January • At the Hatsu basho,
ozeki Wakanohana wins his third
makuuchi division championship with a 14–1 score. His brother,
Yokozuna Takanohana returns from a back injury and is runner-up on 13–2. Yokozuna
Akebono and ozeki
Musashimaru take third place with 12–3.
Mongolian
Kyokushuzan wins the Technique
Prize. The Outstanding Performance Prize goes to
Tosanoumi and the Fighting Spirit Award to
Kotoryu.
Dejima wins the
juryo yusho.
March • In Osaka, Takanohana takes his 16th championship after an unusual four way playoff also involving Akebono, Musashimaru and
maegashira 1
Kaio, after all finish on 12–3. He defeats Kaio and then Akebono, who had eliminated Musashimaru. Kaio, who had upset both Takanohana and Akebono earlier in the tournament, is awarded the Outstanding Performance prize. Dejima receives Technique and Fighting Spirit prizes for scoring eleven wins in his top division debut.
Tamakasuga also receives a share of the Fighting Spirit prize. Wakanohana withdraws early after tearing a muscle in his right leg.
Terao is also forced to withdraw after breaking his big toe, ending a run of 1359 consecutive bouts from his debut in 1979.
Chiyotaikai wins the juryo championship. Former
komusubi Naminohana retires.
May • Akebono wins his 9th yusho, and first for over two years, by defeating Takanohana twice on the final day, once in regulation and once in a playoff after both yokozuna finish on 13–2. It is the first time that Takanohana and Akebono alone have fought a playoff, and comes after Akebono had lost seven times in a row to his rival. Wakanohana sits the tournament out. Kaio suffers a serious leg injury after standing at 7–4 on the 11th day and has to withdraw. Tamakasuga wins his second successive sansho, for Outstanding Performance. Tosanoumi and
Tochiazuma share the Fighting Spirit Award.
Oginishiki wins the Technique Prize.
Tokitsuumi wins the juryo yusho in his debut in the division.
Toki wins the
makushita championship. Former
sekiwake Kotogaume retires, as does juryo wrestler
Sunahama (William Taylor Hopkins) from
Hawaii. • Former ozeki
Daiju takes over the running of
Asahiyama stable following the death of its stablemaster.
June • To mark 100 years of trade relations between
Japan and
Australia a tour by top division wrestlers visits
Melbourne on the 6th and 7th, where an exhibition tournament is held at
Melbourne Park (home of the
Australian Open), and
Sydney on the 13th and 14th, at the
Sydney Entertainment Centre.
July • Takanohana defeats Akebono on the final day in Nagoya to claim his 17th championship with a 13–2 record. Akebono is runner-up on 12–3.
Takatoriki is third on 11–4 and wins the Outstanding Performance Prize. Tochiazuma wins his first Technique Award, and
Tochinonada receives the Fighting Spirit Prize. Wakanohana just preserves his ozeki status with an 8–7 record. Chiyotaikai wins his second juryo championship and promotion to makuuchi, the first top division wrestler produced by the former
Chiyonofuji (
Kokonoe-oyakata). Former juryo veteran
Dairyu retires at the age of 37 after 21 years in sumo.
September • At the Aki basho Takanohana wins back-to-back titles for the first time in a year, defeating Musashimaru in a playoff after both men finish on 13–2.
Takanonami is third on 12–3. Dejima finishes on 11–4 and wins Technique and Outstanding Performance Prizes. Tochiazuma also receives a share of the Technique Prize in his debut tournament at sekiwake. The Fighting Spirit Award goes to Tochinonada for the second time in a row. In the juryo division
Oginohana wins his fourth championship.
Toyozakura wins the makushita yusho.
Rikio retires after a disagreement with his stablemaster (the former
Takanosato).
November • In Kyushu, former ozeki
Konishiki retires after winning only five bouts at maegashira 14, bringing to an end a career that encompassed three yusho and 81 consecutive top division tournaments. His final match proves to be his eighth defeat in his bout against
Kotonowaka on Day 13, as he is not allowed onto the
dohyo to face
Misugisato on the following day due to his stablemaster having already handed in his retirement papers. Former sekiwake
Wakashoyo, and maegashira
Kotobeppu also retire. The championship is won by Takanonami, his second. He defeats his stablemate Takanohana in a playoff after both wrestlers finish on 14–1. All the sekiwake and komusubi record
losing scores, the first time this has happened in seven years. Unsurprisingly only one special prize is awarded, to
Musoyama for Fighting Spirit. Akebono sits the tournament out.
Wakanosato wins the juryo title after a playoff with
Susanoumi.
Kitazakura wins the
makushita yusho. ==Deaths==