2000 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2000.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 9 January – 23 January

2000 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
2	-	2	-	11	ø	Musashimaru	Y		Takanohana	12	-	3	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Wakanohana	Y		Akebono	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Dejima	O		Chiyotaikai	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaiō	S		Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Musōyama	S		Takanonami	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Miyabiyama	12	-	3	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Tōki	M1		Kotoryū	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kotonowaka	M2		Asanowaka	3	-	12	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Kotonishiki	M3	ø	Higonoumi	2	-	5	-	8
6	-	9	-	0		Tochinonada	M4		Akinoshima	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Hamanoshima	M5		Shikishima	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M6	ø	Aogiyama	4	-	10	-	1
5	-	10	-	0		Terao	M7		Wakanoyama	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tamakasuga	M8		Asanosho	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kaihō	M9		Minatofuji	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takatōriki	M10		Ōtsukasa	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M11		Tokitsuumi	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Takanowaka	M12		Ōhinode	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M13		Ōikari	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Kinkaiyama	M14	ø	Wakanosato	0	-	0	-	15

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 12 March – 26 March

2000 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
11	-	4	-	0		Takanohana	Y		Akebono	12	-	3	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Musashimaru	Y	ø	Wakanohana	2	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Dejima	O		Chiyotaikai	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Takanonami	O	ø
12	-	3	-	0		Musōyama	S		Miyabiyama	11	-	4	-	0
					ø		S		Tochiazuma	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Kaiō	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Wakanoyama	M1		Kyokushūzan	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tamakasuga	M2		Kyokutenhō	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kotoryū	M3	ø	Kotonowaka	0	-	0	-	15
2	-	11	-	2	ø	Minatofuji	M4		Takanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Akinoshima	M5		Chiyotenzan	6	-	9	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tochinonada	M6		Shikishima	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M7		Tōki	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Asanowaka	M8	ø	Kotonishiki	2	-	3	-	10
8	-	7	-	0		Hamanoshima	M9		Oginishiki	8	-	7	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Asanosho	M10		Hayateumi	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Ōikari	M11	ø	Higonoumi	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0		Terao	M12		Daizen	9	-	6	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Aogiyama	M13		Kaihō	8	-	7	-	0
13	-	2	-	0		Takatōriki	M14	ø	Wakanosato	0	-	0	-	15

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7 May – 21 May

2000 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Akebono	Y		Takanohana	13	-	2	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Musashimaru	Y	ø
8	-	7	-	0		Dejima	O	ø	Musōyama	0	-	0	-	15
11	-	4	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O		Takanonami	6	-	9	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Miyabiyama	S		Tochiazuma	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Kaiō	14	-	1	-	0
					ø		K		Takatōriki	2	-	13	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tochinonada	M1		Asanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Wakanoyama	M2		Hamanoshima	3	-	12	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Oginishiki	M3		Daizen	3	-	12	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M4		Tamakasuga	9	-	6	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaihō	M5		Kotoryū	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M6		Chiyotenzan	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Takanowaka	M7		Akinoshima	10	-	5	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Kotomitsuki	M8		Tokitsuumi	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Tōki	M9	ø	Minatofuji	0	-	0	-	15
6	-	9	-	0		Shikishima	M10		Kinkaiyama	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Hayateumi	M11		Higonoumi	9	-	6	-	0
12	-	3	-	0		Tochinohana	M12		Asanosho	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Aogiyama	M13		Terao	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Jūmonji	M14		Kotonowaka	10	-	5	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 9 July – 23 July

2000 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Akebono	Y	ø	Takanohana	5	-	3	-	7
10	-	5	-	0		Musashimaru	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O		Miyabiyama	6	-	9	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Dejima	O		Musōyama	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Kaiō	S		Tochiazuma	12	-	3	-	0
					ø		S		Takanonami	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tosanoumi	K		Tamakasuga	2	-	13	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Akinoshima	M1		Tochinohana	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Tōki	M2		Takanowaka	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tochinonada	M3		Asanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Oginishiki	M4		Wakanoyama	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Hayateumi	M5		Higonoumi	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Kaihō	M6		Kotoryū	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonowaka	M7		Kyokutenhō	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M8		Takatōriki	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M9		Minatofuji	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Hamanoshima	M10		Daizen	5	-	10	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Takamisakari	M11		Tokitsuumi	9	-	6	-	0
3	-	12	-	0		Shikishima	M12		Ōtsukasa	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Sentoryū	M13		Aminishiki	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Aogiyama	M14		Kinkaiyama	8	-	7	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 3 September – 17 September

2000 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
13	-	2	-	0		Akebono	Y	ø	Musashimaru	14	-	1	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø	Takanohana	Y	ø
10	-	5	-	0		Chiyotaikai	O		Dejima	10	-	5	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Kaiō	O		Miyabiyama	8	-	7	-	0
2	-	4	-	9	ø	Tochiazuma	S		Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Akinoshima	K		Takanonami	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Tosanoumi	M1		Kotoryū	1	-	14	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Chiyotenzan	M2		Hayateumi	9	-	6	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kyokutenhō	M3		Tochinonada	4	-	11	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takatōriki	M4		Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Oginishiki	M5		Takanowaka	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Wakanoyama	M6		Kotonowaka	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Tochinohana	M7	ø	Takamisakari	1	-	3	-	11
7	-	8	-	0		Kaihō	M8		Asanowaka	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tamakasuga	M9		Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M10		Wakanosato	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M11		Minatofuji	6	-	9	-	0
10	-	5	-	0		Higonoumi	M12		Sentoryū	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Kinkaiyama	M13		Hamanoshima	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M14		Daishi	5	-	10	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochisakae	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 5 November – 19 November

2000 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East		Rank	West		Result
11	-	4	-	0		Musashimaru	Y	ø	Akebono	14	-	1	-	0
11	-	4	-	0		Takanohana	Y	ø
11	-	4	-	0		Kaiō	O		Chiyotaikai	9	-	6	-	0
9	-	6	-	0		Dejima	O		Miyabiyama	9	-	6	-	0
					ø		O		Musōyama	9	-	6	-	0
6	-	9	-	0		Takanonami	S	ø	Hayateumi	4	-	5	-	6
3	-	12	-	0		Tochinohana	K		Wakanosato	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Akinoshima	M1		Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Higonoumi	M2		Hamanoshima	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0		Kyokushūzan	M3		Chiyotenzan	6	-	9	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Tosanoumi	M4	ø	Tochiazuma	0	-	0	-	15
4	-	11	-	0		Takatōriki	M5		Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tochisakae	M6		Kyokutenhō	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotonowaka	M7		Tochinonada	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Oginishiki	M8		Takanowaka	11	-	4	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kaihō	M9		Kotomitsuki	13	-	2	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tamakasuga	M10		Aminishiki	1	-	14	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Kotoryū	M11		Asanowaka	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0		Tokitsuumi	M12		Jūmonji	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0		Ōtsukasa	M13		Minatofuji	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0		Wakakosho	M14		Tamanonada	7	-	8	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank
winning record in bold
Yusho Winner

News

January

At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, sekiwake Musoyama wins his first top makuuchi division yusho or tournament championship with a 13–2 record,^[1] finishing one win ahead of Musashigawa stablemate Miyabiyama, and yokozuna Takanohana. He wins Technique and Outstanding Performance Prizes (the latter shared with Miyabiyama). The Fighting Spirit Award is given jointly to Kyokutenho and Takanowaka. It is the sixth consecutive championship won by a member of the Musashigawa stable.^[1] Yokozuna Musashimaru pulls out through injury. It is the first time he has missed any bouts in his career and it brings to an end a record run of 55 consecutive tournaments with a majority of wins. Former komusubi Oginishiki wins his second juryo division championship in a row.

February

Former maegashira Kushimaumi branches out from Dewanoumi stable to open his own Tagonoura stable.
Kise stable shuts down as its stablemaster, former maegashira Kiyonomori, is approaching the mandatory retirement age of 65.

March

The sumo world has to deal with several allegations of match-fixing - Hawaiian former wrestler Takamio tells the Shukan Post that he helped yokozuna Akebono fix matches, ex-komusubi Itai makes similar allegations in a series of articles, and Shikinohana says current members of the Sumo Association's hierarchy also engaged in the practice when they were active wrestlers decades ago.^[2]
The Osaka tournament has a surprise winner: 32-year-old maegashira Takatoriki, who was on the brink of demotion but pulls off a stunning 13–2 score. He also wins the Outstanding Performance Award, and a record tenth Fighting Spirit Prize. Musoyama finishes runner-up alongside Akebono and earns promotion to ozeki. He also receives his fourth Technique Prize. Miyabiyama gets a share of the Fighting Spirit Prize. Takanohana's elder brother and fellow yokozuna Wakanohana announces his retirement at the age of 29, after failing to recover from a leg injury sustained in the previous September tournament. He proved unable to add to his five career championships in his brief yokozuna career. Tochinohana wins the juryo yusho.

April

27: The Sumo Association award Wakanohana a bonus of 70 million yen for his services to sumo.
30: 4500 spectators attend a training session for all the top rikishi at the Kokugikan, which is open to the public for the first time.

May

For the third tournament in a row, a rikishi below the rank of ozeki takes the championship: this time it is komusubi Kaio with a 14–1 record. He receives his ninth Outstanding Performance Prize, and fifth Fighting Spirit Award. Yokozuna Takanohana and Akebono finish one win behind on 13–2. Musoyama misses his debut ozeki tournament through injury. Miyabiyama joins him at the rank after posting his second consecutive 11–4 record, but the decision to promote him is (unusually) not unanimous. He also gets a share of the Shukun-sho. He replaces veteran Takanonami, who is demoted from ozeki for the second time. Tochinohana, in his top division debut, scores 12 and receives the Fighting Spirit and Technique Prizes. A record eight sekitori miss the tournament, the most since the six tournaments per year schedule was introduced in 1958. Wakanosato, recuperating from injury, wins the juryo championship. Former maegashira Ganyū retires.

July

In Nagoya, Akebono wins his first yusho since 1997, finishing one win ahead of sekiwake Tochiazuma with a 13–2 score. Tochiazuma receives the Technique Prize. Takanohana pulls out after injuring his elbow. Musoyama can only manage four wins and is demoted from ozeki. Kaio by contrast follows up his yusho in May with a fine 11–4 record and is finally promoted to ozeki at the age of 28. He also receives a record-equalling tenth Outstanding Performance Prize. The Fighting Spirit Award is shared between newcomers Takamisakari and Aminishiki, who each score ten. American Sentoryu also gets a winning score in his debut top division tournament. Wakanosato wins his second juryo yusho in a row. The makushita division championship is won by Asashoryu with a perfect 7–0 record.

August

Tatsutagawa stable shuts down as its stablemaster, former sekiwake Aonosato, is approaching the mandatory retirement age. Its wrestlers, including sekitori Jumonji, Shikishima and Toyozakura, move to Michinoku stable.

September

Having suffered from injuries and been looking below par all year, Musashimaru dominates the Aki basho, losing only on the final day to win his eighth championship with a 14–1 score. Akebono finishes runner-up on 13–2. Takanohana sits the tournament out. Musoyama regains his ozeki rank by winning ten bouts, meaning there will be five ozeki in November. Tochinohana and Hayateumi share the Technique Prize. Wakanosato gets the Fighting Spirit Award on his return to makuuchi. Kotomitsuki wins the juryo championship. Popular top division veterans Kotonishiki and Mitoizumi, now in juryo, both announce their retirements. Also retiring are former maegashira Kitakachidoki (meaning there are no longer any sekitori from Hokkaido) and Ohinode.
23: Wakanohana's retirement ceremony (danpatsu-shiki) takes place at the Kokugikan. Accompanying him in his final yokozuna dohyo-iri are his fellow grand champions Akebono and Takanohana.

November

In Kyushu, Akebono wins his second yusho of the year, and eleventh overall, with a fine 14–1 record. This means he has more wins this year than any other wrestler. He finishes one win ahead of newcomer Kotomitsuki, who wins all three special prizes. Wakanosato also receives his first Outstanding Performance Prize. Kinkaiyama wins his third juryo championship. Ex maegashira Dewaarashi retires.
18: The former Wakanohana announces he is giving up his elder position in the Sumo Association to become a TV tarento.

Deaths

14 Jan: Onaruto Oyakata, former maegashira Yoshinotani, aged 50.

References

^ ^a ^b Kattoulas, Velisarios (24 January 2000). "Musoyama Wins as Akebono Fades". New York Times. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
^ Kattoulas, Velisarios (14 March 2000). "Wrestlers Try to Fight On Amid Swirl of Bout-Rigging Stories". New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2017.

[nyt2000124-1] Kattoulas, Velisarios (24 January 2000). "Musoyama Wins as Akebono Fades". New York Times. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[2] Kattoulas, Velisarios (14 March 2000). "Wrestlers Try to Fight On Amid Swirl of Bout-Rigging Stories". New York Times. Retrieved 19 December 2017.

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