The Centennial Tournament: Traditional and Modern Grand Sumo
Moti Dichne
The "Centennial Tournament: Traditional and Modern Grand Sumo," an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Japan Sumo Association's founding, was held at the Kokugikan today with a lot of excellent special events. In the "Group Selection Tournament," where active rikishi competed for the pride of their respective Ichimon, Dewanoumi A (Kiyonoyama, Raidou, Toushunryuu, Tochimusashi, and Mita) emerged victorious. This unusual team tournament featured five rikishi on each team - one from Jonidan, Sandanme, and Makushita (one ranked 16th or lower, the other 15th or higher), plus one from Juryo. In the final, Dewanoumi A faced Tokitsukaze A. After recovering from two straight losses, they tied at 2-2, then Mita beat Daiseizan in the Juryo clincher. Mita reflected on his special victory, saying, "I was very nervous, but I focused on the team more than myself. It was a great experience." The tournament featured eight teams: Dewanoumi A+B, Isegahama, Tokitsukaze A+B, Nishonoseki A+B, and Takasago. The total prize money was 3.9 million yen. The winning team received 1.04 million yen, second place received 780,000 yen, the two third place teams each received 520,000 yen, and the four teams that advanced to the first round each received 260,000 yen.
Winners:
https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/img/202510070000655-w500_0.jpg
Houshouryuu astonished the audience by defeating five makuuchi rikishi one after another. He appeared in a "yokozuna gonin-gakari" tournament, in which one Yokozuna is challenged by five lower-ranked makuuchi wrestlers: Gounoyama, Hiradoumi, Ura, Rouga, and Meisei. Upon entering the bout, he was surrounded on all four sides by four rikishi other than his opponent. After throwing out the first rikishi, the next rikishi immediately challenged, but the Yokozuna remained unfazed and finished with five consecutive wins. The scene of Tanikaze, who became the de facto first Yokozuna in 1789 (the first year of the Kansei era), being challenged was depicted in a nishiki-e print . After the traditional event, which showcases the Yokozuna's strength to the audience, Houshouryuu quickly returned to the shitaku-beya with a wry smile, saying, "I'm tired." Afterwards, the "modern grand sumo wrestling" took place, with the East and West teams competing in current fashion.
More with photos:
http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/topic/44156-100-years-of-nsk/