Non-Japanese in Sumo Trivia Quiz

Answer: Akebono

Akebono became the first foreign-born wrestler ever to reach the rank of yokozuna, which is the highest achievable rank in sumo. He achieved this feat during the January basho in 1993, when he secured his third tournament victory. He retired in 2000, having won 11 basho (tournaments).

Answer: Kotooshu

Called "Sumo Beckham" by the Japanese media because of his good looks and popularity with female fans, Kotooshu became the first European to achieve the rank of ozeki (second highest in sumo) in November, 2005. He had been the first wrestler in the history of sumo to rise to this rank in less than 20 tournaments.

The are six divisions in sumo and six tournaments per year. Wrestlers rise and fall within each division based on their performance in each tournament.

Answer: Konishiki

Konishiki was a controversial figure in his sumo days, as debate raged as to whether he should be promoted to yokozuna, which would have made him the first non-Japanese to achieve this rank. He achieved his peak fighting weight in 1996, when he weighed in the May tournament at 285kg (627lb).

He won three tournaments in all, and became the host of a children's TV show after he retired in 1997.

Answer: He faked an injury and was later filmed playing soccer

Asashoryu became the first international to win 20 tournaments when he finished with a 14-1 record in January, 2007. Such was his dominance in the mid-2000s that between November 2002 and July 2007, he won 20 of the 28 tournaments contested. He was often said to be homesick, and after winning the July 2007 tournament, he claimed to have been injured and sat out a regional tour. Shortly afterwards, he was seen on television playing soccer in a charity match in Mongolia. Believing he had faked his injuries so that he could have a spell at home, he was suspended by the sumo association for two tournaments.

Answer: Kokkai

Hailing from Georgia, Kokkai rocketed up sumo's lower divisions, winning his first four tournaments without losing a bout. His progress slowed once reaching makuuchi and it took him another 17 tournaments to reach komosubi (sumo's fourth highest rank).

He caused controversy in 2005 after his opponents complained that he using his stubble to gain an advantage in clinches. He was ordered by the sumo association to shave more regularly.

Answer: Hakuho's

Hakuho's father, Jigjidiin Mönkhbat, won a sliver medal in men's freestyle wrestling in the middleweight division during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic games. Hakuho became the second Mongolian yokozuna after winning all 15 of his bouts in the May 2007 tournament.

Answer: Ama

Ama was just 113kg (249lbs) when he made his top division debut in November 2004.

Answer: Samoa

Musashimaru (born as Fiamalu Penitani) was born on May 2nd, 1971 in Samoa. His family moved to Hawaiii when he was ten years old and he became interested in wrestling, first in greco-roman and later in sumo. He won promotion to yokozuna after winning the May 1999 tournament (the second non-Japanese to do so) and won eleven tournaments in all.

Answer: Estonia

Baruto won promotion to the makuuchi division after his strong showing in juryo (sumo's second highest division) in the March 2006 tournament.

Answer: They are brothers

According to sumo custom, brothers cannot be compelled to fight each other in scheduled bouts. Nor can wrestlers who fight in the same stable. As Roho (Otake) and Hakurozan (Kitanoumi) were taken up by different stables, it is highly likely that they would have met on the dohyo had it not been for the rule regarding brothers.