Yokozuna-Ozeki

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

I thought I wrote about Yokozuna-Ozeki very recently. But anyway......

Yokozuna became an official rank in Meiji Era. Before then, there were no
Yokozuna as a rank. Traditionally, Ozeki is the highest rank for sumo and
Yokozuna were treated as an honorable title.

Even now, Sanyaku (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi) are more important for banzuke
than Yokozuna, in a way. There were no Yokozuna right before Akebono was
promoted to Yokozuna. That is OK. But it is important to have Sanyaku positions
are filled to represent East and West.

When there are less than two Ozeki, then the highest ranked Yokozuna in the
same side will have the title Yokozuna-Ozeki to show the highest ranked rikishi
of his side. Candidates are both Sei-Yokozuna.

There were a time when there were no Ozeki but there were two or more Yokozuna.

Kitanoumi was East Yokozuna-Ozeki for September 1981. It was Chiyonofuji's
first basho as a Yokozuna and he was the West Yokozuna-Ozeki.

1980
Kyushu-basho: Yokozuna Mienoumi retired.
1981
Hatsu-basho: Ozeki Takanohana retired.
Haru-basho: Yokozuna Wajima and Ozeki Masuiyama retired.
Natsu-basho: West Yokozuna-Ozeki Wakanohana-II, East Ozeki Chiyonofuji
Nagoya-basho: West Yokozuna-Ozeki Wakanohana-II, East Ozeki Chiyonofuji
Aki-basho: East Yokozuna-Ozeki Kitanoumi, West Yokozuna-Ozeki Choyonofuji (no
Ozeki)
Kyushu-basho: West Yokozuna-Ozeki Kitanoumi, East Ozeki Kotokaze
1982
Hatsu-basho: West Yokozuna-Ozeki Kitanoumi, East Ozeki Kotokaze
Haru-basho: East Ozeki Kotokaze, West Ozeki Takanosato (no Yokozuna-Ozeki)

-Toshiyori Masumiriki

Otakeyama@aol.com wrote:

> I love this list!!  Just when I think I know something about Sumo, something
> new comes along.  Someone please explain to me the term "Yokozuna-Ozeki".  I
> know about Higashi-Yokozuna, Nishi-Yokozuna, Sei-Yokozuna, and
> Haridashi-Yokozuna, but never Yokozuna-Ozeki.  I am looking for a full
> explanation, origin, purpose etc.
>
> Thanks!!!!!!
> Otakeyama