Bench Sumo Firsts
A collection of who had the first… whatever…
· The first “official” Bench Sumo run began with a Friday September 6th 1999, 6 pm (Japan time) deadline – hereafter referred to as Bench Sumo Day!!!! J
o Adding to the friendly nature of the game, the entry form included a “Pre-basho interview answer (by your cyber-rikishi)” to the question "What are your expectations for this cyber-basho?"
· There were 10 players in the first trial ½ basho Yubiquitoyama, Maeden, Seigatakaigai, Myobudani, Tabehodaiyama, Chijanofuji, Jejima, Philanomi, Nomihodaiyama, and Kintayama (ed.note: missing the “ma”?).
· The first “official” Bench basho (Aki 99) featured 18 players. 7 of them are still with us today: Maeden, Chijanofuji, Jejima, Kintamayama, Marushiki, Nekonishiki & Gaijingai.
· The very first Bench Sumo bout was between M1w Haraiboshi S-Ow Maeden. It ended in a 12-11 Uwatenage. The smelly old sow (er, S-Ow) lost. I suppose that would mean that Haraiboshi scored the very first ginboshi, huh?
· The first match going to the bench didn’t occur until day 4. Fittingly, the bout was between BS founder Jejima and T-G Nekonishiki. They tied at 7 apiece, and Jejima took the Sotogake win with future Yokozuna Kaiho getting the nod over Nekonishiki’s Kyokutenho.
· The first musubi-no-ichiban matchup was a Day 1 battle between M6e Gaijingai and M3w Tochiaraki, proving that the torikumi-makers were still working the kinks out of the bench sumo “realism” system. :-P
· The first BS perfect score was sent in by Robanoumi on Day 1 (bout 2). A total of 4 perfect scores were earned that day, including Ookihito, (who else) Doitsuyama, (future Perfect man) Gaijingai and (the aforementioned Robanoumi.
· The first BS KK belongs to Doitsuyama, who got his on Day 9 of Aki 99in a 9-5 victory over Chijanofuji.
· The first BS MK belongs to Kitakaze, who lost 11-12 on Day 10 to Zentoryu. Also getting MK’s on the same day were Kintamayama & Philanomi (who’s MKs came after Kitakaze’s bout, so technically, were’nt first).
· The first BS Yusho belongs to Doitsuyama (now with SFI). He had an 11-4 record. Marushiki, Robanoumi, Zentoryu & (of course, the permanent Bridesmaid) Gaijingai earned the jun-yusho.
o The first Juryo BS Yusho was earned by Linmaru in Haru 00 with a debut basho 13-2 record. Kintamayama was the jun-yushoer. The 13-2 was Linmaru’s best and one of only 3 yusho in a 9 active basho career.
o The first Makushita BS Yusho was earned by Takanotaki in Haru 01 with a 12-3 record, which was the high mark for Takonotaki’s 18 active basho career. Takonotaki intai’s in Aki 04.
o The first Sandanme BS Yusho was a 13-2 victory by Takahike in Hatsu 02. It was just the second basho for Takahike, and the high mark for the 22 basho veteran.
o The first Jonidan BS Yusho was awarded after an exciting 10-4 4-way playoff to Rowitoro in Aki 04. The jun-yushoers were Yokotaharry, Boltbuthamma, and Zeokage. It took Rowitoro 13 bashos for a first yusho.
· The first BS yusho playoff was between Tabehodaiyama and Kintamayama in a Makuuchi showdown in Hatsu 00. Tabehodaiyama edged Kintamayama by just 1 tie-breaker point (28 vs 27) in an exciting finish. Back then, there was only one division.
· The first ICF went to Doitsugo ichimon in the Aki ’04 basho. They overtook Massashigawa by 22.38 ITA points – a convincing victory.
· The first Doitsuyama Rule bout featuring two 10-winner GBLs was on Day 1 Bout 30 of the Kyushu 21 basho, between winner J4W Kaito & loser J5E Itachi (that’s a half rank difference)
Ranks
· The first BS Yokozuna was Doitsugoan Gernobono. He reigned from Nagoya 04 to his intai in Hatsu 06 (10 bashos).
· The first BSer to go from Jonidan to Makuuchi was Sakuran-retiree Shomishuu.
· The first appearance of Juryo BSers was in Haru ‘00
o The first promotions from Juryo to Makuuchi were in Natsu ‘00. The promotees on that banzuke were the Haru participants Kitaseiya (J1e 9-6), Gochisozan (J1w 11-4) and Linmaru (J3w 13-2)
· The first appearance of Makushita BSers was in Haru ‘01
o The first promotions from Makushita to Juryo were in Natsu ’01. The promotees on that banzuke were the Haru participants takanotaki 7-8 (ms3W 12-3), Feginowaka 8-7 (ms4E 10-5), sushima 12-3 (ms3E 9-6), Jomainoumi 5-10 (ms5E 10-5), Hinerikeri 6-9 (ms2W 8-7) and Hatakuneko 6-9 (ms5W 9-6)
· The first appearance of Sandanme BSers was in Hatsu ‘02
o The first promotions from Sandanme to Makushita were in Haru ’02. The promotees on that banzuke were the Hatsu participants Mannibiyama (sd1E 9-6), jomojo (sd7E 11-4), Shinkansen (sd3W 9-6), Harunochiba (sd4E 9-6), Hahanoyama (sd2W 8-7) , NipponGenjin (sd7W 9-6) and Shingitai (sd10W 10-5)
· The first appearance of Jonidan BSers was in Kyushu ‘04
o The first promotions from Jonidan to Sandanme were in Kyushu ’04. The promotees on that banzuke were the Aki participants Yokotanoharry (jd2W 10-5), Boltbutthamma (jd5W 10-5), Kaiowaka (jd4E 9-6), Johannoshoryu (jd5E 8-7), Kasamatsuri (jd8E 9-6), Zeokage (jd11E 10-5), GONZABUROW (jd9E 9-6), Nilos (jd7E 8-7), Ryukaze (jd9W 8-7) and (jd1W 7-8)
· The first (non-sanyaku) Sekitori BSer to have a MK without a drop on the next banzuke was in Kyushu ’17. Hana-ichi kept her rank on the banzuke at M12W, despite recording a 7-8 MK.
Records
· The first 15-0 record was scored in Haru 2021 by Chelseayama (Mukade). This amazing run included 3 close calls with bench matches on days 1,5, & 10. It’s hard to believe this feat would ever be achieved, but after 7332 tries (or 109980 bouts) Chelseayama cobbled together 15 wins in a row!
· The first 14-0 record goes to Gurowake (Unaff) in Natsu 2015, who managed to just miss a zensho basho by dropping the senshuraku bout. Missed it by that much!
· The first 0-15 record goes to Heiyu (Unaff) in Kyushu 2010, who had no torikumi luck at all.