Analytics in Sumo Wrestling
GOLDSTEIN, Tyler
DOI: http://doi.org/10.34614/2022IYRC14
Category: Social Science
Abstract – The sport of sumo wrestling originated in Japan in 23 BCE and is considered one of the world’s oldest sports. This project aims to connect a sport replete with rituals and spiritualism to one of the most modern trends in athletics–data analytics. In cooperation with an anonymous, Tokyo-based sumo stable, the paper explores the viability and potential value of applying data analysis to the sport of sumo. Data was collected on one specific wrestler to suggest possible correlation of outcome of a sumo match. With the use of several analytical strategies, the final product was a linear regression study to analyze correlation. Overall, the opponent’s peak rank was identified to have a possible significance to the outcome of a match. The initial conditions of the match have not proven to be statistically significant, but through advanced analysis and uses of more complex machine learning, significance may be concluded.