Individual Tournament (RE: SUMO: new rikishi joinedMusashigawa-b eya)

["Pardoe, Richard (PRDR)" <PRDR@chevron.com>]

>What is the "individual tournament system?" 
Having each rikishi fight all other rikishi (including heya-mates) that
are of similar rank and/or record.

>I understand this rule was established with the goal of precluding the
>possibility that rikishi within the same heya could throw matches to each
>other. 
Others have stated that since the heya lives together there is also a bond
that forms between heya-mates.  As a result, forcing rikishi of the same
heya to compete against each other might disrupt the camaraderie.

One suggestion often mentioned to avoid "throwing matches" is to have 
heya-mates meet early in the basho when the end results are much more
in doubt.

There is much more discussion and comments in the archives of this sumo
list.

Hope that has answered your questions.

Rich Pardoe