2001 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2001.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 January – 21 January

2001 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Akebono	Y			Musashimaru	14	-	1	-	0
14	-	1	-	0			Takanohana*	Y	ø
10	-	5	-	0			Kaiō	O	ø		Chiyotaikai	2	-	2	-	11
7	-	8	-	0			Dejima	O			Miyabiyama	8	-	7	-	0
					ø			O			Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Kotomitsuki	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Takanowaka	K			Tochinonada	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takanonami	M1			Tochisakae	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kotonowaka	M2	ø		Hayateumi	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Wakanoyama	M3			Kaihō	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Akinoshima	M4			Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tosanoumi	M5			Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tochinohana	M6			Chiyotenzan	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Higonoumi	M7			Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M8	ø		Tōki	0	-	0	-	15
6	-	9	-	0			Hamanoshima	M9			Tokitsuumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M10	ø		Oginishiki	0	-	3	-	13
6	-	9	-	0			Kinkaiyama	M11			Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Takatōriki	M12			Asashōryū	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M13			Tamarikidō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Asanowaka	M14			Wakakosho	6	-	9	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 11 March – 25 March

2001 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
12	-	3	-	0			Takanohana	Y			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
13	-	2	-	0			Kaiō	O			Musōyama	12	-	3	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Miyabiyama	O			Dejima	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Chiyotaikai	O	ø
6	-	9	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Tochinonada	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tochiazuma	K			Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M1	ø		Kotoryū	1	-	6	-	8
7	-	8	-	0			Chiyotenzan	M2			Hayateumi	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takanonami	M3			Kotomitsuki	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M4			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Akinoshima	M5	ø		Kyokushūzan	1	-	12	-	2
9	-	6	-	0			Asashōryū	M6			Kotonowaka	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tamakasuga	M7			Tochisakae	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Tosanoumi	M8			Higonoumi	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaihō	M9			Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Tamanoshima	M10			Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Hamanoshima	M11			Tochinohana	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M12			Terao	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	5	-	7	ø		Kinkaiyama	M13			Jūmonji	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Minatofuji	M14			Daishi	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Aminishiki	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 May – 27 May

2001 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Takanohana*	Y			Musashimaru	13	-	2	-	0
4	-	5	-	6	ø		Kaiō	O			Musōyama	12	-	3	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Dejima	O			Miyabiyama	9	-	6	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Chiyotaikai	O	ø
4	-	11	-	0			Tochinonada	S			Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotomitsuki	K			Asashōryū	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	M1			Takanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	6	-	7	ø		Wakanoyama	M2			Chiyotenzan	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tamanoshima	M3			Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tamakasuga	M4			Hayateumi	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tochisakae	M5			Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kaihō	M6			Tokitsuumi	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Jūmonji	M7			Kyokutenhō	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M8			Kotonowaka	9	-	6	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Terao	M9			Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Kotoryū	M10			Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Higonoumi	M11			Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Wakatsutomu	M12			Hamanishiki	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Tōki	M13			Tochinohana	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Daizen	M14			Takatōriki	5	-	10	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 8 July – 22 July

2001 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Takanohana	Y			Musashimaru	12	-	3	-	0
11	-	4	-	0	ø		Chiyotaikai	O			Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Miyabiyama	O	ø		Dejima	3	-	3	-	9
13	-	2	-	0			Kaiō	O	ø
10	-	5	-	0			Tochiazuma	S			Kotomitsuki	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Asashōryū	K			Wakanosato	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Hayateumi	M1			Takanonami	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotonowaka	M2			Higonoumi	3	-	12	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tochinonada	M3			Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tosanoumi	M4			Ōtsukasa	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M5			Takanowaka	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Akinoshima	M6	ø		Tochisakae	4	-	5	-	6
8	-	7	-	0			Tamakasuga	M7			Tamanoshima	12	-	3	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tochinohana	M8			Chiyotenzan	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Jūmonji	M9			Kitazakura	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoryū	M10			Kaihō	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M11			Daizen	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Wakanoyama	M12			Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanowaka	M13			Tokitsuumi	11	-	4	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Wakatsutomu	M14			Oginishiki	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Minatofuji	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 September – 23 September

2001 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
9	-	6	-	0			Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	4	-	11	ø		Kaiō	O	ø		Chiyotaikai	4	-	5	-	6
10	-	5	-	0			Musōyama	O	ø		Miyabiyama	3	-	7	-	5
12	-	3	-	0			Tochiazuma	S			Dejima	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Wakanosato	K			Tamanoshima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotonowaka	M1			Asashōryū	10	-	5	-	0
13	-	2	-	0			Kotomitsuki	M2			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tosanoumi	M3			Tamakasuga	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kaihō	M4			Tokitsuumi	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Takanonami	M5			Tochinonada	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M6			Tōki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Hayateumi	M7			Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M8			Daizen	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Higonoumi	M9			Ōtsukasa	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	4	-	11	ø		Tochinohana	M10			Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Chiyotenzan	M11			Akinoshima	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanoyama	M12	ø		Tochisakae	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0			Kitazakura	M13			Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takatōriki	M14			Hamanishiki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Daishi	M15			Wakatsutomu	3	-	12	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 11 November – 25 November

2001 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Musōyama	O	ø		Chiyotaikai	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0			Kaiō	O	ø
12	-	3	-	0			Tochiazuma	S			Kotomitsuki	9	-	6	-	0
					ø			S	ø		Miyabiyama	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0			Asashōryū	K			Kaihō	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Wakanosato	M1			Tamanoshima	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Takanowaka	M2			Tosanoumi	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M3			Dejima	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kotonowaka	M4			Tochinonada	7	-	8	-	0
1	-	1	-	13	ø		Kotoryū	M5			Kyokutenhō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Daizen	M6			Akinoshima	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tamakasuga	M7			Tōki	8	-	7	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Oginishiki	M8			Chiyotenzan	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M9			Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Takanonami	M10	ø		Hayateumi	8	-	2	-	5
8	-	7	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M11			Kitazakura	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Hamanishiki	M12			Tochisakae	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Aogiyama	M13	ø		Higonoumi	4	-	8	-	3
8	-	7	-	0			Kōbō	M14			Aminishiki	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tamarikidō	M15			Buyūzan	10	-	5	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

News

January

• 21: Yokozuna Takanohana wins his first yusho in over two years, defeating fellow yokozuna Musashimaru in a playoff after both men finish on 14–1. Tochinonada wins the Technique Award. Wakanoyama scores 9–6 from maegashira 3, his best ever result, and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize. Wakanosato receives the Outstanding Performance Award for his win over Musashimaru. Tamanonada wins the juryo championship and promotion back to the top makuuchi division, and changes his name to Tamanoshima. Maegashira Toki is suspended from the tournament for being involved in a traffic accident in December, and drops to juryo. As a result, the Takasago stable is without any makuuchi wrestlers for the first time in its history.
• 22: Yokozuna Akebono, who won his 11th championship in the previous tournament in November but was absent through injury from this one, announces his retirement, due to the constant pain in both his knees. He will stay in sumo as a coach at his Azumazeki stable, under the elder name Akebono Oyakata.
• 29: The Japan Sumo Association award Akebono a bonus of 100 million yen for his services to sumo, tying the record amount awarded to Chiyonofuji upon his retirement in 1991.

February

• 21: The Sumo Association reduces the height requirement for new entrants from 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) to 167 cm (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in), due to a shortage of applicants. 13 tryouts are accepted.

March

Kaio won two tournaments in 2001.

• 25: Ozeki Kaio wins his second championship. He finishes on 13–2, one win ahead of Takanohana, Musashimaru and fellow ozeki Musoyama. Maegashira Tamanoshima gets the Fighting Spirit Award for his eleven wins. Kotomitsuki receives his second Technique prize, while Tochinonada and Tochiazuma share the Outstanding Performance Prize. Wakatsutomu wins the juryo championship with just a 10–5 score, after a playoff with Toki. Former maegashira Daihisho retires.

May

• 22: Takanohana wins his 22nd yusho in dramatic fashion, beating Musashimaru in a playoff despite clearly suffering from serious knee ligament damage sustained in a defeat to Musoyama the previous day. Kaio pulls out with back pain after losing four bouts in the first eight days. Kotomitsuki receives the Technique Award while fellow komusubi Asashoryu gets the Outstanding Performance Prize in his first tournament at the rank. Kitazakura wins his first juryo yusho. Former maegashira Shikishima retires.

June

• 5: Futagoyama Oyakata announces that his son Takanohana will not take part in the next tournament, and indicates that he will require a lengthy layoff.

July

• 22: Kaio wins his second championship of the year with a 13–2 record despite limited training due to his ongoing back trouble. Musashimaru is runner up on 12–3 alongside Tamanoshima who gets another Fighting Spirit Award. The Technique Prize is shared between Tochiazuma and Tokitsuumi while Wakanosato receives the Outstanding Performance Prize. Dejima is demoted from the ozeki rank. Buyuzan wins the juryo championship, coming through a series of playoffs after a record eight men (Buyuzan, Terao, Oikari, Tamarikido, Takatoriki, Sentoryu, Hamanishiki and Wakatoba) all finish on the same score, just 9–6.
• 23: It is revealed that Takanohana has travelled to Paris to have his injured knee operated on by a specialist.

September

Akebono at his retirement ceremony

• 23: Maegashira 2 Kotomitsuki wins his first championship with a 13–2 record, and takes all three special prizes. Sekiwake Tochiazuma is runner-up on 12–3. Kaiho also receives a share of the Technique Prize, while Asashoryu gets a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. Takanohana is still recuperating from his surgery, and Kaio, Chiyotaikai and Miyabiyama all drop out early through injury. Miyabiyama joins his stablemate Dejima in being demoted from ozeki. Musashimaru finishes with a mediocre 9–6. Former maegashira Aogiyama wins the juryo yusho.
• 29: Akebono's retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki takes place at the Kokugikan. Guests taking part in the hair-cutting ritual include US Ambassador to Japan Howard Baker, an ambassador representing the French President (and sumo fan) Jacques Chirac, Konishiki, Takanohana and finally Akebono's stablemaster Azumazeki Oyakata.

November

• 25: Musashimaru wins his first yusho since September 2000 with a 13–2 score. Tochiazuma is once again runner-up on 12–3 and seals his promotion to ozeki. He also receives his seventh Technique Prize. Takanohana, Chiyotaikai and Miyabiyama sit out, but Kaio returns to score 10–5. Asashoryu and Wakanosato share the Fighting Spirit Prize with top division debutant Buyuzan. Oikari wins the juryo championship. Former komusubi Tomonohana retires.
• 28: Tochiazuma's promotion to ozeki is officially confirmed. He becomes the fifth son of a former wrestler to make the ozeki rank.

Deaths

• 17 January: former komusubi Wakabayama, also former Shikoroyama Oyakata, aged 78, of cerebral thrombosis.
• 27 January: Onogawa Oyakata, former maegashira Hachiya, aged 50, of mouth cancer.

See also

• Glossary of sumo terms
• List of past sumo wrestlers
• List of years in sumo
• List of yokozuna