Wakanosato Shinobu (born Shinobu Kogawa ; July 10, 1976) is a retired sumo wrestler from Hirosaki , Aomori , Japan . He made his debut in the top division in 1998, and his highest rank was sekiwake . He holds the record for the most consecutive tournaments ranked in the junior san'yaku ranks of sekiwake and komusubi (19 from 2002 until 2005 ). He won ten special prizes and was twice runner-up in a tournament. He earned two gold stars for defeating yokozuna at a maegashira rank. He had 1691 career bouts, sixth on the all-time list . He retired in 2015 and was a coach at Tagonoura stable , until opening his own Nishiiwa stable in February 2018.
46-585: He first tried sumo in the third grade when he entered a competition for fourth graders and up and came in third. By middle school he was training every day at a sumo dojo . He met Takahanada (later the 65th yokozuna Takanohana) when a regional tour came to Hirozaki City, getting into the ring with him. He entered professional sumo in March 1992 after completing middle school, although he had been admitted to Hirosaki Jitsygyo High School. He had received offers from four or five different heya upon his graduation, but
92-661: A toshiyori-kabu or elder stock in the Japan Sumo Association and is now known as Nishiiwa Oyakata. He initially worked at his old stable, now renamed Tagonoura . His official retirement ceremony or danpatsu-shiki was held at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan on 28 May 2016. Wakanosato's application to open his own Nishiiwa stable was approved by the Sumo Association on 30 November 2017, and the stable opened on 1 February 2018. As of March 2019 it has six wrestlers, all in
138-524: A metatarsal bone in his right foot during his 11th day bout with Kotoshōgiku . He had surgery on 8 April which put him out of action for at least two months, meaning he had to sit out the following tournament in May. He came back very strongly in July, winning his fourth jūryō championship with a 14–1 record. He reached maegashira 1 in March 2010, his highest rank in over four years. After that he comfortably maintained
184-403: A 3–4 or worse record in their regular seven bouts. It is ignored if one loses and counted if one wins, making it a true bonus bout for a makushita wrestler. In such a match-up, the makushita wrestler will have his hair fashioned into a full oicho-mage as sekitori do but continues to wear his plain cotton mawashi . The term makushita can also be used to refer to all four divisions as
230-450: A 5 or 6 classes per day, with only the youngest students not having a sixth period. Some schools allow for a 20-minute recess in-between, which is sometimes used for cleaning the classrooms: sweeping, mopping, throwing away trash, etc. Students then usually leave school around three o'clock. After-school clubs like sports and English club are offered at elementary schools, but unlike middle and high school clubs these usually meet only once
276-430: A first step to higher-level private schools with which they are affiliated and thence to a university . Competition to enter some of these "ladder schools" is quite intense. Elementary school classes are large, typically between thirty and forty students each. Students are usually organized into small work groups, which have both academic and disciplinary functions. The ministry's Course of Study for Elementary Schools
322-418: A form of overcoat over his yukata . However, the wrestlers are still considered to be in training, receiving only an allowance rather than a salary. As with the other divisions below jūryō , wrestlers only compete in seven bouts, held roughly every other day. The number of sandanme wrestlers per tournament is 180 (reduced from 200 in March 2022). Jonidan ( 序二段 ) is the fifth highest division. Unlike
368-610: A position in the mid-to-upper maegashira ranks until he was injured in the November 2011 tournament, resulting in yet another fall to jūryō . However he immediately returned to makuuchi after scoring 11–4 in January 2012. After a poor 4–11 record at maegashira 15 in September 2013, Wakanosato was once again demoted to jūryō , but for the first time for a non injury-related reason. He was ranked in makuuchi only one more time after that, in
414-452: A small allowance instead of a salary. Jūryō wrestlers, along with their makuuchi counterparts, are the only professional sumo wrestlers who compete in a full fifteen bouts per official tournament. In the case of injuries with makuuchi wrestlers pulling out, jūryō wrestlers near the top of the division may find themselves in the occasional matchup with a top-division wrestler. Such jūryō - makuuchi matchups are also not uncommon towards
460-411: A tournament. It is often considered that holding the rank of makushita is the first step toward becoming a professional ( sekitori ranked) sumo wrestler. Furthermore, it can be regarded as the most heavily contested division, with younger sumo wrestlers on their way up competing with those older sumo wrestlers who have dropped from jūryō and are determined to regain the higher rank. A key incentive
506-404: A week. Japanese elementary schooling is seen as effective, but not without some problems, notably increasing absenteeism and school refusal and a troublesome amount of bullying (77,630 reported cases in 2010 throughout the school system) In addition, special provision for the young children returning to Japan from long periods spent overseas is an issue. The government also is concerned with
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#1733085918354552-404: A whole that are below jūryō , as these four divisions are considered wrestlers that are still in training. Sandanme ( 三段目 ) is the fourth highest division. This level represents the first break point in the treatment a wrestler receives as he rises up the ranks. From sandanme, he is allowed a better quality of dress; for instance, he no longer needs to wear geta on his feet and can wear
598-448: A wrestler below makushita still only receives a small living allowance. Winning all seven matches in a tournament grants an unconditional advance to the jūryō division if one is ranked within the top thirty wrestlers of the division. For any other member of the division, a 7–0 record will guarantee promotion to within the top thirty members, so two successive 7–0 records will allow a makushita wrestler to advance to jūryō . Those in
644-434: Is almost universally known as jūryō . Wrestlers in the jūryō and the makuuchi division above are known as sekitori . Jūryō wrestlers, like those in the top makuuchi division, receive a regular monthly salary as well as other perks associated with having become a sekitori , or a member of the two upper divisions in sumo. Sumo wrestlers ranked in the divisions below jūryō are considered to be in training and receive
690-419: Is composed of a wide variety of subjects both academic and nonacademic. Academic subjects include Japanese language, social studies , arithmetic , and science . Japanese language is an emphasized subject due to the complexity of the written language and the diversity of its spoken forms in formal speech to seniors ( keigo ). The English Language is taught at some schools especially in the higher grades; it
736-590: Is increasingly being used to enhance education, and most schools have access to the Internet." There is a system of educational television and radio, and almost all elementary schools use programs prepared by the School Education Division of Japan's ex Broadcasting Corporation ( Nippon Hoso Kyokai —NHK). Both Japanese elementary and middle schools begin around 7:50 AM, with lessons starting at 8:30 AM. Japanese schools do not have school buses, both because of
782-681: Is now mandatory at 5th and 6th grade from 2011, as in 2002 TOEFL scores in Japan were the worst in Asia after North Korea. Nonacademic subjects taught include art (including Japanese calligraphy ) and handicrafts, music, haiku or Japanese traditional poetry, homemaking , physical education , and moral education . Children also take part in "special activities," scheduled time each week to take care of class business, plan for field trips and ceremonies, and similar tasks. "Special activities" also serve as an arena for students to take an active role as members of
828-414: Is the difference between being ranked in the topmost makushita slot versus the lowest jūryō rank, which has been likened to being that between heaven and hell: a wrestler ranked at makushita or lower is expected to carry out chores for the stable and any sekitori within it, whereas the jūryō wrestler will be served upon. Similarly, the jūryō wrestler receives a comfortable monthly salary, whereas
874-448: Is the only division that is featured on standard NHK 's live coverage of sumo tournaments and is broadcast bilingually. The lower divisions are covered only on streaming services like Abema . The name makuuchi literally means "inside the curtain", a reference to the early period of professional sumo, when the top ranked wrestlers were able to sit in a curtained off area prior to appearing for their bouts. Makuuchi can also refer to
920-406: Is the second highest division, and is fixed at 28 wrestlers. The name literally means "ten ryō "', which was at one time the income a wrestler ranked in this division could expect to receive. The official name of the second division is actually jūmaime ( 十枚目 ) , meaning "tenth placing" and can be heard in official announcements and seen in some publications, but within and outside the sumo world it
966-548: Is the third highest division. Prior to the creation of the jūryō division, this division was only one below the topmost makuuchi division (meaning inside the curtain). Makushita , literally means "below ( shita ) the curtain ( maku )." In the current system, there are 120 wrestlers in the division (60 ranked on the East and 60 on the West side of the banzuke ). Unlike the sekitori ranks above them, wrestlers compete only seven times during
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#17330859183541012-431: Is the top division. It is fixed at 42 wrestlers who are ranked according to their performance in previous tournaments. At the top of the division are the four ranks of "titleholders", or "champions" called the san'yaku , comprising yokozuna , ōzeki , sekiwake and komusubi . There are typically 8–12 wrestlers in these ranks with the remainder, called maegashira , ranked in numerical order from 1 downwards. This
1058-409: The dohyō he again had injury problems, being forced to withdraw from his final san'yaku -ranked tournament in September 2005 and missing all of the next. He defeated yokozuna Asashōryū on the second day of the 2006 May tournament, his first kinboshi in 45 tournaments (only Kirinji , with 47 tournaments, has had a longer wait between kinboshi ) but he could only manage a 6–9 record overall. He
1104-614: The April after they turn six— kindergarten is growing increasingly popular, but is not mandatory—and starting school is considered a very important event in a child's life. In the Edo period , some children attended terakoya or temple schools where they learned practical methods of reading, writing, and calculation. In 1886, the modern elementary school system started as compulsory education . Until 1947, only elementary schools were compulsory. Immediately before and during World War II , state education
1150-430: The July 2014 tournament. Following a 4–11 result in jūryō in July 2015, which guaranteed a further relegation to the makushita division, Wakanosato announced his retirement on 3 September. He told a press conference "I entered this career out of my love for sumo, and it has been enjoyable. I'm being sincere in saying I want to continue, but my body is not up to the task of matching my desire." He had already purchased
1196-439: The November 1998 tournament, but the next day he broke his ankle in a match with Musōyama and had to miss the last day of the tournament and all of the next. He suffered a more serious injury in November 1999, rupturing anterior cruciate ligaments . He sat out two successive tournaments after having surgery and was demoted to the jūryō division. He won consecutive jūryō championships upon his comeback, in May and July 2000, and
1242-481: The classroom with the teacher, providing another informal opportunity for teaching nutrition , health, good eating habits and social behavior. All students eat the same lunch, and are assigned to shifts for serving lunch to their homeroom. Lunch lasts about 40 minutes. In some lower elementary school, classes are over after lunch and children are allowed to go home. Upper elementary students in those schools have one more class after lunch. However, other schools have
1288-415: The divisions above it, there is no fixed number of wrestlers in the division although it is usually the largest division in any given tournament, with commonly around 200–250 wrestlers ranked within it. As a result of the numbers, and the fact that, as with the other lower divisions, the wrestlers fight only seven times during a tournament, a play-off tournament on the last day is normally required to determine
1334-429: The education of Japanese children residing abroad. However, in most urban centers there are at least private international schools which can accommodate such returnees. A new course of study was established in 1989, partly as a result of the education reform movement of the 1980s and partly because of ongoing curriculum review. Important changes scheduled were an increased number of hours devoted to Japanese language,
1380-1518: The end of a sumo tournament, in order to better establish promotion and relegation of individuals between the two divisions. Once a wrestler is promoted to jūryō , he is considered a professional with significant salary and privileges. As such, promotions to jūryō are announced just a few days after a preceding tournament, whereas other rankings are not announced for several weeks. [REDACTED] Kitanowaka [REDACTED] Kinbōzan [REDACTED] Kagayaki [REDACTED] Hakuōhō [REDACTED] Shirokuma [REDACTED] Kayō [ ja ] [REDACTED] Tamashōhō [REDACTED] Shimanoumi [REDACTED] Shimazuumi [REDACTED] Tomokaze [REDACTED] Tōhakuryū [REDACTED] Shiden [ ja ] [REDACTED] Hidenoumi [REDACTED] Tsurugishō [REDACTED] Mitoryū [REDACTED] Hakuyozan [ ja ] [REDACTED] Daiamami [REDACTED] Daishōhō [REDACTED] Ōnoshō [REDACTED] Fujiseiun [ ja ] [REDACTED] Aonishiki [ ja ] [REDACTED] Chiyomaru [REDACTED] Daiseizan [ ja ] [REDACTED] Tochitaikai [ ja ] [REDACTED] Wakaikari [ ja ] [REDACTED] Kotoeiho [ ja ] [REDACTED] Nabatame [ ja ] [REDACTED] Ōshōumi [ ja ] Makushita ( 幕下 )
1426-431: The flag nor the anthem had been legally designated as national symbols, and because of the nationalistic wartime associations the two had in the minds of some citizens, this suggestion was greeted with opposition. Makushita Professional sumo as administered by the Japan Sumo Association is divided into six ranked divisions . Wrestlers are promoted and demoted within and between these divisions based on
Wakanosato Shinobu - Misplaced Pages Continue
1472-533: The lower divisions. Wakanosato specialised in yotsu-sumo , or techniques that involve grabbing hold of the opponent's mawashi . He was known as being particularly difficult to beat once he had a migi-yotsu , or right hand inside, left hand outside grip. About 40 percent of his wins were by yori kiri , or force out, but he was also good at pushing and thrusting, winning many bouts by oshi-dashi or push out. His two most commonly used throws were sukuinage (scoop throw) and uwatenage (overarm throw). Wakanosato
1518-598: The merit of their win–loss records in official tournaments. For more information, see kachi-koshi and make-koshi . Wrestlers are also ranked within each division. The higher a wrestler's rank within a division is, the general level of opponents he will have to face becomes stronger. According to tradition, each rank is further subdivided into East and West, with East being slightly more prestigious, and ranked slightly higher than its West counterpart. The divisions, ranked in order of hierarchy from highest to lowest, are as follows: Makuuchi ( 幕内 ) , or makunouchi ( 幕の内 ) ,
1564-496: The replacement of the social sciences course with a daily life course- -instruction for children on proper interaction with the society and environment around them—and an increased emphasis on moral education. New emphasis also was to be given in the curriculum to the national flag and the Japanese national anthem . The ministry suggested that the flag be flown and the national anthem sung at important school ceremonies. Because neither
1610-442: The school community and to cultivate a sense of responsibility and willingness to work together. This is linked back to moral education classtime lessons, which are used as a context for "reflection on desirable practice, particularly in reference to special activities" and through which students can learn how to consider other peoples' perspectives and cultivate a sense of "omoiyari" (consideration of others). "Information technology
1656-481: The school kitchens. Lunches are typically served in bento boxes, with small portions of a variety of freshly prepared foods. These include "a whole range of meats, fishes, vegetables, and sea plants. A typical meal consists of stew or curry, boiled vegetables, a sandwich, and salad. Milk is served with each meal. Usually, there is also dessert, such as gelatin, ice cream, and fruit." Because there are relatively few cafeterias in elementary schools, meals are taken in
1702-494: The small and relatively new Naruto stable appealed to him. As with many sumo wrestlers, he initially competed under his family name, Kogawa, but upon reaching the second highest jūryō division in November 1997, he was given the fighting name of Wakanosato, reminiscent of his stablemaster, former yokozuna Takanosato . He entered the top makuuchi division for the first time in May 1998. He recorded his first kinboshi or gold star win against yokozuna Wakanohana in
1748-450: The small size of most school districts and because of the availability of public transportation. The first fifteen minutes of each day is set aside for either a schoolwide assembly (on Monday mornings) or attendance and announcements in homeroom. Classes are between 40 and 45 minutes each, with a break of 5 to 10 minutes in-between. After four morning classes, at about 12:30 PM, students are sent to pick up their homeroom's lunches from
1794-496: The top ranked wrestlers, being unable to beat Takanohana in nine attempts and winning only five times out of 32 meetings against ōzeki Chiyotaikai . He initially had an excellent head-to-head record against Hakuhō , defeating him the first six times they met. However, the last of these victories came in 2005 and he subsequently lost eleven in a row against Hakuhō. He was awarded ten sanshō or special prizes for good performances in tournaments during his career. In later years, on
1840-1466: The top two divisions makuuchi and jūryō as a whole, as the wrestlers in these divisions are fully salaried professionals as opposed to "in training." [REDACTED] Terunofuji [REDACTED] Kotozakura [REDACTED] Hōshōryū [REDACTED] Ōnosato [REDACTED] Kirishima [REDACTED] Daieishō [REDACTED] Wakamotoharu [REDACTED] Shōdai [REDACTED] Ōhō [REDACTED] Hiradoumi [REDACTED] Wakatakakage [REDACTED] Ura [REDACTED] Abi [REDACTED] Atamifuji [REDACTED] Churanoumi [REDACTED] Ōshōma [REDACTED] Tobizaru [REDACTED] Kotoshōhō [REDACTED] Takanoshō [REDACTED] Nishikigi [REDACTED] Endō [REDACTED] Mitakeumi [REDACTED] Rōga [REDACTED] Gōnoyama [REDACTED] Midorifuji [REDACTED] Takayasu [REDACTED] Ichiyamamoto [REDACTED] Takarafuji [REDACTED] Tamawashi [REDACTED] Meisei [REDACTED] Hokutofuji [REDACTED] Sadanoumi [REDACTED] Ryūden [REDACTED] Shōnannoumi [REDACTED] Chiyoshōma [REDACTED] Nishikifuji [REDACTED] Ōnokatsu [REDACTED] Tokihayate [REDACTED] Shishi [REDACTED] Takerufuji [REDACTED] Asakōryū [REDACTED] Bushōzan Jūryō ( 十両 ) ,
1886-425: The uppermost ranks of the division, and thus slated for a possible advancement, may have a match with those in jūryō , either as one of the seven matches they are expected to compete in, or occasionally in addition to the matches they have already had. This eighth match is sometimes required as a result of tournament withdrawals due to injury of sekitori , and is usually given to makushita wrestlers who have achieved
Wakanosato Shinobu - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-620: Was married in April 2004. His stablemaster reported that his bride weighed just 39 kg (86 lb; 6.1 st). Sanshō key: F =Fighting spirit; O =Outstanding performance; T =Technique Also shown: ★ = Kinboshi ; P = Playoff (s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Elementary schools in Japan In Japan, elementary schools ( 小学校 , Shōgakkō ) are compulsory to all children begin first grade in
1978-408: Was never able to break through the "great barrier" (the literal meaning of ōzeki ), just failing to attain the necessary 33 wins over three tournaments. He was runner-up in the January 2003 tournament, and again in September 2003, where his 11–4 score was probably his best chance to make ōzeki . However, he could only manage seven wins in the following tournament. He was never able to consistently beat
2024-501: Was promoted back to makuuchi in September. He quickly made the titled san'yaku ranks, making komusubi in November 2000 and recovering from 2–6 down to finish 9–6. As a result, he was promoted to sekiwake for the first time in January 2001. In his early top division career, Wakanosato was considered a promising candidate for ōzeki . From January 2002 until January 2005, he spent 19 consecutive tournaments ranked at either komusubi or sekiwake , an all-time record. However, he
2070-413: Was then again forced to sit out all of the September 2006 tournament and fell to the second division once again. However, he made something of a comeback in May 2007 , turning in a strong 10–5 record at maegashira 7. He won his 600th career bout in September 2007, and turned in another good performance in May 2008 , again finishing on 10–5. He withdrew from the March 2009 tournament after breaking
2116-446: Was used as a propaganda tool by the Japanese fascist government. Today, virtually all elementary education takes place in public schools. Tuition to these schools is free, although families have to pay for school lunches, supplies, and non-school expenses, such as extra books or lessons. Less than 1% of the schools are private, partly because of the latter's expense. Some private elementary schools are prestigious, and they serve as
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