1997 in sumo

The following were the events in professional sumo during 1997.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 January – 26 January^[1]

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.

References

^ "1997 Hatsu Basho". Sakai & Nishida Lab. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

[1] "1997 Hatsu Basho". Sakai & Nishida Lab. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

[1]