Kyokai elections January 2012-here we go..

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Now, it looks like he's going to be Kitanoumi's No.2, as the "senior executive manager".

Morning papers are saying the candidates for the number two spot are Hakkaku, Dewanoumi and Takanohana. We'll know on Tuesday probably.

[Kintamayama 44,350]

So for those keeping score, Takanohana likely drew one vote each from Dewanoumi and Tatsunami, and two from Tokitsukaze/Takasago.

Papers are saying 3 from Tokitsukaze and one from Tatsunami, but it's all speculation..

[Asashosakari 18,786]

So for those keeping score, Takanohana likely drew one vote each from Dewanoumi and Tatsunami, and two from Tokitsukaze/Takasago.

Papers are saying that some Tokitsukaze ichimon Oyakatas declared their support for Takanohana publicly beforehand. Who?

I think that refers to this:

I haven't seen any official word on who that Tokitsukaze deputy might be, but the names of Arashio and Shikoroyama have been passed through the rumour mill as potential candidates, plus Izutsu who's more thought to be a potential second director nominee though. Going even deeper into the rumour mill, three youngish oyakata within the group (Shikoroyama, Tokitsukaze, Minato) are alleged to be "unsafe" voters who may be going with Takanohana on the ballot

That Kyushu episode was raised again in today's Sports Hochi, along with an apparent admission from Minato that he did indeed vote for Takanohana. I'm sure the papers suspect the other two did, too, although they have yet to cop to it.

(It's possible, I guess - that would likely imply that Dewanoumi-ichimon threw a helper vote in Kokonoe's direction, as they're missing one and it's got to be somewhere if it's not Takanohana.)

Wonder if the Tatsunami voter who went for Takanohana is the same one that did two years ago? Apparently there are no plans to exile anybody this time in either Tokitsukaze- or Tatsunami-ichimon.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Now, it looks like he's going to be Kitanoumi's No.2, as the "senior executive manager".

Morning papers are saying the candidates for the number two spot are Hakkaku, Dewanoumi and Takanohana. We'll know on Tuesday probably.

Latest rumours: Kokonoe #2 and Hakkaku public relations, forming a yokozuna triumvirate of sorts in the three most important/most visible roles. Takanohana will be put in charge of the Osaka tournaments, supposedly, while youngish newcomer Oguruma will get the jungyo department and oldster rookie director Tateyama will be the new head shimpan.

Wonder who's going to be appointed into the fairly important third-level yakuin taigu positions; Yamashina-oyakata is the only holdover from the 7 (!) oyakata who held the rank at some point during the previous period (three are now retired, three have become directors [again]) and should be back again. I guess Tomozuna's a lock as a just voted-out director, too. The more interesting candidates to ponder are probably Isegahama after his now twice-failed riji aspirations, and Michinoku who already was a director but was sent all the way down to the regular ranks for having approximately 37 yaocho rikishi in his stable. He was clearly being groomed for a prominent future before those untimely events so I can imagine him getting another shot, if at a quite a bit lower level than his former director post.

BTW - everybody was going gaga over Takanohana becoming director at just 37 years last time, but how about ex-Tochiazuma now as a vice-director at just 35?

Edit: Also, given that Tateyama already takes a slot for Nishonoseki-ichimon in the shimpan leadership, I think it's likely that Tochiazuma will be one of the two deputy head shimpan, along with Oyama-oyakata, if the assignments rumoured above are correct.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,350]

oldster rookie director Tateyama will be the new head shimpan.

First time that a non ex- Yokozuna/Ozeki will get this job. Takanohana in charge of Osaka? That's all he gets after the posts he has already held?

[Yubinhaad 11,546]

BTW - everybody was going gaga over Takanohana becoming director at just 37 years last time, but how about ex-Tochiazuma now as a vice-director at just 35?

A reward for being the last Japanese yusho winner, and compensation for his picture being taken down. :-)

Takanohana in charge of Osaka? That's all he gets after the posts he has already held?

Maybe he's powerful enough to get himself elected, but not popular/trusted enough to be given a top job?

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Maybe he's powerful enough to get himself elected, but not popular/trusted enough to be given a top job?

If he hadn't been given a top job till now, your answer would make sense. Since he has been given not one, but three top jobs so far, I will not be accepting your answer, sir. Unless, being the Osaka basho overseer is considered a top-notch job, in which case the answer is in the question..

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Latest rumours: Kokonoe #2 and Hakkaku public relations, forming a yokozuna triumvirate of sorts in the three most important/most visible roles. Takanohana will be put in charge of the Osaka tournaments, supposedly, while youngish newcomer Oguruma will get the jungyo department and oldster rookie director Tateyama will be the new head shimpan.

Rumors came true.

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Head of judging department - Kagamiyama, not Tateyama. His deputy- yakuin Asahiyama with the usual "lately the tachiais are a mess and I intend to enforce the correct way and if not I will caution" bla bla. A new office has been established in the aftermath of all the fun - the "crisis management" office, to be headed by Hakkaku, also head of PR and Guidance Spreading. New riji Kasugayama will be head of educational guidance and the head of the Inspection committee.

External Kanji - Headmaster of a high school in Wakayama, 62 year old priest Okabe (?)-san.

Kagamiyama Oyakata (ex-Sekiwake Tagaryuu) using his laser gun already:

Edited February 1, 2012 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Latest rumours: Kokonoe #2 and Hakkaku public relations, forming a yokozuna triumvirate of sorts in the three most important/most visible roles. Takanohana will be put in charge of the Osaka tournaments, supposedly, while youngish newcomer Oguruma will get the jungyo department and oldster rookie director Tateyama will be the new head shimpan.

Rumors came true.

With one exception - the first-ever "never was an ozeki" shimpan director is now Kagamiyama, not Tateyama.

Full list of new department assignments...sorry, not really well-grouped by name, but they've made so many changes and split responsibilities that it was going to be messy either way and I ended up sorting the list by job title (sort of).

Role	old	new
Rijicho	Hanaregoma	Kitanoumi
Operations director	Dewanoumi	Kokonoe
General Enterprises director	Dewanoumi	Kasugayama
Public Relations director	Nishonoseki	Hakkaku
Guidance director	Dewanoumi	Hakkaku
Lifestyle Guidance director	Nishonoseki	Kasugayama
Crisis Control director	Nishonoseki	Hakkaku
Competition Inspection chairman	Nishonoseki	Kasugayama
Shimpan director	Takanohana	Kagamiyama
Sumo School director	Musashigawa	Dewanoumi
Security director	Nishonoseki	Kasugayama
Osaka Basho director	Dewanoumi	Takanohana
Nagoya Basho director	Tomozuna	Chiganoura
Kyushu Basho director	Kagamiyama	Tateyama
Jungyo Director	Nishonoseki	Oguruma
Museum Curator (acting)	Musashigawa	Musashigawa
Museum Committee member	Dewanoumi Nishonoseki Kagamiyama	Kokonoe Hakkaku Kasugayama Hanaregoma
Operations vice-director	Yamashina	Tamanoi
General Enterprises vice-director	Yamashina	Yamashina
Public Relations vice-director	Yamashina	Tamanoi
Guidance vice-director	Yamashina	Yamashina
Lifestyle Guidance vice-director	-	Nishonoseki
Competition Inspection vice-chairman	-	Mihogaseki
Shimpan vice-director	Mihogaseki Nakamura	Matsugane Asahiyama
Security vice-director	Shiranui Kokonoe	Oyama Tamanoi
Osaka Basho vice-director	Kitanoumi	-
Jungyo vice-director	Shiranui Kokonoe	Oyama

Recommended reading to make sense of some of the old assignments are the changes in the wake of Musashigawa's resignation as rijicho in mid-2010, and the changes after last year's yaocho scandal.

In summary:

- While Kokonoe is now nominally the #2 as head of the Operations department, he didn't quite get the whole deal - the somewhat unusual notion of splitting Operations and General Enterprises is back (after a brief first appearance in the half year between Musashigawa's exit and the yaocho fallout), with newcomer Kasugayama getting the second half. Kokonoe does now hold two minor responsibilities associated with the Operations role, being new chairman of the Health Insurance Union and the National Supporters Committee (both previously held by Operations head Dewanoumi).

- Also getting split, and I can't quite make sense of this yet, are the overall Lifestyle Guidance Department (now chaired by Kasugayama as well) and the Crisis Control team. The latter is now its own department, headed by Hakkaku, but no other oyakata are currently assigned to it. There used to be a vice-director in charge of Crisis Control when it was part of Lifestyle Guidance, but unfortunately the holder of that role (Oshima) fell victim to his own yaocho crisis and the job wasn't refilled. Now that vice position seems to be gone altogether, in favour of giving Hakkaku a full-fledged director title for it. Dunno, really...

- The sumo school, I think generally assumed one of the less busy departments, is moving from one ailing Dewanoumi-ichimon oyakata to another (Musashigawa->Dewanoumi). That's a major reduction in Dewanoumi's responsibilities.

- In what looks like a pretty unusual (possibly first-time?) move, the second vice-shimpan role is not filled by a deputy riji now, but rather by new yakuin taigu (executive) member Asahiyama. He was one of the more recognizable heads faces among the shimpan crowd anyway, so I approve of this change. :-)

- Among the deputy riji, Oyama is essentially taking over Shiranui's jobs, while Matsugane takes Mihogaseki's. Tamanoi on the other hand has been handed a pair of major vice-director roles that had been filled by yakuin taigu Yamashina in the post-yaocho personnel crunch. Yamashina does go on as yakuin taigu and still holds two other vice roles, so he should remain busy enough.

- With Yamashina and Asahiyama I've already mentioned two of the current yakuin taigu; also at that level now are outgoing riji Nishonoseki and outgoing deputy riji Mihogaseki, both filling vice roles that had been left unfilled in the yaocho shakeup.

- Not mentioned in the table, but continuing as usual, are the assignments of the head shimpan and his two deputies to the anti-doping committee, and the assignment of the head shimpan and the three deputy riji (and now also shimpan deputy Asahiyama as a fifth member) to the shindeshi examination committee.

- And if you're wondering why Musashigawa and Hanaregoma are still up there: As ex-rijicho approaching their retirements, they're now classed in the special sodan-yaku position (counsellor, advisor...something like that). No real responsibilities though, but Musashigawa gets to continue as the man in charge of the Sumo Museum, with Hanaregoma receiving a related position on the Museum committee.

Edit: The papers are describing the establishment of a standalone Crisis Control/Prevention department as a step to boost the importance of those activities. I assume that means Hakkaku will eventually receive some other oyakata as members of the new department.

Edited February 1, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Full list of new department assignments..

Moderator, a pin perhaps for this awesomeness?

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Full list of new department assignments..

Moderator, a pin perhaps for this awesomeness?

Nah, this will in due time appear on Tamanaogijima's site in much prettier form, I'm sure. :-)

For the stuff that might interest a few more forum members, just like two years ago: shimpan changes.

out: Takanohana (director), Mihogaseki (vice), Nakamura (vice), Kimigahama, Shikihide, Wakamatsu

All but Takanohana and Wakamatsu are leaving due to their retirements coming up within the next two years. Wakamatsu (ex-Asanowaka) is moving to the Nagoya Basho organizing team, I believe that was also his position prior to being named shimpan two years ago.

still in:

Asahiyama (ex-Daiju, now vice)

Fujishima (ex-Musoyama)

Izutsu (ex-Sakahoko)

Jinmaku (ex-Fujinoshin)

Kumegawa (ex-Kotoinazuma)

Minato (ex-Minatofuji)

Minatogawa (ex-Daitetsu)

Minezaki (ex-Misugiiso)

Nishikido (ex-Mitoizumi)

Oitekaze (ex-Daishoyama)

Onaruto (ex-Dejima)

Shikoroyama (ex-Terao)

Tagonoura (ex-Kushimaumi)

Takadagawa (ex-Akinoshima)

Takasaki (ex-Oginohana)

Takashima (ex-Koboyama)

Tamagaki (ex-Tomonohana)

new:

Azumazeki (ex-Ushiomaru)

Edagawa (ex-Aogiyama)

Kagamiyama (ex-Tagaryu, director)

Matsugane (ex-Wakashimazu, vice)

Miyagino (ex-Chikubayama)

Sanoyama (ex-Chiyotaikai)

Azumazeki actually doesn't hold the required rank for shimpan duty (he's still listed as toshiyori, not iin), so he's probably set to be promoted in the next few days. Maybe they need some time to sort out who's actually eligible with all those promotion bans from the gambling and yaocho cases...none of this automatic "all shunin become iin, the oldest half dozen toshiyori become shunin" stuff this year.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Wonder if the Tatsunami voter who went for Takanohana is the same one that did two years ago? Apparently there are no plans to exile anybody this time in either Tokitsukaze- or Tatsunami-ichimon.

Which isn't stopping Tatsunami from looking for him anyway. Apparently one of my assumptions was wrong - from what was published before the voting, it seemed that Tomozuna had four votes at his disposal (all members of his stable), while Isegahama would have received his own vote and that of ex-Shikishima who's holding the kabu owned by Aminishiki, with the other 12 ichimon votes all set to go to Kasugayama. He received only 11, so I figured that's the allotment from which Takanohana took one away. However, the papers are now saying that Isegahama was set to receive three votes*, so after he sort-of cancelled his candidacy, Tomozuna should have received 7 in total, which would have been enough to reach a run-off vote against Kokonoe. He got only 6, so that was that.

* I'm not sure who #3 was supposed to be, and perhaps it's even wrong that Shikishima was #2; it's possible that they weren't going to leave such a crucial vote in the hands of an outsider (Shikishima's a member of Tokitsukaze-ichimon) and he was simply supposed to vote for Kasugayama and did so. In any case, clearly the ichimon knows who the seven voters were supposed to be, so the list of suspects is somewhat shorter than it was last time. (It would be hilarious if the rebel vote was Isegahama himself...)

Edited February 1, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,786]

And one more set of lists, this one being the Competition Inspection committee, the guys who read mangas on the job check up on the rikishi during their bout preparation and watch out for signs of match-fixing.

out: Nishonoseki (chair, age limit), Tateyama (to riji), Miyagino (to shimpan), Matsugane (to deputy riji), Tatekawa

No idea why Tatekawa (ex-Tosanoumi) is out; he's not assigned to any special job now.

still in:

Dekiyama (ex-Dewanohana)

Iwatomo (ex-Tochiisami, despite retiring in October)

Takasago (ex-Asashio...yup, still part of it)

Yamahibiki (ex-Ganyu)

Furiwake (ex-Musashimaru)

new:

Kasugayama (ex-Kasugafuji, chair)

Kataonami (ex-Tamakasuga)

Michinoku (ex-Kirishima)

Mihogaseki (ex-Masuiyama, deputy)

Tatsunami (ex-Asahiyutaka)

Tokitsukaze (ex-Tokitsuumi)

For those not keeping score - four of the six new members (Kasugayama, Michinoku, Tatsunami, Tokitsukaze) were dinged with rank demotions after the yaocho scandal. Maybe they know best what to look for now...

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Azumazeki actually doesn't hold the required rank for shimpan duty (he's still listed as toshiyori, not iin), so he's probably set to be promoted in the next few days.

Actually, that was a bit silly, since his promotion would be to shunin only, which AFAIK isn't enough to be eligible for shimpan duty. Maybe they've killed that rule, I have no idea. At any rate, he's not the only one who should be in line for a toshiyori->shunin promotion (Otsukasa's another one, probably others as well), but perhaps they've waived these promotions because they already have a ton of shunin-ranked oyakata right now due to several yaocho demotions. Would be rather unfair though, IMHO...

Two promotion that already are reflected: Hamakaze (ex-Gojoro) from shunin to iin, and Sanoyama (ex-Chiyotaikai) from iin-taigu-toshiyori (toshiyori but with iin rights, only for former ozeki and yokozuna) to iin proper.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

And the flood of information continues, this time perhaps with something of general interest again: the coaches at the sumo school.

out: Oyama (ex-Onobori, to deputy riji), Nakadachi (ex-Oginishiki, to Osaka team)

still in: Kabutoyama (ex-Oikari), Futagoyama (ex-Kobo)

new: Inagawa (ex-Futeno), Sekinoto (ex-Iwakiyama)

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

. . . the coaches at the sumo school. . . .

new: . . . Sekinoto (ex-Iwakiyama)

Which reminds me:

http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?...ost&p=72085

[Kintamayama 44,350]

Wonder if the Tatsunami voter who went for Takanohana is the same one that did two years ago? Apparently there are no plans to exile anybody this time in either Tokitsukaze- or Tatsunami-ichimon.

Which isn't stopping Tatsunami from looking for him anyway.

BOOM! It was Tatsunami Oyakata himself and he has admitted it, say other Oyakata from the Ichimon. They are speculating that he will leave the Ichimon and join the Takanohana group soon. But then what? We had this conversation before, I think.. they'll have to change the Ichimon's name.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Wonder if the Tatsunami voter who went for Takanohana is the same one that did two years ago? Apparently there are no plans to exile anybody this time in either Tokitsukaze- or Tatsunami-ichimon.

Which isn't stopping Tatsunami from looking for him anyway.

BOOM! It was Tatsunami Oyakata himself and he has admitted it, say other Oyakata from the Ichimon. They are speculating that he will leave the Ichimon and join the Takanohana group soon. But then what? We had this conversation before, I think.. they'll have to change the Ichimon's name.

Yup, definite d

Edited February 2, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Tamanaogijima 741]

Nah, this will in due time appear on Tamanaogijima's site in much prettier form, I'm sure. :-)

Your wish is my command. :-)

Section "Kyokai Departments" is updated on Oyakata Gallery now.

[Itachiyama 107]

still in:

Asahiyama (ex-Daiju, now vice)

Fujishima (ex-Musoyama)

Izutsu (ex-Sakahoko)

Jinmaku (ex-Fujinoshin)

Kumegawa (ex-Kotoinazuma)

Minato (ex-Minatofuji)

Minatogawa (ex-Daitetsu)

Minezaki (ex-Misugiiso)

Nishikido (ex-Mitoizumi)

Oitekaze (ex-Daishoyama)

Shikoroyama (ex-Terao)

Tagonoura (ex-Kushimaumi)

Takadagawa (ex-Akinoshima)

Takasaki (ex-Oginohana)

Takashima (ex-Koboyama)

Tamagaki (ex-Tomonohana)

One is missing ... Sadogatake?

Edited February 6, 2012 by Itachiyama

[Asashosakari 18,786]

still in:

[snip]

One is missing ... Sadogatake?

Oops...no, I left off Onaruto (ex-Dejima) from the "still in" list. Fixed.

Sadogatake (and Matsugane) were ousted from the shimpan department after the gambling scandal in mid-2010.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,786]

So for those keeping score, Takanohana likely drew one vote each from Dewanoumi and Tatsunami, and two from Tokitsukaze/Takasago.

Papers are saying 3 from Tokitsukaze and one from Tatsunami, but it's all speculation..

Speculation I've seen in the meantime is that the 'missing' Dewanoumi vote was a freebie the ichimon decided to toss in Kokonoe's direction, perhaps as a bit of a quid pro quo for his early support of Kitanoumi for rijicho. (I guess his calling-around worked...) That way the "3 Tokitsukaze + 1 Tatsunami votes" scenario adds up, too. And speaking of that Tatsunami vote...

Wonder if the Tatsunami voter who went for Takanohana is the same one that did two years ago? Apparently there are no plans to exile anybody this time in either Tokitsukaze- or Tatsunami-ichimon.

Which isn't stopping Tatsunami from looking for him anyway.

BOOM! It was Tatsunami Oyakata himself and he has admitted it, say other Oyakata from the Ichimon. They are speculating that he will leave the Ichimon and join the Takanohana group soon. But then what? We had this conversation before, I think.. they'll have to change the Ichimon's name.

Yup, definite déjà vu at the moment. Looking over the old thread, I see my notion of finding it hilarious if Isegahama was the real rebel was a re-run, too...

Maybe we'll finally learn whether Tatsunami was indeed also the one who failed to vote for Oshima last time around.

In case we all thought "Tatsunami Walks The Plank From His Own Ichimon 2 - Electric Boogaloo" has already ended up as just as much of a non-story as the first edition two years ago, Takanohana and ex-Asahiyutaka are putting a new log on the fire on Saturday: Tatsunami-beya's Osaka lodgings will be hosting the entire Takanohana group for degeiko, an extremely unusual event. Until now the four Takanohana group stables had done rengo sessions at Magaki-beya exclusively, and only before Tokyo tournaments.

Tatsunami-ichimon is having their regular meeting on Day 9 of the basho, and the future of their namesake oyakata and stable may be up for discussion there, Sports Hochi surmises.

Edited March 2, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,350]

BOOM! It was Tatsunami Oyakata himself and he has admitted it, say other Oyakata from the Ichimon. They are speculating that he will leave the Ichimon and join the Takanohana group soon. But then what? We had this conversation before, I think.. they'll have to change the Ichimon's name.

The Ichimon will convene in April to decide what to do regarding Tatsunami Oyakata. Two things are for sure: He does not intend to relinquish his name, and if he is excommunicated, the Ichimon will have to find a new name.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Can't remember where I read it, but supposedly an ichimon bigshot was absent from the Day 9 meeting mentioned two posts above, so nothing concrete came out of it in the Tatsunami matter. Or maybe they were just too busy with the Oshima deal, I dunno.