In 1996, the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament set a record for the number of wrestlers in a playoff, after
Musashimaru,
Akebono,
Wakanohana,
Takanonami, and
Kaio, all tied at 11–4.[1] Musashimaru won the historic five-way playoff, taking his second tournament title since July 1994.[1]
The following are the events in professional
sumo during
1996.
(Lots are drawn. Four rikishi face in semifinals, and one is a reserve. The reserve and the two winners face in a 3-Way Playoff, where two consecutive victories are required to win the Playoff and the yūshō)
OzekiTakanonami wins his first top division
yusho, defeating his
yokozuna stablemate
Takanohana in a playoff after both record 14–1 scores.
Takatoriki is third on 11–4 and wins the Fighting Spirit Prize, shared with
Kenko and newcomer
Tamakasuga.
SekiwakeKaio gets the Outstanding Performance Award.
Rikio wins the juryo championship after a playoff with
Wakahayato.
Saganobori, a former
maegashira who has been fighting in the unsalaried ranks for three years, retires.
March
Takanohana wins his 12th championship, finishing on 14–1, two wins ahead of his stablemate and brother
Wakanohana and sekiwake
Musoyama, who gets the Technique Award.
Asahiyutaka is the only man to beat Takanohana and wins the Outstanding Performance Award.
Kotonowaka wins eleven and the Fighting Spirit Award.
Kyokushuzan wins the juryo yusho after a playoff with
Saigo. Former ozeki
Kirishima retires, as do former maegashira
Owakamatsu and
Tamakairiki (who has fallen to the
jonidan division).
May
Takanohana wins with a 14–1 record again, two wins ahead of Wakanohana and Takanonami, underlining the dominance of
Futagoyama stable. Yokozuna
Akebono returns from three tournaments sidelined by injury to score 10–5. Tamakasuga wins the Technique Prize and Kaio the Outstanding Performance Award. Veteran former ozeki
Konishiki avoids demotion and certain retirement by winning ten bouts from maegashira 14. Rikio wins his second juryo championship. The
makushita yusho is won by
Dejima.
July
At the Nagoya basho, Takanonami is eliminated from the yusho race on the final day when he is defeated by Kaio. The championship is decided in the final bout between Takanohana and Akebono, tied on 12–2. Takanohana wins to claim his 14th championship, while Akebono has his first runner-up performance since September 1995. Takatoriki wins his eighth Fighting Spirit Prize. Kaio and Kotonowaka share the Outstanding Performance Prize. The 95 kg
Mainoumi is injured when the 275 kg
Konishiki falls on his leg. He has to withdraw from the tournament, meaning he will fall to juryo.
Daizen wins his second juryo championship. Former maegashira
Kiraiho retires. Kyokushuzan becomes the first wrestler from
Mongolia to earn promotion to the top division.
September
Takanohana wins four consecutive championships for the first time. He finishes with an unbeaten 15–0 score (zensho-yusho), his fourth. Wakanohana, Takatoriki and
Musashimaru all finish four wins behind on 11–4. Takatoriki shares the Fighting Spirit Prize with Asahiyutaka.
Kotonishiki wins ten bouts from the komusubi rank and receives his sixth Technique Prize.
Tochiazuma wins the juryo championship, his fifth yusho in five different divisions. Former maegashira
Kasugafuji,
Hitachiryu and
Kyokugozan all retire.
November
Takanohana misses the first tournament of his career after injuring his back on tour. In his absence Musashimaru wins his second championship in a five-way playoff after he, Wakanohana, Akebono, Takanonami, and Kaio all finish on 11–4. Kaio receives the Fighting Spirit Prize alongside newcomer Tochiazuma.
Tosanoumi wins the Outstanding Performance Award.
Tochinonada wins the juryo title in his debut. Former komusubi
Kyokudozan retires to become a politician in the
Diet of Japan.
Deaths
4 Jan: Former maegashira
Oedo, former Irumagawa Oyakata, aged 73.
14 Jan: Former komusubi
Ohikari, former Onomatsu Oyakata, aged 68.
14 April: Former sekiwake
Kotetsuyama, former Onaruto Oyakata, aged 53.
8 Dec: Kagamiyama Oyakata, the former yokozuna
Kashiwado, aged 58.