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SFM’s historian, JK, wraps his two-part article on the greatest of the tsuna wearers
What exactly is it and furthermore, what does it do? The ISF explain themselves and their purpose in existing
Man or myth? Sumo's first yokozuna comes under the spotlight
Tokitsukaze-beya and its famous find themselves the target of Barbara's peek into life inside the heya
Featuring interviews with amateur sumo's European Sumo Union General Secretary and the President of the newly founded Irish Sumo Federation
Would chanko exist without sumo? What is chanko anyway? Find out in Sumo 101
Basho through the eyes of the fans in the seats as SFM gives the mantle of photographer(s) for this basho to Barbara & Gerald Patten. And don't miss our all-Mongolian Bonanza supplied by our Editor, Barbara Ann Klein
Lon gives us his Haru Basho summary, along with the henka sightings results
Mikko Mattila covers the lower division goings on like nobody else around
Mark Buckton glances back to look forward in his ones to look out for come May
Our man Mikko takes us on a tour of his chosen kimarite
Our gaming thread takes a break for April so we can look at the Spanish language book on the sport not long since released
Todd’s bimonthly focus on 3 of the WWW's best sumo sites today
April's man VS monkey debate covers the issue of reducing the number of honbasho
Sit back and enjoy the offerings
made you a sumo fan? Thierry Perran lets us in on his reasons for loving this sport
See what our featured letter is for this issue
Sumo Quiz
The Quizmaster
Answer the Qs and win yourself next basho’s banzuke.
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management responsibility. Much lighter than his weight when active, Takanohana oyakata can be seen today as a dohyo judge while he develops younger recruits in his own heya.
Table 11 – Most Career Wins
| | Rikishi | Number of Wins |
|---|
| 1. | Chiyonofuji | 1045 |
| 2. | Oshio (komusubi) | 964 |
| 3. | Kitanoumi | 951 |
| 4. | Taiho | 872 |
| 5. | Terao (sekiwake) | 860 |
Finally, while not strictly related to the yokozuna, this statistic illustrates the longevity of Chiyonofuji as yokozuna, until he was almost 36 years of age. Former komusubi Oshio is currently Shikihide Oyakata while former sekiwake Terao is the current Shikoroyama Oyakata.
The 58th yokozuna Chiyonofuji “Wolf” Mitsugu (1955- ) matured only after he turned 30 years of age, and though rather small, his sumo was accentuated by the coupling of speed with his favorite uwate-nage throw.
In 1980 he won 80 bouts, the third highest amount in sumo history; then went on to win five consecutive yusho (May 1986 to January 1987); and in 1983, won 53 straight bouts before
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finally losing to fellow yokozuna Onokuni on day 14 of the November basho. His record of 31 yusho of which seven were zensho yusho, is only second to Taiho. His 53 consecutive bout winning record is second only to Futabayama's earlier record and his five straight yusho victories place him third in that branch of sumo numbers history.
Kokonoe-oyakata (photo by Meike Sinke)
During the 1989 March basho, he won 14 straight bouts from day 1 but dislocated his shoulder after throwing out Onokuni on day 14. At this point, he had already secured the yusho, but could not continue and had a fusen loss against yokozuna Asahifuji on the final day. He thus became the second person to in sumo history to receive the Emperor's Cup while kyujo. He was all
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smiles as he had his picture taken with his newborn one-month-old daughter. However, due to the injury Chiyonofuji also had to withdraw from the following basho that saw his stablemate, the 61st yokozuna and current Hakkaku Oyakata, Hokutoumi Nobuyoshi (1963- ) win his fifth yusho.
A few months later, in June 1989, Chiyonofuji lost his daughter to sudden infant death syndrome and the pressure he had to face at the July basho seemed insurmountable. His shoulder had healed sufficiently to return to the dohyo, though and come senshuraku, his record stood at 12 wins and 3 losses – the same as Hokutoumi. It was the first time a yusho playoff was decided in a bout between two sekitori belonging to the same heya. Chiyonofuji used his favorite uwate-nage to down Hokutoumi, with this result forming part of his six-for-six in yusho playoffs; a fact that only goes to underscore his mental tenacity both on and off the dohyo.
Returning to the present, the 68th yokozuna and current lone star atop sumo's pile, Asashoryu Akinori sits unaccompanied as he heads towards the 2006 May Basho but is a man many would back to break records still – only time will tell.
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