2008 in sumo

none 2008 sumo The following are the events in professional sumo during the year 2008. Tournaments Hatsu basho Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 13 January – 27 January 2008 Hatsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences14 -1 -0MongoliaHakuhōYMongoliaAsashōryū13 -2 -00 -8 -7øJapanChiyotaikaiOJapanKotomitsuki8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanKaiōOBulgariaKotoōshū9 -6 -05 -10 -0JapanAminishikiSMongoliaAma9 -6 -09 -4 -2JapanKotoshōgikuKJapanDejima3 -12 -010 -5 -0JapanKisenosatoM1MongoliaTokitenkū6 -9 -06 -9 -0JapanToyonoshimaM2JapanMiyabiyama7 -8 -05 -10 -0JapanGōeidōM3JapanTochinonada5 -10 -07 -8 -0JapanWakanosatoM4MongoliaAsasekiryū10 -5 -07 -8 -0RussiaRohōM5JapanTamakasuga4 -11 -07 -8 -0EstoniaBarutoM6JapanHokutōriki7 -8 -012 -3 -0JapanTakekazeM7JapanHōmashō4 -11 -011 -4 -0MongoliaKakuryūM8JapanToyohibiki6 -9 -09 -6 -0GeorgiaKokkaiM9JapanWakakirin4 -11 -010 -5 -0RussiaWakanohōM10MongoliaKyokutenhō10 -5 -06 -9 -0JapanKakizoeM11South_KoreaKasugaō8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanFuten'ōM12JapanTosanoumi5 -10 -09 -6 -0JapanIwakiyamaM13JapanTamanoshima3 -12 -08 -7 -0JapanTakamisakariM14øJapanShimootori1 -1 -138 -7 -0JapanTochiōzanM15JapanYoshikaze8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanIchiharaM16JapanKaihō8 -7 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner Haru basho Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9 March – 23 March 2008 Haru basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences12 -3 -0MongoliaHakuhōYMongoliaAsashōryū13 -2 -02 -7 -6øBulgariaKotoōshūOJapanKotomitsuki8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanKaiōOJapanChiyotaikai8 -7 -08 -7 -0MongoliaAmaSJapanKotoshōgiku8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanKisenosatoKJapanTakekaze3 -12 -08 -7 -0MongoliaAsasekiryūM1MongoliaKakuryū6 -9 -06 -9 -0JapanAminishikiM2JapanMiyabiyama7 -8 -07 -8 -0MongoliaTokitenkūM3JapanToyonoshima6 -9 -08 -7 -0RussiaWakanohōM4MongoliaKyokutenhō9 -6 -05 -10 -0JapanWakanosatoM5GeorgiaKokkai12 -3 -06 -9 -0RussiaRohōM6JapanDejima6 -9 -012 -3 -0EstoniaBarutoM7JapanHokutōriki8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanGōeidōM8JapanTochinonada8 -7 -07 -8 -0JapanIwakiyamaM9South_KoreaKasugaō8 -7 -010 -5 -0JapanFuten'ōM10JapanTamakasuga6 -9 -05 -10 -0JapanToyohibikiM11JapanTakamisakari10 -5 -011 -4 -0JapanTochiōzanM12JapanYoshikaze6 -9 -09 -6 -0JapanHōmashōM13øJapanIchihara0 -2 -134 -11 -0JapanKaihōM14JapanKakizoe8 -7 -06 -9 -0JapanWakakirinM15øJapanSakaizawa3 -5 -75 -10 -0JapanŌtsukasaM16MongoliaRyūō5 -10 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner Natsu basho Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11 May – 25 May 2008 Natsu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences11 -4 -0MongoliaAsashōryūYMongoliaHakuhō11 -4 -08 -7 -0JapanKotomitsukiOJapanKaiō8 -7 -05 -10 -0JapanChiyotaikaiOBulgariaKotoōshū14 -1 -09 -6 -0MongoliaAmaSJapanKotoshōgiku8 -7 -010 -5 -0JapanKisenosatoKMongoliaAsasekiryū6 -9 -03 -12 -0GeorgiaKokkaiM1EstoniaBaruto5 -10 -04 -11 -0MongoliaKyokutenhōM2RussiaWakanohō8 -7 -06 -9 -0JapanMiyabiyamaM3MongoliaKakuryū5 -10 -06 -9 -0MongoliaTokitenkūM4JapanAminishiki10 -5 -05 -10 -0JapanTochiōzanM5JapanToyonoshima11 -4 -09 -6 -0JapanFuten'ōM6JapanHokutōriki10 -5 -07 -8 -0JapanTakamisakariM7JapanGōeidō8 -7 -09 -6 -0JapanTochinonadaM8JapanTakekaze6 -9 -03 -6 -6øSouth_KoreaKasugaōM9øRussiaRohō8 -6 -18 -7 -0JapanDejimaM10JapanWakanosato10 -5 -08 -7 -0JapanIwakiyamaM11JapanHōmashō9 -6 -06 -9 -0JapanTosanoumiM12JapanTamakasuga8 -7 -06 -9 -0JapanKakizoeM13JapanTamanoshima9 -6 -07 -8 -0GeorgiaTochinoshinM14JapanYoshikaze7 -8 -04 -11 -0RussiaHakurozanM15JapanToyohibiki8 -7 -04 -11 -0JapanKotokasugaM16MongoliaHakuba4 -11 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner Nagoya basho Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 13 July – 27 July 2008 Nagoya basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences3 -3 -9øMongoliaAsashōryūYMongoliaHakuhō15 -0 -09 -6 -0BulgariaKotoōshūOJapanKotomitsuki11 -4 -09 -6 -0JapanKaiōOJapanChiyotaikai9 -6 -010 -5 -0MongoliaAmaSJapanKotoshōgiku6 -9 -06 -9 -0JapanKisenosatoKJapanToyonoshima10 -5 -06 -9 -0JapanAminishikiM1RussiaWakanohō4 -11 -08 -7 -0MongoliaAsasekiryūM2JapanHokutōriki4 -11 -03 -12 -0JapanFuten'ōM3JapanTochinonada7 -8 -05 -10 -0JapanWakanosatoM4JapanGōeidō7 -8 -09 -6 -0JapanMiyabiyamaM5EstoniaBaruto10 -5 -09 -6 -0JapanHōmashōM6MongoliaTokitenkū7 -8 -09 -6 -0RussiaRohōM7MongoliaKakuryū8 -7 -06 -9 -0JapanTakamisakariM8JapanDejima6 -9 -010 -5 -0MongoliaKyokutenhōM9JapanIwakiyama8 -7 -07 -8 -0JapanTamanoshimaM10GeorgiaKokkai5 -10 -09 -6 -0JapanTochiōzanM11JapanTamakasuga3 -12 -07 -8 -0JapanTakekazeM12JapanKimurayama7 -8 -010 -5 -0JapanToyohibikiM13MongoliaKōryū3 -12 -05 -10 -0JapanTosanoumiM14GeorgiaTochinoshin8 -7 -08 -7 -0JapanYoshikazeM15JapanKakizoe7 -8 -010 -5 -0JapanMasatsukasaM16JapanChiyohakuhō8 -7 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner Aki basho Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 14 September – 28 September 2008 Aki basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences14 -1 -0MongoliaHakuhōYøMongoliaAsashōryū5 -5 -511 -4 -0JapanKotomitsukiOBulgariaKotoōshū8 -7 -09 -6 -0JapanKaiōOJapanChiyotaikai9 -6 -012 -3 -0MongoliaAmaSJapanToyonoshima6 -9 -08 -7 -0EstoniaBarutoKMongoliaAsasekiryū4 -11 -06 -9 -0JapanKotoshōgikuM1JapanMiyabiyama4 -11 -06 -9 -0JapanKisenosatoM2øJapanHōmashō0 -0 -156 -9 -0MongoliaKyokutenhōM3øRussiaRohō0 -0 -08 -7 -0JapanAminishikiM4JapanTochinonada6 -9 -07 -8 -0MongoliaKakuryūM5JapanGōeidō10 -5 -08 -7 -0JapanToyohibikiM6JapanTochiōzan6 -9 -01 -2 -12øJapanIwakiyamaM7MongoliaTokitenkū6 -9 -0øM8JapanMasatsukasa5 -10 -08 -7 -0JapanHokutōrikiM9JapanWakanosato9 -6 -08 -7 -0GeorgiaTochinoshinM10JapanFuten'ō11 -4 -07 -8 -0JapanYoshikazeM11JapanTakamisakari6 -9 -07 -8 -0JapanTamanoshimaM12JapanDejima9 -6 -06 -9 -0JapanChiyohakuhōM13JapanKitataiki7 -8 -09 -6 -0JapanTakekazeM14JapanKimurayama7 -8 -04 -11 -0MongoliaTamawashiM15South_KoreaKasugaō2 -13 -08 -7 -0GeorgiaKokkaiM16JapanKakizoe10 -5 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner Kyushu basho Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 9 November – 23 November 2008 Kyushu basho results - Makuuchi DivisionW WinsL LossesA AbsencesEastRankWestW WinsL LossesA Absences13 -2 -0MongoliaHakuhō*YøMongoliaAsashōryū0 -0 -159 -6 -0JapanKotomitsukiOøJapanKaiō1 -3 -118 -7 -0JapanChiyotaikaiOBulgariaKotoōshū8 -7 -013 -2 -0MongoliaAmaSEstoniaBaruto9 -6 -05 -10 -0JapanGōeidōKJapanAminishiki8 -7 -09 -6 -0JapanToyonoshimaM1JapanFuten'ō5 -10 -00 -0 -15øJapanToyohibikiM2JapanWakanosato6 -9 -09 -6 -0JapanKotoshōgikuM3JapanHokutōriki5 -10 -011 -4 -0JapanKisenosatoM4GeorgiaTochinoshin3 -12 -05 -10 -0MongoliaAsasekiryūM5JapanDejima6 -9 -05 -6 -4øMongoliaKakuryūM6MongoliaKyokutenhō10 -5 -010 -5 -0JapanMiyabiyamaM7JapanTochinonada5 -10 -09 -6 -0JapanTakekazeM8JapanKakizoe5 -10 -06 -9 -0JapanTochiōzanM9MongoliaTokitenkū7 -8 -08 -7 -0JapanBushūyamaM10RussiaAran8 -7 -09 -6 -0GeorgiaKokkaiM11MongoliaKōryū6 -9 -011 -4 -0JapanYoshikazeM12øJapanKasuganishiki2 -3 -106 -9 -0JapanMasatsukasaM13JapanTamanoshima6 -9 -010 -5 -0JapanTakamisakariM14JapanKitataiki2 -13 -06 -9 -0JapanKimurayamaM15JapanHōmashō7 -8 -09 -6 -0JapanTosanoumiM16JapanChiyohakuhō9 -6 -0 ø - Indicates a pull-out or absent rankwinning record in boldYusho Winner *Won Playoff News January 150px|thumb|left|Hakuho on the opening day of the January tournament 27th: Yokozuna Asashoryu, making his return from a two tournament suspension, enters the final day of the Hatsu basho in Tokyo in the joint lead for the championship, but is defeated by fellow yokozuna Hakuho, who wins his sixth top division yusho with a 14–1 record. Asashoryu finishes on 13–2 with runner-up honours. Another Mongolian, Kakuryu, wins 11 matches and receives the Technique Award. Rank-and-filer Takekaze scores 12–3 and wins the Fighting Spirit Award, and Kisenosato scores 10–5 and receives the Outstanding Performance Award for his victory over Asashoryu on the 2nd day. Georgian Tochinoshin, making his debut in the second highest juryo division, wins the yusho with a 12–3 record. Yamamotoyama takes the makushita division championship with a perfect 7–0 record. Announcing their retirements from active competition are former top division wrestlers Tochinohana, Tochisakae, Kobo and Chiyotenzan, as well as Kyokutenho's brother Fudoyama and Tamanoshima's brother Tamamitsukuni Kitaro ja 玉ノ国光国 Tamamitsukuni. February 2nd: The danpatsu-shiki or retirement ceremony of former ozeki Tochiazuma takes place at a packed Kokugikan. 7th: The former head of the Tokitsukaze stable, Junichi Yamamoto, and three non sekitori wrestlers from the stable are arrested on charges of assault leading to the death of trainee Tokitaizan. The Aichi Prefecture Police Department allege that on 25 June 2007, the night before his death, Tokitaizan was struck on the head with a beer bottle and then tied to a pole and beaten with a wooden stick, on the orders of Yamamoto. The following day Tokitaizan was forced into an intense 30 minute training session and repeatedly hit in the face, kicked and beaten with an aluminium bat, resulting in his collapse and death.Sumo News:Tokitaizan death Sumo Talk http://www.sumotalk.com/tokitsukaze.htm 23 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090309020705/http://www.sumotalk.com/tokitsukaze.htm 9 March 2009 live 10th: Asashoryu wins a one-day tournament held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, defeating Miyabiyama, Asasekiryu and Tokitenku.Asashoryu wins one-day tourney Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080211a1.html 11 February 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090129100239/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080211a1.html 29 January 2009 live March thumb|right|150px|Baruto was a runner-up in March 23rd: In a reversal of fortunes from the January tournament in Tokyo, Asashoryu defeats Hakuho on the final day in Osaka to win his 22nd yusho, and his first since July 2007, with a 13–2 score.Asashoryu beats Hakuho, earns 22nd Emperor's Cup Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080324b1.html 24 March 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20081223230308/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080324b1.html 23 December 2008 live Hakuho finishes runner-up on 12–3, level with the maegashira Kokkai and Baruto, who each receive a share of the Fighting Spirit Award. Tochiozan wins 11 bouts and the Technique Award, while sekiwake Kotoshogiku is awarded the Outstanding Performance prize for being the first wrestler to beat Asashoryu on Day 12. Ozeki Kotoōshū withdraws through injury with only two wins, meaning he will be kadoban (in danger of demotion) in May. Kimurayama wins his first juryo division championship. Announcing their retirements are former maegashira Shunketsu, and makushita wrestler Asahimaru Masato ja 朝陽丸勝人 Asahimaru, an extremely successful amateur champion who missed the whole of 2003 through injury and was never able to make the sekitori ranks. May thumb|left|150px|Kotooshu receives the Emperor's Cup in May 26: Bulgarian Kotooshu bounces back from his disappointing performance in March to win his first top division championship with a 14–1 record, becoming the first European to do so. His only defeat was to Aminishiki on Day 13, who wins his third Outstanding Performance Award. Asashoryu and Hakuho finish behind the pace on 11–4 and attract controversy after bad-temperedly pushing and glaring at each other after their match on the final day.Buckton, Mark Asashoryu mars Kotooshu's day of glory Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080527mb.html 27 May 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20081223230318/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080527mb.html 23 December 2008 live Toyonoshima also wins 11 bouts and receives the Fighting Spirit Award. Kisenosato is also awarded the Fighting Spirit prize for his 10–5 mark at the rank of komusubi, while sekiwake Ama earns his third Technique Award. In the juryo division Chiyohakuho wins his first yusho, and former maegashira Tamaasuka wins the makushita championship. 27: The head of the Sumo Association sees both Asashoryu and Hakuho separately and gives each a strict warning over their conduct in the previous day's bout.Asa, Hakuho warned for dohyo brouhaha Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080528a1.html 28 May 2009 6 February 2010 31 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080531002033/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20080528a1.html dead June 7–8: An exhibition tournament is held in Los Angeles for the first time in 27 years, at the Memorial Arena.Living large in L.A. Watanabe, Teresa Los Angeles Times 8 June 2008 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-08-me-sumo8-story.html 22 April 2009 July 2nd: Asashoryu uses his position as head of the wrestlers union to call for all salaried rikishi to be given a pay raise of ten percent (which would be their first pay raise since 2001) to compensate for the rising cost of food and fuel.Ryall, Julian Sumo wrestlers demand pay rise as food prices soar The Daily Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2241025/Sumo-wrestlers-demand-pay-rise-as-food-prices-soar.html 2008-07-03 2008-07-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20080725063512/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2241025/Sumo-wrestlers-demand-pay-rise-as-food-prices-soar.html 25 July 2008 live The Sumo Association are reportedly unimpressed with his remarks.Sumo champion Asashoryu weighs in on pay raise issue International Herald Tribune http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/02/sports/AS-SUM-Hefty-Raises.php 2008-07-02 2009-01-08 27th: Hakuho wins the tournament held in Nagoya with a perfect 15–0 record. His yokozuna rival Asashoryu withdraws after a defeat to Tochinonada on day 5, citing an injury to his elbow. Talk of Kotooshu's possible promotion to yokozuna is silenced after he turns in a mediocre 9–6 score. Ozeki Kotomitsuki finishes as runner-up to Hakuho, but four wins behind. Ama wins another Technique award and scores 10–5, while Toyonoshima also finishes on 10–5 and receives the Outstanding Performance prize. The Fighting Spirit award goes to maegashira Toyohibiki for his ten wins. Veteran Bushuyama wins the juryo division championship. Former maegashira Satoyama wins the makushita yusho, defeating Yamamotoyama, amongst others, in a playoff. Yamamotoyama is nonetheless promoted to the juryo division after the tournament. August thumb|right|150px|Wakanoho 18th: Russian maegashira Wakanoho is arrested for cannabis possession after his wallet, lost in June, is turned in to police and found to contain a cigarette mixed with the illegal drug. Police search his home and discover more evidence of cannabis use. 21st: The elders of the Sumo Association meet and decide on the immediate dismissal of Wakanoho. His name is removed from the banzuke ranking sheets for the September tournament, with the Maegashira 8 East position left blank. His stablemaster Magaki (the former yokozuna Wakanohana II) steps down from the Association's board of directors. 28th: Asashoryu defeats Hakuho in a playoff to win an exhibition tournament held in Mongolia and receives a trophy from Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar.Asashoryu wins Mongolian sumo exhibition tournament Business.Mongolia.com http://www.business-mongolia.com/mongolia-sport-and-culture/asashoryu-wins-mongolian-sumo-exhibition-tournament/ 29 August 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20081120152642/http://www.business-mongolia.com/mongolia-sport-and-culture/asashoryu-wins-mongolian-sumo-exhibition-tournament/ 20 November 2008 usurped The tournament attracts live television and front-page newspaper coverage in Mongolia. September 2nd: Drug tests are carried out on all sekitori ranked wrestlers in the wake of Wakanoho's dismissal, and two other Russian wrestlers, brothers Roho and Hakurozan, test positive for cannabis. 8th: The Sumo Association announce the immediate dismissals of Roho and Hakurozan, who both deny ever taking banned substances. The head of the Sumo Association Kitanoumi, who is also Hakurozan's stablemaster, announces his resignation, although he remains on the board of directors. He is replaced as chairman by Musashigawa (former yokozuna Mienoumi). On the same day, police charges against Wakanoho are dropped due to his age and the small quantity of the drug found in his possession, and he is released from jail. 10th: Wakanoho visits the Sumo Association and asks to be readmitted to sumo, but his request is turned down. 11th: Wakanoho files a lawsuit against the Sumo Association claiming unfair dismissal. 14th: The Aki basho opens, without Wakanoho, Roho or Hakurozan. New chairman Musashigawa announces that judges have been instructed to call back any wrestlers who do not perform the tachi-ai properly and make them start the bout again. This leads to a large number of false starts and criticism from commentators over the new rules. thumb|left|New JSA head Musashigawa addresses the crowd on the final day of the September tournament 28th: Hakuho wins the tournament with a 14–1 record. Once again he does not have to face Asashoryu, who withdraws on Day 10, prompting speculation about his possible retirement. Ama finishes as runner-up with twelve wins and wins the Outstanding Performance Award, and is seen as a candidate for promotion to ozeki next time. Goeido takes the Fighting Spirit prize. The one remaining Russian sekitori, Aran, wins the juryo championship. Veteran former sekiwake Tamakasuga announces his retirement. 28th: The small Araiso stable closes, as its stablemaster is approaching the mandatory retirement age. 29th: At a press conference, the former Wakanoho alleges he was involved in match-fixing or yaocho, which he details in a series of interviews with the tabloid Shukan Gendai. The opponents he names all deny the allegations. 30th: Three external directors are added to the Sumo Association's board, as demanded by the Ministry of Education after the recent scandals. October 3rd: In the first ever court appearance by a yokozuna, Asashoryu takes the stand on behalf of the Sumo Association in a lawsuit brought against the Shukan Gendai over separate match-fixing allegations made by the magazine in January 2007. He denies ever taking part in rigged bouts, calling the allegations "complete lies."Asashoryu goes to court to deny bout-fixing AFP http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjkBdra1cUNiKtHR_7TiB9wkCiOg 3 October 2008 15 April 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090207150357/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjkBdra1cUNiKtHR_7TiB9wkCiOg 7 February 2009 (In March 2009 a judge rules in favour of the Sumo Association.) 6th: Asashoryu travels to his homeland of Mongolia to receive treatment for his injured elbow.Asa goes home; may miss tourney Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20081007a1.html 7 October 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090629233107/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20081007a1.html 29 June 2009 live He sits out this month's regional tour and also misses the Kyushu honbasho. 7th: The trial begins in the Nagoya District Court of the three wrestlers from the Tokitsukaze stable alleged to have caused bodily injury resulting in the death of trainee Tokitaizan, real name Takashi Saito. The three admit wrongdoing but say they were only following the orders of their former stablemaster Junichi Yamamoto, who denies the charges and is being tried at a later date. 28th: Roho and Hakurozan launch a lawsuit against the Sumo Association seeking their re-admission to sumo. 29th: The Tokyo District Court turns down Wakanoho's lawsuit seeking to nullify his dismissal by the Sumo Association. November 23rd: In the Kyushu basho in Fukuoka Hakuho wins his third straight championship, defeating Ama in a playoff after both men finish with 13–2 records. Ama seals his promotion to ozeki and receives the Technique Prize. Asashoryu misses the tournament, and ozeki Kaio pulls out after three days. Aminishiki wins the Outstanding Performance Award, and maegashira Yoshikaze gets the Fighting Spirit Prize for his fine 11–4 score. Mongolian Shotenro wins the juryo yusho at his first attempt. 26th: Ama's promotion to ozeki is officially confirmed. To mark the occasion his ring name is changed to Harumafuji.Ama gains promotion, changes ring name Japan Times http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ss20081127a1.html 27 November 2008 15 April 2009 28th: Wakanoho retracts all his match-fixing allegations and issues an apology.https://www.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20081129a6.html Expelled Russian wrestler retracts claims of sumo bribes, match-fixing Japan Times 29 November 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20120922000158/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20081129a6.html 22 September 2012 live December 10th: The Tokyo High Court rejects an appeal brought by Wakanoho over a lower court ruling that his dismissal from sumo was fair. 18th: The three Tokitsukaze stable wrestlers are found guilty and given suspended sentences of between two and a half and three years.3 wrestlers convicted in death of fellow sumo MSNBC.com http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28288306/ 18 December 2008 15 April 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090603093244/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28288306/ 3 June 2009 dead All are also dismissed from the Sumo Association. 19th: The Sumo Association announces the cancellation of the scheduled overseas exhibition tournament in London that was due to take place in 2009, because of uncertainties caused by the 2008 financial crisis. it is the first time a foreign jungyo has been cancelled. Deaths 11 August: Former sekiwake Arase, aged 59. 15 December: Former makushita Wakamiume, aged 25, of leukemia. See also Glossary of sumo terms List of active sumo wrestlers List of past sumo wrestlers List of years in sumo List of yokozuna References Category:2008 in Japanese sport Category:2008 in martial arts Category:Sumo by year Sumo Sumo