Futabayama, "Yokozuna" and captain of the east team, won the championship in the spring main tourney of the Japan Professional Sumo Association, which was completed on January 25 after a 15 day competition at the Kokugikan, Ryogoku, Tokyo.
    This was Futabayama's seventh pennant victory, which ties the performance by the late Tamanishiki, also a "Yokozuna".
    By defeating Minanogawa, "Yokozuna" and captain for the West camp, on the last day, Futabayama finished his engagements by winning 14 and losing 1.
    The first team honor, since the revival of the East versus West competition system, was won by the East team, which gained a margin of 7 points over the West team by 173 points to 166.
    On the last day, the grapplers in the East team gave a stellar performance, increasing the margin to 7 points from 2 at the end of the 14th day, January 24.
    Terukuni, a "MAegashira" in the East camp, won the honors in the senior ("Makunouchi") class below "Yokozuna" grapplers, by winning 12 out of 15 matches, while Futasegawa cinched the honors in the junior ("Juryo") class by winning 11 out of 15 matches.