The 12th Annual Akita International Sumo Basho (第十二回秋田県国際相撲場所) was a charity sumo tournament that was held on June 11th by the Akita Association of JETs. Every year JETs and friends gather from all across Tohoku (and some farther still) to decide who is worthy of the title of Akita's Yokozuna.
Rikishi (participants): ¥500. Arrive no later than 8:30. Upon arrival, volunteers will assist with putting on the mawashi, explain the rules governing the bouts, and give tips on how to fight.
Spectators ¥1,000, high school and junior high school students ¥500, children free
Volunteers ¥500
Wrestlers
Men's
Name
Country
Hometown
Akita
Shikona
Slogan
Owen Cunningham
Kilkenny
North
相撲猿
SumOweN
oishii dashi
Dean Ruetzler
Vermont
Morioka
Musushimaru
七転八起 good things come to those who wait
Johnny Morris
Shrewsbury
Central
猟犬
The Hound
Blink if you want me
Joey Griggs
New Jersey
Central
枝の力
Twigs Griggs
"Not now, chief. I'm in the fuckin' zone."
Joe Di Martino
New York
Yamagata
神
DIO
まさに！「世界を支配する力」だ！
Aaron Heldmyer
Colorado
North
LeVar Beatdown
Take a look, it's in a book.
Kei Lam
California
Central
Kei
"I play by my own rules. Nobody else's. Not even my own.
Chris McNeal
Idaho
Central
Kamakazi Chris
Just sumo it!
Women's
Name
Country
Hometown
Akita
Shikona
Slogan
Michelle Berent
Kentucky
North
白ゴジラ
White Godzilla
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.
Noelle Adams
Durban
North
Impi
You learn how to cut down trees by cutting them down.
Connie Look
New York
South
Kazekani
Crouching tiger, hidden crab
Jenny Campbell
Wisconsin
Central
Captain Hayabusa
Show me your moves!
Tournament format
The Men's tournament consisted of 8 men who were divided into 2 groups. Each group wrestled in a round-robin format, and the top 2 from each group moved on to the semi-finals. Here, there was a 4 person round-robin with the top 2 advancing to the finals for a winner-take-all bout.
The Women's tournament consisted of only 4 women (6 signed up, but 2 women from Aomori cancelled the morning of the tournament). All wrestlers competed in a round-robin format, and the top 2 moved on to the final.
Officials
The officiating for the 2016 tournament, as well as special prize decisions was overseen by past and present Akita JETs:
Head Referee/Head Judge - Pat Costello ('07-'11)
Ring-side Judge - John Cooper ('12-present)
Ring-side Judge - John Lennon ('13-present)
Ring-side Judge - Nicholas Asquith ('14-present)
Publicity
This years event was well publicised with the Sakigake newspaper and ABS TV station covering the event.
Sakigake
Sakikage Newspaper on Sunday June 12, 2016Sakikage online news via News Goo
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Ireland
United States
2016 Basho
Sumo flyer front
Sumo flyer reverse
Article covering the event in Sakigake Shinbun
Final scoreboard
Bakesale
Group photo
