed to be carried off again. He clearly shouldn't have been allowed to compete after being injured, but I guess straight up forfeiting that match wasn't in the cards....

Nakamura beating Nihon University's Shiroma in the 135kg+ final

Edited September 4, 2022 by Katooshu

[Bakayokozuna 52]

Didn't watch any video of this yet but nice to learn that Choijil is still doing good after his little injury. The guy had a pretty good 2022 so far

About Kawabuchi i am with you, that was painfull to watch. I hope he will be able to bounce back. I only started watching college sumo a few months before the injury but from what i saw and what you guys were saying about him, he was looking like a very good prospect

 

[Katooshu 3,333]

Seemed to me like a case of putting the team's immediate result ahead of the competitor's well being. Even if Kawabuchi had wanted to compete, he shouldn't have been allowed.

He was a very good prospect and Nihon's most consistent team member. Not often you see someone almost 200kg with that skill and balance.

Edited September 4, 2022 by Katooshu

[Akinomaki 40,777]

The East Japan weight class championships were the first event in amateur sumo that introduced video assistance for the shimpan. In case of igi moushitate (the mono-ii in amateur sumo), the shimpan at their conference on the dohyo checked the recordings of the 4 iPads that were placed in the 4 corners of the dohyo. Also in amateur tournaments, misjudgements happened frequently lately.  https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2022/09/04/kiji/20220904s00005000554000c.html

 

Edited September 5, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,777]

On 04/09/2022 at 12:59, Katooshu said:

Defending amateur yokozuna Nakamura won the 135kg+ division, while team mate Choijilsuren won openweight.

o

live streams

East Japan championships from the sumo federation channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpXmbJOYBsU

 

West Japan championships - quite shaky videos from the West Japan student sumo federation channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqNZHpAB1DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujPNXxLC3is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSH-X0oPzak

Edited September 5, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Katooshu 3,333]

As day 1 of the Aki basho unfolded, Nippon Sports Science University was busy solidifying their position as the top team in college sumo.

Their team of Nakamura, Ishizaki, and Choijil won the Kariya Business-Student Championship, with a total of 17 wins out of a possible 18. The only loss was suffered by Ishizaki in the final vs Kinki University, but his team mates followed with wins to secure the yusho.

Choijil also made it to the finals of the individual competition, but was beaten by corporate competitor Takeuchi, who graduated from Nihon University a few years ago. In fact his picture is still on their outdated website: http://www.nu-sumoclub.com/member.html

Losing semifinalists were Mantaro Haruyama of Nihon University and Shun Ikeda of Kanazawa Gakuin. Haruyama pulled a big upset, side stepping reigning amateur yokozuna Daiki Nakamura, who had easily won his previous 8 matches in the tournament. It's revenge of sorts for Haruyama, as Nakamura bulldozed him in the individual yusho match of a national tournament back in high school.

Team winner

Individual

Edited September 11, 2022 by Katooshu

[mikawa 1,794]

2-time High School Yokozuna and amateur sumo superstar Tetsuya Ochiai has become this year's Corporate Yokozuna. He won today's corporate championships in Ehime, beating ex-corporate yokozuna Soichiro Kurokawa in the final. He represented his dad's company Noda-gumi, and now has a Makushita 15 tsukedashi if he chooses to use it. He is only the second high school graduate in history to win this tournament on his first attempt (after Ichinojo).

 

[Seiyashi 4,108]

If this was what Ochiai was waiting for, does that come in time for him to be given Ms15TD for Kyūshū? And does that make Miyagino the first heya to have two Ms15TDs starting in consecutive basho?

[maglor 122]

So let me get this right, you can participate in the corporate championships even as a high schooler or college student as long as you can get some company to make you a temporary intern? Why aren't all the top guys doing this then

[Katooshu 3,333]

I don't think you can compete if you are currently a high schooler or university student. Ochiai graduated high school last year and didn't go to college, so he is neither.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

8 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

I don't think you can compete if you are currently a high schooler or university student. Ochiai graduated high school last year and didn't go to college, so he is neither.

Graduated last year meaning 2021 (calendar), or 2022 (academic)?

If the former, it doesn't seem like it makes much sense unless injury healing was part of the timing. Surely someone of his calibre would make Ms15 or thereabouts faster than 8-9 basho. But if this year, then with his dad's connections it's certainly a smart move as it not only guarantees the TD but perhaps a basho or even two faster than if he were to go in from maezumo.

That said, wasn't it him who had actually already secured some kind of tsukedashi status via the usual high school competitions during the coronovirus situation? Did it turn out to not be extendable for the second year or something?

[Katooshu 3,333]

It would've been March 2022 I guess. He could've started ozumo that month (or potentially even January) at Sd100TD with the qualification he earned at the 2021 All Japan Championship. 

If he'd done that he'd have been ahead of his peers and have a shot to be around Ms15 for November as well, though obviously it wouldn't be guaranteed in the same way as getting the Ms15TD qualification he now has.

His Sd100TD from 2021 is still active, so if he'd failed to place in the corporate tournament he could still have started this year in sandanme, but he would've fallen behind his peers who started from maezumo.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Katooshu

[Akinomaki 40,777]

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

If this was what Ochiai was waiting for, does that come in time for him to be given Ms15TD for Kyūshū? And does that make Miyagino the first heya to have two Ms15TDs starting in consecutive basho?

Ochiai graduated in March, remember that he was at the last All Japan as high school student. Sponichi writes that which heya he'll chose and which basho will be a point of media attention from now on - so the rumors here have yet to be proven. He said he wants to enter this year, but he may give the All Japan another try to aim for a ms10TD.

o

On 25/04/2022 at 20:53, Akinomaki said:

He was interviewed at the (Koto-)Sakura-zumo kids tournament in Tottori, at which Ochiai started his sumo life. He's continuing with keiko at the moment (as Tottori Johoku staff I guess) and wants to join ozumo this year. Video: https://www.nkt-tv.co.jp/pc-news/news107547xcowq2k4t7nfi.html

[Seiyashi 4,108]

Thanks very much. That clears up the picture very nicely. Quite a smart series of moves to capitalise on the two-year validity due to corona to get himself a fair confirmed advantage in ozumo, although the marginal utility of going for the Ms10TD appears suspect unless it occurs before Kyūshū - which I assume it does for this move to make sense?

Ms10TD - if I recall correctly, that should be what Mitakeumi and Endō started as.

Edited September 18, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Katooshu 3,333]

He couldn't get the Ms10TD until December, as that's when the All Japan Championship is held that he'd need to win. Plus that's a very difficult tournament to win, as he'd have to face the best of the college world too. Last year he did very well in it to reach the best 8, but was manhandled by the winner Nakamura. And all it takes is a sneaky henka or one slip and that can be it in a sudden death format.

I would think if he could start next basho at Ms15TD, it would be a better move than trying for the Ms10TD - he is advanced enough that it's feasible for him to earn a record which promotes him above that.

But maybe he has a goal of becoming amateur yokozuna and it's not just about rank.....

Edited September 18, 2022 by Katooshu

[Akinomaki 40,777]

I think Ochiai might not be qualified to take part in the All Japan and thus won't plan for that, he's only 3rd dan right now, maybe he got that rank only recently and can't get to 4th immediately now - Ichi-nojo-norow didn't take part and joined immediately for Kyushu back in 2013

On 04/11/2019 at 21:03, Akinomaki said:

sumo renmei regulations http://www.nihonsumo-renmei.jp/about/pdf/kitei.pdf

Best 16 in the major tournaments get points.

Page 60 lists a few more requirements: business people have to be 4th dan, students 3rd dan, high school students 2nd dan, middle school shodan - this implies that the middle school yokozuna can compete in the kokutai juniors - and adults 3rd dan - but who'd be in this category?  Ronin maybe, or just after high school and not yet employed - but they would still have to be in corporate sumo to get points.

Kushima(umi), the only winner of the All Japan ever as high school student, therefore had to be 2nd dan at the time, and Ichinojo-norow, the winner of the corporate championships just after high school, could then not participate in the All Japan because he wasn't 4th dan - with his Tottori Johoku teacher job he should have qualified as shakaijin

[Katooshu 3,333]

The final national event before the National Student Championship was the Wakayama Corporate-College Tournament, held over the weekend.

The individual final was contested between arguably the two strongest second year students, as Nihon University's Masai Hanaoaka beat the bulldozer Masaharu Goshima from Takushoku by uwatenage. Hanaoaka almost didn't make the finals, as he was pushed around for most of his semifinal vs NSSU's Choijil, but eventually managed to force him out a split second before hitting the dohyo himself.

The team final was won by corporate powerhouse Nippon Express, beating Takushoku 2-1. Individual winner Hanaoaka didn't do so well in the team event, losing both his matches in the knockout rounds, though still scoring a respectable third place with Nihon University. Nippon Sports Science University, fielding a watered down team, lost 2-1 in the quarterfinals to eventual champs Nippon Express. NSSU keeps running tall but underpowered Yuki Sotoo in their lineup, which I don't understand considering their 2nd-year Mongolian Bucheroon is easily better at this stage as a replacement for Nakamura (see below)

The monstrous Daiki Nakamura - defending champ of this event + the reigning amateur yokozuna + the 2x reigning Kokutai champ - didn't compete. There seems to be a plan to conserve him for bigger events, and to get lower-year members more experience. The team's strength will drop significantly when Choijil, Nakamura, and Ishizaki graduate soon.

The whole event is online, timestamped here at the start of the individual semifinals: 

 

Edited October 26, 2022 by Katooshu

[Katooshu 3,333]

Here's a rough go at college rankings with 2022 finished - I stopped at 22 spots because after that it becomes very difficult to find enough separation for each spot and I'd instead have to place competitors in broad tiers. It's important to remember that there are hundreds of collegiate sumo competitors, so even the lowest ranked ones on this list are among the best and are being compared from that perspective.

Rankings are based on my impression of each competitor's ability + results for the year; I did it on the fly so it's possible someone deserving of a place skipped my mind as well.

1/East Yokozuna: Daiki Nakamura, Nippon Sports Science University, 4th year, 193cm/175kg

2/West Yokozuna: Naoya Kusano, Nihon University, 3rd year, 184cm/160kg

3/East Ozeki: Choijilsuren, Nippon Sports Science University, 4th year, 185cm/145kg

4/West Ozeki: Masaki Hanaoka, Nihon University, 2nd year, 182cm/135kg

5/East Sekiwake: Ryoma Ishizaki, Nippon Sports Science University, 4th year, 173cm/125kg

6/West Sekiwake: Shun Ikeda, Kanazawa Gakuin University, 3rd year 183cm/135kg

7/East Komusubi: Masaharu Goshima, Takushoku University, 2nd year 176cm/165kg

8/West Komusubi: Katsuma Yamazaki, Kinki University, 3rd year 177cm/165kg

9/Maegashira 1e: Taiki Mita, Kinki University, 3rd year 172cm/110kg

10/Maegashira 1w: Shion Fujisawa, Kinki University, 4th year 175cm/110kg

11/Maegashira 2e: Mantaro Haruyama, Nihon University, 4th year 180cm/135kg

12/Maegashira 2w: Ryusho Kawakami, Nihon University, 2nd year 184cm/110kg

13/Maegashira 3e: Demidejamutsu, Doshisha University, 4th year 193cm/130kg

14/Maegashira 3w: Bucheroon, Nippon Sports Science University, 2nd year 180cm/115kg

15/Maegashira 4e: Ryusei Shiroma, Nihon University, 4th year 180cm/160kg

16/Maegashira 4w: Yasuhiro Omori, Kanazawa Gakuin University, 1st year 184cm/110kg

17/Maegashira 5e: Shojiro Tabata, Nippon Sports Science University, 4th year 173cm/100kg

18/Maegashira 5w: George Matsunaga, Takushoku University, 3rd year 180cm/160kg

19/Maegashira 6e: Daiki Mikami, Toyo University, 2nd year 193cm/150kg

20/Maegashira 6w: Odofu, Toyo University, 4th year 180cm/160kg

21/Maegashira 7e: Mura Sarukawa, Tokyo Agricultural University, ?, ?

22/Maegashira 7w: Taisei Kitano, Kinki University, 3rd year, 178cm/100kg

By my count, Nakamura went 104-9 over his final 2 years in college, and finished number 1 by miles. Not only did he win win win, but most of his matches were complete blowouts. Until Nakamura, no collegiate rikishi had won more than 2 major titles (those granting MsTD entry) since Kotomitsuki 25 years ago - Nakamura ended his college career with 5 and was 1 win away from sweeping the 3 major titles in his final year.

The next few spots were harder to decide and feasibly could have a few different orderings. In the end, small but plucky Ishizaki's inability to win a tournament ended up putting him below the others for me, who were consistently good and also captured some impressive gold in 2022. Out of this group, I enjoy Hanaoka's sumo the most - silky smooth skills with excellent throws - and with his 3rd and 4th years to come he has a great chance of capturing a major title.

I'd say the next tier would be the 6-12 group, who on their day can beat pretty much anyone and had many good results during the year, but not quite at the same level as the higher ranked competitors. Bulldozer Goshima and Wakamotoharu-ish Kawakami (brother of former sekitori Ryuko) are still only in 2nd year, and look to have serious potential to move into the top few spots in the future, though I don't get that same sense from the others.

From 13 down we get a mix of solid competitors who aren't major yusho threats at the moment but could feasibly make top 8s and 4s. It's important to note that Omori is still just a first year, and has shown the potential to move much higher up this list. Bucheroon may as well if he adds some beef and aggression. Mikami is coming off an impressive 3rd at the All Japans, but most of the year looked overpowered vs better competitors and still hasn't convinced me he's future top tier stuff.

Finally, there were some notable competitors who don't appear anywhere here due to injury. 200kg Kazuma Kawabuchi of Nihon University was arguably the #2 in all of college in his 2nd year, but injury kept him out of action most of this year and he only returned for a couple matches in November. He should be good to go for his final year in 2023.

Dalai, a Mongolian on Nippon Sports Science University, was a strong 6-12 range competitor but he had a similar fate, and only returned from a long injury spell this year, making the top 16s of the student championship as his best result.

And Hidetora Hanada won the first 2 tournaments of the year, but since he quit sumo after that he's not included.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Katooshu