Akita International Sumo Basho

From Akita Wiki
Collage of photos taken at the 12th Akita International Sumo Tournament.

The Akita International Sumo Event (秋田国際相撲大会) is an annual sumo event which was started in 2005 by Everest of Apples, continued by Room to Read from 2008 and Akita Association of JETs from 2011, and currently run by Charity Akita. Originally supervised by the Akita City Sumo Association, the tournament is currently supervised and officiated by past and present ALTs. The tournament invites all foreigners and Japanese people in Akita and surrounding prefectures to experience sumo following traditional rules and guidelines. The tournament is arranged with the cooperation and help of the Akita Prefectural Government's International Affairs Division.

Location

International Sumo has been held at Akita Budokan since 2007, an event center on the banks of the Akita Canal, next to the prefectural skating center in the Araya district of Akita City.

Format

The event starts with some practical training for the wrestlers in the morning. Wrestlers also get fitted into their mawashi, get briefed on the rules, have interviews with the local media, have photos, and loosen up before the matches. At some point during the day, a taiko concert is performed, either before the bouts, or at an intermission. Taiko groups have included: Noshiro Berabō-daiko (能代べらぼう太鼓), Akita City Izumi Taiko (いずみ太鼓), Gojōme Tenshō Taiko (五城目天翔太鼓). The day closes with the championship bout.

Bout advancement

In 2005 to 2006, the first two basho were simply single-elimination tournaments, and the number of participating wrestlers was 30. In order to balance play time among wrestlers and develop fairness in the competition, a new format was introduced in the 2007 basho.

With the new formula, 24 wrestlers were divided into four pools of six men. Each wrestler had three scheduled bouts against men in his own pool. After all intra-pool bouts were complete, two wrestlers with the best win-loss records from each of the four pools advanced to an eight-member single elimination tournament. The two wrestlers who came from the same pool cannot meet in a tournament bout unless it is the championship bout.

In order to accommodate for 32 wrestlers, a new format was introduced in the 2008 basho. The 32 wrestlers were divided into eight pools of four men. The four wrestlers in each pool played a roundrobin with three bouts each, and one wrestler from each pool with the best win-loss record advanced to the second round. The eight wrestlers who advance to the second round were divided into two pools of four, and played a three-bout roundrobin. The top wrestler from each pool advanced to the single-elimination championship bout.

Tournament details

History

Year Ticket Attendance Wrestlers Income Expense Profits Extra Cause
M F
2023
2022 Not held due to COVID-19
2021 Not held due to COVID-19
2020 Not held due to COVID-19
2019 ¥1,000 72 13 7 ¥74,361 ¥29,077 ¥45,439 Bake sale TELL Japan
2018 53 14 7 ¥54,360 ¥26,827 ¥27,533 Bake sale TELL Japan
2017 W, V S ¥500, A ¥1,000 97 14 5 ¥108,180 ¥29,166 ¥79,014 Bake sale Mirai no Mori
2016 W, V ¥500, A ¥1,000 50 8 4 ¥58,715 ¥27,695 ¥31,020 Bake sale Kumamoto Earthquake Donation
2015 W, V ¥1,000, A ¥2,000 66 13 8 ¥115,395 ¥35,239 ¥80,156 Bake sale Save the Children
2014 W, C ¥500, A ¥1,000 ? 12 4 ¥? ¥? ¥65,000 ? Red Cross
2013 W, C ¥500, A ¥1,000 ? 12 5 ¥? ¥? ¥? ? Red Cross
2012 W ¥1,500 / A ¥1,000 ~90 12 0 ¥? ¥? ¥50,000 ? Tohoku earthquake relief efforts
2011 W ¥1,300, A ¥1,000 90 18 10 ¥114,400 ¥23,025 ¥91,375 ? volunteerAKITA, Smile Kids, wiki, Hanabi
2010 ¥?/ ¥? ? 16 10 ¥? ¥? ¥? ? Room to Read
2009 A ¥1,300,
US ¥1,000, S ¥500
? 22 10 ¥? ¥? ¥137,450 Bake sale
Fantasy sumo
Room to Read
2008 ¥?/ ¥? ~82 32 0 ¥? ¥? ¥125,030 Bake sale / Stuff sale Room to Read
2007 A ¥1,000, S ¥500 A 93, S 6 24 0 ¥? ¥? ¥129,400 Bake sale Everest of Apples and Room to Read
2006 A ¥1,000, S ¥500 A 106, S 8 30 0 ¥131,600 ¥21,400 ¥110,200 Bake sale, Bet Everest of Apples
2005 ¥? ? 26 0 ¥? ¥? ¥? ? Everest of Apples for NEST

W = wrestler, A = adult, V = Volunteer, US = university student, S = student, C = children

Banzuke

Tournament winners

In the Akita International Sumo Basho, champions are given the honorary title yokozuna. Here is a list of past champions:

First Prize (Yusho)

  • 2019 Basho: Mengkin Ragan (JP; non JET)
  • 2018 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Ōshū, Iwate)
  • 2017 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Ōshū, Iwate)
  • 2016 Basho: Chris McNeal (USA, non JET)
  • 2015 Basho: Kassidy Cook (USA; Yuzawa 2013-2015)
  • 2014 Basho: Kassidy Cook (USA; Yuzawa 2013-2015)
  • 2013 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Morioka, Iwate)
  • 2012 Basho: Travis Emery (USA; Tsuruta Town, Aomori 2007-2012)
  • 2011 Basho: Colton Runyan (USA; Kosaka, 2010-2012)
  • 2010 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Morioka, Iwate)
  • 2009 Basho: Doug Heller (UK; Daisen 2008-2009)
  • 2008 Basho: Travis Emery (USA; Tsuruta Town, Aomori 2007-2012)
  • 2007 Basho: Seth Dorman (USA; Yuzawa 2004-2007)
  • 2006 Basho: Will Van Sittert (USA; Ōgata 2004-2007)
  • 2005 Basho: Corey Campbell (USA; Noshiro 2003-2005, Katagami 2005-2006)

2nd place (Jun-Yusho)

  • 2019 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Ōshū, Iwate)
  • 2018 Basho: Peter Hall (AU; Akita City 2016-present)
  • 2017 Basho: Takemi Ishibashi (Japan; Semboku)
  • 2016 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Morioka, Iwate)
  • 2015 Basho: Owen Cunningham (Ireland; Yurihonjō 2008-2011, Kamikoani 2011-present)
  • 2014 Basho: John Lennon (USA; Tenno 2013-present)
  • 2013 Basho: Owen Cunningham (Ireland; Yurihonjō 2008-2011, Kamikoani 2011-present)
  • 2012 Basho: Colton Runyan (USA; Kosaka 2010-2012)
  • 2011 Basho: Alex Morse (USA; Daisen 2010-2011)
  • 2010 Basho: James Jones (USA; Fujisato 2008-2011)
  • 2009 Basho: Phil Cooke (England; Yurihonjō 2007-2009)

Fighting Spirit Prize (Kanto-sho)

  • 2019 Basho: Christian Grande (USA; Yurihonjō 2018-present)
  • 2018 Basho: Mengkin Ragan (JP; non JET)
  • 2017 Basho: Max Raskin (USA; Kitaakita 2015-2017)
  • 2016 Basho: Owen Cunningham (Ireland; Yurihonjō 2008-2011, Kamikoani 2011-present)
  • 2015 Basho: Dean Reutzler (USA; Morioka, Iwate)
  • 2014 Basho: Kazune Hasegawa (Japan; Fukushima)
  • 2013 Basho: Doug Heller (UK; Daisen 2008-2009)
  • 2012 Basho: Todd Horner (Canada; Yurihonjō 2009-2014)
  • 2011 Basho: Owen Cunningham (Ireland; Yurihonjō 2008-2011, Kamikoani 2011-present)
  • 2010 Basho: Travis Emery (USA; Tsuruta Town, Aomori 2007-2012)
  • 2009 Basho: James Jones (USA; Fujisato 2008-2011)

Women's Champions

  • 2019 Basho: Kate Smith (Canada; Yurihonjō 2016-present)
  • 2018 Basho: Kate Smith (Canada; Yurihonjō 2016-present)
  • 2017 Basho: Chey Parlato (New Zealand; Yurihonjō 2014-present)
  • 2016 Basho: Michelle Berent (USA; Ōdate 2014-2017)
  • 2015 Basho: Michelle Berent (USA; Ōdate 2014-2017)
  • 2014 Basho: Meagan Peat (Canada; Akita City 2013-2016)
  • 2013 Basho: Allanah Faherty (New Zealand; Yurihonjō 2012-2013)
  • 2012 Basho: N/A
  • 2011 Basho: Hannah Leggett (Ireland; Aomori 2010-)
  • 2010 Basho: Anne Smith (USA; Omonogawa 2008-2009, Ōdate 2009-2012)
  • 2009 Basho: Anne Smith (USA; Omonogawa 2008-2009, Ōdate 2009-2012)

Women's 2nd place

  • 2019 Basho: Amber Shamma (USA; Akita City 2016-present)
  • 2018 Basho: Amber Shamma (USA; Akita City 2016-present)
  • 2017 Basho: Kate Smith (Canada; Yurihonjō 2016-present)
  • 2016 Basho: Noelle Adams (SA; Kazuno 2014-2016)
  • 2015 Basho: Maeleen Arce (USA; Kitaakita 2014-present)
  • 2014 Basho: Jan Rambaud (USA; Akita City 2013-present)
  • 2013 Basho: Natalie Hadjiloukas (USA; Akita City 2008-2013)
  • 2012 Basho: N/A
  • 2011 Basho: Allie Kallman (USA; Aomori)
  • 2010 Basho: Janice Abe (Canada; Yuzawa 2009-2012)
  • 2009 Basho: Alicia Miller (USA; Ōdate 2008-2011)

Women's Fighting Spirit Prize

  • 2019 Basho: Elsa Pansilvania Manjate (MZ; non-JET)
  • 2018 Basho: Misa Yasuda (USA; Daisen 2013-present)
  • 2017 Basho: Lynne Francis (USA; Daisen 2013-present)
  • 2016 Basho: Connie Look (USA; Yokote 2013-2016)
  • 2015 Basho: Kinza Cooper (USA; Yokote 2012-2015)
  • 2014 Basho: Stephanie Hupp (USA; Yurihonjō 2011-2015)
  • 2013 Basho: MacKenzie Vile (USA; Yokote 2012-2014)
  • 2012 Basho: N/A
  • 2011 Basho: Melody Lynch-Kimmery (USA; Yuzawa 2009-2010, Akita City 2010-2011)
  • 2010 Basho: Melody Lynch-Kimmery (USA; Yuzawa 2009-2010, Akita City 2010-2011)
  • 2009 Basho: Maria "Yosan" Legaspi (New Zealand; Akita City 2008-2010)

Posters

See also

Years of the Akita International Sumo Basho
V • T
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2020 2021 2022 2023
Charity Akita
V • T
Group History ALT Charity GroupsRoom to Read (2006-2011) • Akita Association of JETs (2011-2015) • Charity Akita (2016- ) Charity Akita.png
Annual Summaries
by JET Year
RtR: 2010 • AAJ: 20142015
CA: 20162017201820192020202120222023
Monthly Events English Cafe
Annual Events Welcome PartyOrientation/SDC Tatami PartiesLake Tazawa CampingHalloween PartyChristmas CarolingAppi Ski TripSt. Patrick's Day PartyInternational Sumo BashoGoodbye Party
Event Procedures Charity Akita Event EquipmentHalloween PartySt. Patrick's Day PartyGoodbye PartyInternational Sumo Basho
Venues SanbōenOrange HouseDreamworldClub AKJamhouseLive space 「四階」CLUB GELAppi Kōgen Ski Resort
One-time Events Spring CarnivalSummer/80s Dance PartiesPub Quiz & Soup Curry NightBlack Hearts Masquerade Cocktail PartyHanami Tea Party