ryafuji

@Kirinoumi I watched a lot of Hokutenyu's bouts in the 1980s and I'm almost certain that isn't him. It doesn't look anything like him to me.

The ties between heya within an ichimon are a lot looser than they used to be, I think. Maybe in the past the Dewanoumi ichimon would have intervened before things got out of hand, but that doesn't seem to happen these days.

Wakajishi may have gone through more but Zaonishiki was borrowing for over 30 years before he finally got hold of the Takekuma kabu. That must be a record.

There is a Sumo obituaries thread but it's not used that much. Most of the bigger names get their own thread.

This was from last month, looking at 50 year-old Hanakaze, also features Ichinoya: http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13523950

Also on the English JSA site.

Gokushindo was actually the only rikishi who fit the "ex-sekitori, different heya, kyujo last basho, not Tomokaze" description that John Gunning gave earlier.

@John Gunning called it: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/07/16/sumo/basho-reports/upcoming-july-basho-fascinating-unpredictable-affair/

It's interesting to compare Hakuho with Kitanoumi as the cases are quite similar. Both put together extraordinary streaks of never missing a single bout as a yokozuna - 43 straight tournaments, Hakuho 46 tournaments, but their accumulated injuries finally caught up with them. I think both earned the right towards the end of their careers to sit out tournaments as they wished to avoid doing themselves any more damage.

I think they would spare Ikioi and Nishikigi rather than overpromote Ichinojō.

I wonder if this will lead to an extra spot in makuuchi being available for the Aki banzuke.

I think he would not hand them in unless he had been told he had no other option. The article says they will not be acted upon until the JSA meeting on the 6th, but clearly he had a good idea as to what the likely outcome of that meeting was.

I cannot access any of the videos in this thread and when I go to YouTube, of his 61 videos I can only see one. I guess the problem is at my end.

Glad to see Chiyonokuni back in juryo as he's had awfully bad luck with injuries.

Looks like all of SumoNatto's stuff has disappeared again.