Sansho (Sumo)
Encyclopedia
Sanshō are the three special prizes awarded to top (Makuuchi
) division sumo
wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho
or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.
The three prizes are
Typically the shukun-shō is awarded to a wrestler who defeats the yokozuna or the eventual tournament winner, or who otherwise displays outstanding performance relative to his rank; the Ginō-shō to the wrestler who displays the most skillful kimarite
, or techniques; and the kantō-shō to the wrestler who has most clearly fought tenaciously and to the best of his abilities. The ginō-shō is considered the most prestigious, and is also the prize most often not awarded at all: in 1988, it was withheld for five tournaments in a row. However each award is worth the same amount of money, two million yen.
It is a de facto standard that a newly promoted makuuchi
wrestler who manages a 10-5 or better record in his first tournament will be awarded a sanshō, normally the Fighting Spirit prize. Similarly a wrestler newly promoted to the sanyaku ranks above maegashira who achieves a 10-5 record can expect a prize for his efforts.
There is no minimum or maximum limit to the number of sanshō that may be given. It is not uncommon for more than one wrestler to be awarded the same prize, and similarly there are occasions when one of the three sanshō titles is not awarded at all. For example it is unlikely that the shukun-shō will be awarded if the tournament is won 15-0 by a lone yokozuna.
At some tournaments as many as six sanshō were awarded in total (as in January 1992), while at others only one has been presented (most recently in January 2005).
*record in bold indicates wrestler also took championship
In September 2001, Kotomitsuki, in his championship tournament, came very close to being the only wrestler to receive all 3 prizes twice, but the Fighting Spirit prize went to then maegashira Asashoryu.
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
) division sumo
Sumo
is a competitive full-contact sport where a wrestler attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or to touch the ground with anything other than the soles of the feet. The sport originated in Japan, the only country where it is practiced professionally...
wrestlers for exceptional performance during a sumo honbasho
Honbasho
A is an official professional sumo tournament. There are six held each year, a system established in 1958. Only honbasho results matter in determining promotion and relegation for rikishi ....
or tournament. The prizes were first awarded in November 1947.
Criteria
All rikishi in the top division below the rank of ōzeki are eligible. In order to be considered for a special prize a rikishi must make a kachikoshi or majority of wins during the tournament. Otherwise the prizes are decided by a panel which includes press writers covering the tournament. There is no requirement that the prizes must be awarded, and it sometimes happens that one or more of the sanshō are not given.The three prizes are
- Shukun-shō (殊勲賞), Outstanding Performance prize
- Ginō-shō (技能賞), Technique prize
- Kantō-shō (敢闘賞), Fighting Spirit prize
Typically the shukun-shō is awarded to a wrestler who defeats the yokozuna or the eventual tournament winner, or who otherwise displays outstanding performance relative to his rank; the Ginō-shō to the wrestler who displays the most skillful kimarite
Kimarite
Kimarite are winning techniques in a sumo bout. For each bout in a Grand Sumo tournament , a sumo referee, or gyoji, will decide and announce the type of kimarite used by the winner...
, or techniques; and the kantō-shō to the wrestler who has most clearly fought tenaciously and to the best of his abilities. The ginō-shō is considered the most prestigious, and is also the prize most often not awarded at all: in 1988, it was withheld for five tournaments in a row. However each award is worth the same amount of money, two million yen.
It is a de facto standard that a newly promoted makuuchi
Makuuchi
or is the top division of professional sumo. Its size is fixed at 42 wrestlers , ordered into five ranks according to their ability as defined by their performance in previous tournaments....
wrestler who manages a 10-5 or better record in his first tournament will be awarded a sanshō, normally the Fighting Spirit prize. Similarly a wrestler newly promoted to the sanyaku ranks above maegashira who achieves a 10-5 record can expect a prize for his efforts.
There is no minimum or maximum limit to the number of sanshō that may be given. It is not uncommon for more than one wrestler to be awarded the same prize, and similarly there are occasions when one of the three sanshō titles is not awarded at all. For example it is unlikely that the shukun-shō will be awarded if the tournament is won 15-0 by a lone yokozuna.
At some tournaments as many as six sanshō were awarded in total (as in January 1992), while at others only one has been presented (most recently in January 2005).
Sanshō sweeps
On a few rare occasions, one wrestler has been awarded all three prizes simultaneously for his performance. This accolade has been given on only 5 separate occasions to 5 different wrestlers.| Tournament | Wrestler | Rank | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1973 | Daiju Hisateru Daiju Hisateru Daiju Hisateru is a former sumo wrestler from Hokkaidō, Japan. His highest rank was ozeki, but he held the rank for only five tournaments, fewer than any ozeki in the modern era. He won eleven sansho or special prizes during his top division career which lasted from 1970 to 1977... |
sekiwake | 13-2 |
| Sept 1973 | Ōnishiki Ittetsu | maegashira 11 | 11-4 |
| Jan 1992 | Takahanada Kōji Takanohana Koji is a former sumo wrestler from Suginami, Tokyo, Japan. He was the 65th man in history to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, and he won 22 tournament championships between 1992 and 2001, the fifth highest total ever... |
maegashira 2 | 14-1 |
| July 1999 | Dejima Takeharu Dejima Takeharu Dejima Takeharu is a former sumo wrestler from Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. A former amateur champion, he made his professional debut in 1996, reaching the top makuuchi division the following year... |
sekiwake | 13-2 |
| Nov 2000 | Kotomitsuki Keiji Kotomitsuki Keiji Kotomitsuki Keiji is a former sumo wrestler from Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. A former amateur champion, he turned professional in 1999. He reached the top makuuchi division in November 2000 and won one yusho or tournament championship, in September 2001... |
maegashira 9 | 13-2 |
*record in bold indicates wrestler also took championship
In September 2001, Kotomitsuki, in his championship tournament, came very close to being the only wrestler to receive all 3 prizes twice, but the Fighting Spirit prize went to then maegashira Asashoryu.