Rikishi Summary - Mainoumi to Yamato

To be included in this summary, a rikishi must:

The text below each rikishi's entry is my brief commentary - please try not to take the words too seriously.

Mainoumi

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   48   32   43   42.7%    6.42    7.52
    96   25   32   31   50.8%    7.55    7.43
    97   39   45   45   50.0%    6.83    6.83
    98   57   38   52   42.2%    3.15    4.32
'97 comments
Obviously, it is to your advantage to have some weight in sumo (at least to a point). But how much of a disadvantage is it to be short? Probably not much at all, except for the implication of a smaller reach.
'98 comments
Can Mainoumi return to makuuchi? Oh heck, why not?

Minatofuji

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   16   35   40   46.7%    8.26    8.76
    96   21   39   51   43.3%    7.73    8.73
    97   31   45   45   50.0%    7.32    7.32
    98   23   38   52   42.2%    6.60    7.77
'97 comments
I find it difficult to get excited about this guy. From the looks of his PR rank, he won't be exciting many people at all in a couple of years.
'98 comments
I propose changing his shikona to "Big Dumpy, The Taka Killer." Beating Takanohana twice is all I remember about him last year.

Misugisato

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   26   33   42   44.0%    7.48    8.38
    96   36   39   51   43.3%    7.11    8.11
    97   44   46   44   51.1%    6.61    6.44
    98   62   20   38   34.5%    0.94    3.33
'97 comments
Nobody seems to talk about the Futa-factor in juryo.

Mitoizumi

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   18   38   37   50.7%    8.16    8.06
    96   31   35   55   38.9%    7.27    8.94
    97   34   40   50   44.4%    7.16    7.99
    98   34   42   48   46.7%    5.41    5.91
'97 comments
I'm glad Mitoizumi is still around. I love the Big Salt Toss as much as the next guy, but the way he pummels his face before the tachi-ai is great too.
'98 comments
Mitoizumi's mobility is really going downhill. This is probably it for the big guy.

Musashimaru

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95    3   56   19   74.7%   13.66    9.96
    96    6   59   31   65.6%   12.55   10.22
    97    3   68   22   75.6%   13.90   10.07
    98    3   64   26   71.1%   12.39    9.23
'97 comments
For Musashimaru to have a shot at yokozuna, Musoyama and Dejima will need to be good put pressure on the other to rankers. If one of the two yokozuna were not around, that would help as well.
'98 comments
I think Musashimaru's chance to become yokozuna has passed. The younger guys closed the gap on him this year, and getting 12 wins is going to tough for him from now on.

Musoyama

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95    6   36   24   60.0%   11.62   10.12
    96    7   54   36   60.0%   11.78   10.28
    97   11   41   37   52.6%   10.24    9.85
    98    8   50   40   55.6%   10.10    9.27
'97 comments
Musoyama and Tosanoumi are fairly similar as big, ex-college stars with a strong offensive style who take turns as being "the next ozeki" in the sanyaku ranks. I don't expect Musoyama's recent resurgence to last long, but who knows, he might just surprise me.
'98 comments
A pretty good year. I think Musoyama is as good now as he is ever going to be. That can only be thought of as a disapointment if you consider the opinions when he first entered makuuchi, where he was projected as a "lock" for ozeki. 5+ years as a sanyaku regular isn't so bad.

Naminohana

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   38   30   45   40.0%    6.88    8.38
    96   44   37   53   41.1%    6.67    8.01
'97 comments
Probably one the least physically gifted (for sumo) rikishi I have seen, but he was INTENSE. In my opinion, it was a minor miracle that he made it as high as he did up the banzuke, because he never looked very good to me.

Oginishiki

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   40   33   42   44.0%    6.81    7.71
    96   23   41   49   45.6%    7.61    8.27
    97   14   36   39   48.0%    8.94    9.24
    98   21   30   41   42.3%    6.90    8.33
'97 comments
I'm very amazed that he has done as well as he has. He doesn't seem much better than his brother, but then again he isn't the one who languished in juryo the past 3 years.
'98 comments
Injuries have really had an effect on Oginishiki's career.

Oginohana

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   17   34   23   59.6%    8.26    6.81
    96   57   36   54   40.0%    5.20    6.70
    97   50   46   44   51.1%    5.89    5.72

'97 comments
He's languished in juryo the past 3 years.

Oikari

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    98   42   40    35  53.3%    4.56    4.20
'98 comments
I don't think I have much of a reason to care about Oikari.

Rikio

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   53   25   28   47.2%    6.11    6.54
    96   18   54   36   60.0%    8.18    6.68
    97   24   31   29   51.7%    7.53    7.28
'97 comments
Was decent makuuchi rikishi who probably would have had a fairly substantial career if his unexpected illness hadn't caused his premature retirement.

Shikishima

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   23   30   23   56.6%    7.65    6.66
    96   24   49   41   54.4%    7.55    6.89
    97   28   45   45   50.0%    7.42    7.42
    98   22   30   43   41.1%    6.76    8.34
'97 comments
Shikishima is a not-so-good version of Ganyu, so you can guess how I feel about him. He should be around a few years, bouncing from mid to low maegashira.
'98 comments
The above comparison is unwarranted. Shikishima showed some improvement in his sumo last year.

Takanohana

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95    1   67    8   89.3%   15.41    9.51
    96    1   70    5   93.3%   15.94    9.44
    97    1   78   12   86.7%   14.99    9.49
    98    4   58   20   74.4%   12.26    8.91
'97 comments
It really should be no surprise that Takanohana has been the best rikishi in this period. But how about this one: Takanohana had the most wins in 1996, despite having missed one entire basho.
'98 comments
I have a bad vibe on how Takanohana's career is going to end. Between his recurring health problems and the many issues with his family, I sense a total collapse is not out of the question.

Takanonami

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   10   41   34   54.7%   10.13    9.43
    96    2   69   21   76.7%   13.47    9.47
    97    5   62   28   68.9%   12.33    9.50
    98    5   56   34   62.2%   10.75    8.91
'97 comments
Wow, did Takanonami have that good of a year in 1996? I guess so - that was his rebound year after alternating double-digit wins with make-koshi basho.
'98 comments
With all the young talent in the division, Takanonami will be hard pressed to maintain his ozeki rank. And there is NO way her gets 60 wins this year.

Takatoriki

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   13   37   38   49.3%    9.46    9.56
    96    9   54   36   60.0%   11.08    9.58
    97   10   50   40   55.6%   10.33    9.50
    98   16   44   46   48.9%    8.46    8.63
'97 comments
His power ratings look to be a little erratic. Who's surprised?
'98 comments
Wasn't Takatoriki an ozeki candidate at some point in '98? Let's hear it for the Futa-Factor!

Tamakasuga

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   21   31   21   59.6%    7.75    6.31
    96   11   47   43   52.2%    9.76    9.43
    97   12   40   50   44.4%    9.64   10.47
    98   19   41   49   45.6%    7.36    8.03
'97 comments
Probably the best rikishi who has never been called "the next ozeki."
'98 comments
I'm not sure what happened here. I still think he's pretty good. Maybe he lost his "fighting spirit."

Terao

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   19   31   44   41.3%    8.07    9.37
    96   20   38   52   42.2%    7.76    8.93
    97   37   32   42   43.2%    7.09    8.10
    98   32   44   46   48.9%    5.69    5.86
'97 comments
One of my favorites. When I show sumo to friends who haven't been exposed to it, I try to show them Terao slapping somebody of the dohyo. It helps to dispell the notion that they're just "fat guys in diapers."
'98 comments
It seems like he had to get a little tricky this year to keep winning. This is the first year that Terao has looked old to me.

Tochiazuma

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    96   12   43   17   71.7%    9.63    6.38
    97    8   52   38   57.8%   10.87    9.70
    98    7   39   27   59.1%   10.53    9.70
'97 comments
I don't think there's been a single point in his career when he's given anybody reason to believe that he isn't destined for greatness.
'98 comments
OK, so maybe my comments from last year were a little extreme. This year I'll say that even though Chiyotaikai is currently better, Tochiazuma will have a better career.

Tochinonada

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    97   13   53   37   58.9%    9.24    7.90
    98   13   41   49   45.6%    8.67    9.33
'97 comments
These college kids are all alike. Will probably be better than Tamakasuga, but worse than Dejima.
'98 comments
In '98, he was better than Tamakasuga, but worse than Dejima. I think he's much closer to Tamakasuga though.

Tochinowaka

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   25   30   45   40.0%    7.52    9.02
    96   30   44   46   48.9%    7.30    7.47
    97   36   34   56   37.8%    7.09    8.93
    98   28   38   52   42.2%    6.08    7.24
'97 comments
Despite his falling PR, I think he'll stay in the top division throughout '98.
'98 comments
Same as above. I really haven't any signs of deterioration yet. This guy is tough.

Toki

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    98   20   55    35  61.1%    7.00    5.33
'98 comments
Is he the real deal, or a novelty act? I don't see him ever making it to sekiwake, but komusubi is not out of the question.

Tokitsunada

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   42   33   37   47.1%    6.73    7.16
    96   47   46   43   51.7%    6.31    6.05
    97   47   48   42   53.3%    6.37    5.87
    98   54   43   47   47.8%    3.43    3.77
'97 comments
Would you believe that he used to be in makuuchi? Now, he's a poor man's Kushimaumi.

Tokitsuumi

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    98   39   48    42  53.3%    5.05    4.55
'98 comments
I guess the top division will need a new "handsome man" when Terao retires. I'm not sure Tokitsuumi can last here though.

Tomonohana

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   35   28   32   46.7%    7.06    7.56
    96   50   30   32   48.4%    5.74    5.98
    97   53   35   35   50.0%    5.52    5.52
    98   48   47   43   52.2%    3.81    3.48
'97 comments
Near the end of the line, but everybody loves the sensei.

Tosanoumi

1-Year Rank: 10th
3-Year Rank: 13th 
  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95    8   46   26   63.9%   10.36    8.28
    96   14   41   49   45.6%    9.35   10.02
    97    9   47   43   52.2%   10.80   10.47
    98   15   38   36   51.4%    8.51    8.59
'97 comments
People are down on Tosanoumi right now, but he'll return to the sanyaku ranks for a few basho this year, at the very least.
'98 comments
I think Tosanoumi will rebound in '99.

Toyonoumi

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   43   29   26   52.7%    6.69    6.28
    96   60   40   49   44.9%    4.94    5.69
    97   55   45   45   50.0%    5.42    5.42
    98   58   42   48   46.7%    3.14    3.64
'97 comments
To be honest, I'm not really sure how he made the list. Maybe I didn't want him to think Daizen was getting special treatment.

Wakanohana

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95    4   54   21   72.0%   12.72    9.42
    96    5   56   23   70.9%   12.65    9.52
    97    4   47   17   73.4%   12.89    9.38
    98    1   67   23   74.4%   12.63    8.96
'97 comments
The influx of powerful young rikishi is going to make it difficult for this technician to score double-digit wins consistently.
'98 comments
Wakanohana becoming yokozuna, getting the most wins, and being ranked #1 here is the most unexpected event since the Spanish Inquisition. I think all this happened because all the "old guard" are slipping, and he's not.

Wakanojo

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    96   59   40   49   44.9%    4.96    5.72
    97   40   47   43   52.2%    6.70    6.36
    98   37   40   50   44.4%    5.38    6.21
'97 comments
Enjoy the ride while it lasts Wakanojo.
'98 comments
I still don't think he's very good.

Wakanosato

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    98   17   52   37   58.4%    7.71    6.46
'98 comments
A fairly impressive start. Hopefully he will fully recover from his injury.

Wakashoyo

  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    95   20   35   39   47.3%    7.75    8.16
    96   51   35   40   46.7%    5.72    6.22
    97   63   23   37   38.3%    3.82    5.57
'97 comments
See Misugisato.

Yamato

1-Year Rank: 38th
3-Year Rank: 31st 
  Year Rank  Win  Loss    %      PR      OPR
------------------------------------------------
    96   38   52   37   58.4%    6.96    5.69
    97   35   46   44   51.1%    7.15    6.99
'97 comments
Proof that it takes more to be an ozeki/yokozuna than being big and Hawaiian.

Comments? Let me know