SanshÅ (sumo)
SanshŠ三賞, literally "three prizes" 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.
Criteria
All wrestlers in the top division below the rank of Åzeki are eligible. In order to be considered for a special prize a rikishi must make a kachi-koshi 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 sanshÅ are not given.
The three prizes are
- Shukun-shŠ(殊勲賞), Outstanding Performance prize
- KantÅ-shÅ (敢闘賞), Fighting Spirit prize
- GinÅ-shÅ (技能賞), Technique prize
Typically the GinÅ-shÅ is awarded to the wrestler who displays the most skillful kimarite, or techniques; the Shukun-shÅ is awarded to a wrestler who defeats the yokozuna or the eventual tournament winner, or who otherwise displays outstanding performance relative to his rank; and the KantÅ-shÅ to the wrestler who has most clearly fought tenaciously and to the best of his abilities. The GinÅ-shÅ is considered the most prestigious, and is also the prize most often not awarded at all: in 1988, it was withheld for five consecutive tournaments.[1] 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 sanshÅ, normally the Fighting Spirit prize. Similarly a wrestler newly promoted to the san'yaku 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 sanshÅ 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 sanshÅ titles is not awarded at all. For example, it is unlikely that the Shukun-shÅ will be awarded if the tournament is won 15-0 by a lone yokozuna.
At some tournaments as many as six sanshÅ were awarded in total (as in January 1992), while at others only one has been presented (most recently in May 2015).
SanshÅ 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 five separate occasions to five different wrestlers.
| Tournament | Wrestler | Rank | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1973 | Daiju Hisateru | sekiwake | 13-2 |
| Sept 1973 | ÅŒnishiki Ittetsu | maegashira 11 | 11-4 |
| Jan 1992 | Takanohana KÅji | maegashira 2 | 14-1 |
| July 1999 | Dejima Takeharu | sekiwake | 13-2 |
| Nov 2000 | Kotomitsuki Keiji | 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 three prizes twice, but the Fighting Spirit prize went to then maegashira AsashÅryÅ«.[2]
Active special prize winners
This is a list of active wrestlers who have earned 5 or more awards in their careers.
| Total SanshÅs | Name | Outstanding Performance |
Fighting Spirit |
Technique | Highest rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | GÅeidÅ | 5 | 3 | 3 | ÅŒzeki |
| 11 | Aminishiki | 4 | 1 | 6 | Sekiwake |
| 10 | Harumafuji | 4 | 1 | 5 | Yokozuna |
| 10 | Toyonoshima | 3 | 3 | 4 | Sekiwake |
| 9 | Kakuryū | 2 | 0 | 7 | Yokozuna |
| 9 | Kisenosato | 5 | 3 | 1 | ÅŒzeki |
| 7 | KotoshÅgiku | 3 | 0 | 4 | ÅŒzeki |
| 7 | Yoshikaze | 1 | 4 | 2 | Sekiwake |
| 6 | HakuhÅ | 3 | 1 | 2 | Yokozuna |
| 6 | TochiÅzan | 2 | 2 | 2 | Sekiwake |
| 5 | MyÅgiryÅ« | 0 | 0 | 5 | Sekiwake |
See also
References
- ↑ Sharnoff, Lora (1993). Grand Sumo. Weatherhill. p. 98. ISBN 0-8348-0283-X.
- ↑ "Doitsuyama". "Banzuke Information". Sumo Reference. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
- ↑