2002 in sumo

The following are the events in professional sumo during 2002.

Tournaments

Hatsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January

2002 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
1	-	3	-	11	ø		Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Kaiō	O			Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
13	-	2	-	0			Chiyotaikai	O			Tochiazuma*	13	-	2	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Kotomitsuki	S			Asashōryū	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Miyabiyama	S	ø
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	K			Kyokutenhō	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M1			Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Tamanoshima	M2			Tōki	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Kaihō	M3			Takanonami	8	-	7	-	0
3	-	7	-	5	ø		Chiyotenzan	M4			Dejima	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	4	-	8			Takanowaka	M5			Kotonowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinonada	M6	ø		Hayateumi	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Tosanoumi	M7			Ōtsukasa	8	-	7	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Buyūzan	M8			Daizen	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tamakasuga	M9			Kōbō	3	-	12	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Aminishiki	M10			Tamarikidō	4	-	11	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M11			Ōikari	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Wakanoyama	M12			Asanowaka	3	-	12	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Oginishiki	M13			Hamanishiki	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tochisakae	M14			Jūmonji	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Sentoryū	M15	ø

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner *Won Playoff

Haru basho

Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 10 March – 24 March

2002 Haru basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
10	-	5	-	0			Tochiazuma	O			Chiyotaikai	7	-	8	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Musōyama	O			Kaiō	12	-	3	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotomitsuki	S			Asashōryū	11	-	4	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Wakanosato	K			Takanonami	6	-	9	-	0
0	-	3	-	12	ø		Buyūzan	M1			Tosanoumi	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M2			Kotonowaka	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinonada	M3			Kyokushūzan	2	-	13	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Akinoshima	M4	ø		Tokitsuumi	2	-	6	-	7
8	-	7	-	0			Tōki	M5			Ōtsukasa	6	-	9	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Aminishiki	M6	ø		Hayateumi	0	-	2	-	13
6	-	9	-	0			Dejima	M7			Tamakasuga	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Miyabiyama	M8			Kaihō	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tamanoshima	M9			Daizen	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Tochisakae	M10	ø		Chiyotenzan	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0			Hamanishiki	M11			Takanowaka	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Shimotori	M12			Ōikari	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Takamisakari	M13	ø		Towanoyama	0	-	1	-	14
4	-	11	-	0			Oginishiki	M14			Takatōriki	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Tamarikidō	M15			Wakanoyama	9	-	6	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Natsu basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12 May – 26 May

2002 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
11	-	4	-	0			Kaiō	O			Tochiazuma	10	-	5	-	0
9	-	5	-	1	ø		Musōyama	O			Chiyotaikai	11	-	4	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Asashōryū	S	ø		Kotomitsuki	0	-	0	-	15
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	K			Tochinonada	7	-	8	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Aminishiki	M1			Tōki	4	-	11	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Takanonami	M2			Tosanoumi	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Miyabiyama	M3			Takanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Daizen	M4			Kyokutenhō	6	-	9	-	0
3	-	12	-	0			Akinoshima	M5			Tamakasuga	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Kotonowaka	M6			Takamisakari	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M7			Wakanoyama	6	-	9	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kotoryū	M8			Kaihō	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Dejima	M9			Jūmonji	6	-	9	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M10			Chiyotenzan	5	-	10	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Tokitsuumi	M11			Tamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Hamanishiki	M12			Buyūzan	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Ōikari	M13			Tochinohana	6	-	9	-	0
11	-	4	-	0			Hokutōriki	M14			Shimotori	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochisakae	M15			Asanowaka	6	-	9	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Nagoya basho

Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 7 July – 21 July

2002 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
10	-	5	-	0			Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
0	-	4	-	11	ø		Kaiō	O			Chiyotaikai	14	-	1	-	0
3	-	2	-	10	ø		Tochiazuma	O	ø		Musōyama	0	-	0	-	15
12	-	3	-	0			Asashōryū	S			Wakanosato	11	-	4	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Miyabiyama	K			Tosanoumi	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Tochinonada	M1	ø		Kotonowaka	2	-	9	-	4
9	-	6	-	0			Takamisakari	M2			Kyokushūzan	1	-	14	-	0
2	-	3	-	10	ø		Dejima	M3	ø		Kotoryū	0	-	0	-	15
7	-	8	-	0			Takanowaka	M4			Kaihō	5	-	8	-	2
6	-	9	-	0			Aminishiki	M5			Hokutōriki	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	7	-	2			Tamakasuga	M6			Kotomitsuki	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tōki	M7			Takanonami	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M8			Shimotori	9	-	6	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Ōtsukasa	M9			Daizen	6	-	9	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Wakanoyama	M10			Tochisakae	9	-	3	-	3
8	-	7	-	0			Tokitsuumi	M11			Akinoshima	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Jūmonji	M12			Aogiyama	6	-	7	-	2
6	-	9	-	0			Hayateumi	M13			Chiyotenzan	5	-	10	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Hamanishiki	M14			Buyūzan	10	-	5	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Ōikari	M15			Tamanoshima	11	-	4	-	0

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Aki basho

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 8 September – 22 September

2002 Aki basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
13	-	2	-	0			Musashimaru	Y			Takanohana	12	-	3	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Chiyotaikai	O	ø		Tochiazuma	0	-	0	-	15
12	-	3	-	0			Kaiō	O			Musōyama	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Asashōryū	O	ø
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Tosanoumi	6	-	9	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Takamisakari	K			Takanonami	7	-	8	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Miyabiyama	M1			Tochinonada	4	-	11	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Shimotori	M2			Tōki	4	-	11	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kyokutenhō	M3			Kotoryū	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	9	-	4			Tochisakae	M4			Takanowaka	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tamanoshima	M5			Buyūzan	5	-	10	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Hokutōriki	M6			Tokitsuumi	7	-	8	-	0
12	-	3	-	0			Kotomitsuki	M7			Aminishiki	7	-	8	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Kaihō	M8			Tamakasuga	10	-	5	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Kotonowaka	M9			Gojōrō	8	-	7	-	0
0	-	0	-	15	ø		Dejima	M10			Kasuganishiki	5	-	10	-	0
4	-	11	-	0			Daizen	M11			Kyokushūzan	9	-	6	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Wakanoyama	M12			Ōtsukasa	5	-	10	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Akinoshima	M13			Asanowaka	7	-	8	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochinohana	M14	ø		Aogiyama	0	-	0	-	15
9	-	6	-	0			Ushiomaru	M15

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

Kyushu basho

Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 10 November – 24 November

2002 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi Division
Result					East			Rank	West			Result
4	-	2	-	9	ø		Musashimaru	Y	ø		Takanohana	0	-	0	-	15
2	-	2	-	11	ø		Kaiō	O	ø		Chiyotaikai	6	-	3	-	6
14	-	1	-	0			Asashōryū	O			Musōyama	10	-	5	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Tochiazuma	O	ø
7	-	8	-	0			Wakanosato	S			Kotomitsuki	8	-	7	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kyokutenhō	K			Takanowaka	11	-	4	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Takanonami	M1			Tosanoumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Miyabiyama	M2			Hokutōriki	5	-	10	-	0
2	-	13	-	0			Tamakasuga	M3			Tamanoshima	5	-	10	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Takamisakari	M4			Gojōrō	4	-	11	-	0
7	-	8	-	0			Kyokushūzan	M5			Shimotori	7	-	8	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tochinonada	M6			Kotoryū	7	-	8	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Tōki	M7			Tokitsuumi	8	-	7	-	0
8	-	7	-	0			Kaihō	M8			Aminishiki	9	-	6	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Kotonowaka	M9			Wakanoyama	8	-	7	-	0
10	-	5	-	0			Dejima	M10	ø		Ushiomaru	3	-	7	-	5
4	-	11	-	0			Buyūzan	M11			Iwakiyama	10	-	5	-	0
6	-	9	-	0			Tochinohana	M12	ø		Tochisakae	0	-	6	-	9
6	-	9	-	0			Tamarikidō	M13			Jūmonji	8	-	7	-	0
9	-	6	-	0			Akinoshima	M14			Aogiyama	6	-	9	-	0
5	-	10	-	0			Asanowaka	M15

ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rank

winning record in bold

Yusho Winner

News

January

• 13–27: At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, ozeki Tochiazuma wins his first top makuuchi division championship in his debut tournament at the rank, exactly 30 years after his father won his only championship. He is the first ozeki to win the yusho in his debut since Kiyokuni in 1969, and is the first wrestler since Haguroyama to win a championship in all six professional sumo divisions. He defeats fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai in a playoff after both men finish on 13–2. Yokozuna Takanohana is missing for the fourth straight basho, and Musashimaru pulls out early through injury. Special prizes are awarded to Kotomitsuki and Tokitsuumi for Technique, and to Buyuzan for Fighting Spirit. The juryo division championship is won by Takamisakari after a playoff with Shimotori. As a result, Takamisakari returns to the top division for the first time since being injured in the September 2000 tournament. The makushita championship goes to South Korea's Kasugao. Former maegashira Asanosho retires after falling into the fourth sandanme division.

February

• 1: Former Yokozuna Kitanoumi takes over as chairman of the Japan Sumo Association from Tokitsukaze Oyakata (the former ozeki Yutakayama), who will be reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 in August.
• 5: Takasago Oyakata, the former komusubi Fujinishiki, and Wakamatsu Oyakata, the former ozeki Asashio, swap toshiyori names. Due to Fujinishiki's poor health, the Takasago stable is absorbed into Wakamatsu stable with Asashio continuing as the head.

March

• 10–24: Musashimaru comes back to win his tenth championship with a 13–2 score. Runner-up is ozeki Kaio. Sekiwake Asashoryu scores 11–4 and wins the Outstanding Performance Award. Takanowaka also finishes on 11–4 and is awarded the Fighting Spirit prize. Aminishiki receives the Technique prize. Tochiazuma wins ten bouts while Chiyotaikai records a make-koshi 7–8. Former maegashira Kotoryu and Gojoro win the juryo and makushita division championships. Another former maegashira, Daishi, announces his retirement.

May

Musashimaru won three tournaments in 2002.

• 12–26: Musashimaru wins his second tournament in a row, and 11th overall, again scoring 13–2. Kaio, Chiyotaikai and Asashoryu all finish as runners-up on 11–4. Asashoryu receives the Fighting Spirit prize, as does Hokutoriki, who also wins eleven in his debut top division tournament. Kyokushuzan wins his second Technique Award, five years after his first. Takanohana is absent for the sixth straight tournament. The juryo championship goes to Iwakiyama, and the makushita yusho to Toyozakura, who returns to the sekitori ranks for the first time in over a year. Joining him is Kasugao, who becomes the first sekitori to officially represent South Korea.

June

Chiyotaikai was a tournament winner in July.

• 1: Arashio Oyakata, the former komusubi Oyutaka, branches out from Tokitsukaze stable and opens his own Arashio stable.

July

• 7–21: Takanohana, who had been expected to make his long-awaited comeback from knee surgery in this tournament, pulls out yet again. The Sumo Association respond by saying if he does not compete in September, he will be obliged to retire. Musashimaru and Chiyotaikai are the only men ranked above sekiwake who make it through the whole 15 days—Kaio pulls out on Day 3, Tochiazuma on Day 4 and Musoyama is missing altogether. Chiyotaikai takes advantage to win his second championship with a 14–1 record. It is his first yusho since the January 1999 triumph that saw him promoted to ozeki. Musashimaru finishes with a below par 10–5 score. Asashoryu is runner-up with a fine 12–3 record and is promoted to ozeki after the tournament. He also shares the Outstanding Performance Award along with Tosanoumi. Takamisakari wins the Technique Prize and Shimotori gets the Fighting Spirit Award. Ushiomaru wins the juryo yusho while the makushita title goes to former maegashira Kinkaiyama.

August

• 18: Tokitsukaze Oyakata turns 65 and retires. He passes on control of the Tokitsukaze stable to former komusubi Futatsuryu.

September

• 8–22: After an unprecedented seven tournaments in a row out injured, Takanohana returns to the dohyo. Understandably rusty, he is defeated twice inside the first five days by Kyokutenho and Kotoryu but then wins nine in a row, including a memorable victory over new ozeki Asashoryu by a powerful uwatenage outer-arm throw. He and Musashimaru both enter the final day level on 12–2. Musashimaru wins the yusho decider to claim his 12th (and final) championship. Kaio and Kotomitsuki are also runner-up on 12–3, while Asashoryu and Chiyotaikai finish on 10–5. Musoyama returns to eke out an 8–7 record, but Tochiazuma misses the tournament and will be in danger of demotion in November. Only one special prize is given out, to Kotomitsuki for Fighting Spirit. In the juryo division, two veteran former sekiwake announce their retirements: Terao, whose 1795 career matches are the second highest in history, and Takatoriki, who did not miss a single bout in his career. Former maegashira Minatofuji also retires. The juryo championship goes to Tamarikido.

November

• 10–24: At the Kyushu tournament, Musashimaru withdraws on the fifth day after injuring his wrist. Kaio and Chiyotaikai also withdraw early, while Takanohana is missing from the start after a recurrence of his knee problem. In their absence, Asashoryu takes his first championship with a 14–1 record. In the juryo division, Kasugao wins the yusho, making it the first time in history that championships in the top two divisions have both been won by foreigners in the same tournament. Komusubi Takanowaka finishes as runner-up to Asashoryu on 11–4. Tochiazuma keeps his rank with an 8–7 record. Three wrestlers share the Fighting Spirit Prize: Takanowaka, former ozeki Takanonami, and Iwakiyama.

December

• 1: Former sekiwake Mitoizumi leaves Takasago stable to open his own Nishikido stable. As Takasago stable now uses Wakamatsu stable's facilities, he uses the old Takasago premises.
• 10: Following the success of the 2002 World Cup which was jointly held by Japan and South Korea, The Sumo Association announces plans to hold an exhibition tournament there next year, which will be the first trip to Asia since a tour of China in 1973. Korean Kasugaō is currently in the jūryō division.
• 24: Kabutoyama stable, which opened in 1989, shuts down. Its head coach, former maegashira Daiyu, moves to Minato stable.

Deaths

• Former sekiwake Kitanonada (also former Takekuma Oyakata), aged 78.

See also

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