Kintamayama 42,292 Posted January 20, 2013 Hokutokuni (27, Hakkaku) ,the rikishi that made it there and back and there again, has retired. He made it to Juryo in Haru 2008, but after a serious injury dropped off the banzuke, but still made it back to Juryo in Aki 2011, which is astounding and encouraging as well. He was at Juryo 6 last Nagoya when he was injured again- right knee ligament, and left mid-basho. This basho he was kyujo at Sandanme 22. His danpatsushiki will be on February 2nd at the KKan.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shumitto 417 Posted January 20, 2013 Sad to hear, but by no means unexpected. His body has taken too much already, and I think Tosayutaka will be next. I wish him all the best in his future enterprises though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pikenoyama 27 Posted January 21, 2013 This makes Hokutokuni the most recent yusho winner (meaning not only Makuuchi one) who has already retired. He won Sandanme yusho on his post-injury way up in May 2011. Of course it was not regular Natsu Basho but the "Technical Examination Tournament" following The Scandal which made a bunch of yusho winners to retire. Most recent of them being Kasugao who won in Juryo just in Hatsu 2011. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 36,900 Posted February 2, 2013 former juryo Hokutokuni (Hakkaku) danpatsu-shiki in the kokugikan arena today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 36,900 Posted February 2, 2013 About 200 cutters, among them same age, same entry Hakuho.He wants to work in Hakodate (Hokkaido) in fisheries processing: "In thefuture I want to go into a cooking related occupation. I want to do mybest, not forgetting my pride as a rikishi." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 36,900 Posted February 3, 2013 Last cut by Hakkaku-oyakata. Hokutokuni as just a former juryo according tochunichi sports even had an intai-zumo (I guess that's an error,everywhere else it's just a danpatsu-shiki) - in the kokugikan, whileKokkai as a former komusubi only had a simple danpatsu-shiki in ahotel. What is the reason ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 17,282 Posted February 23, 2013 (edited) Last cut by Hakkaku-oyakata. Hokutokuni as just a former juryo according to chunichi sports even had an intai-zumo (I guess that's an error, everywhere else it's just a danpatsu-shiki) - in the kokugikan, while Kokkai as a former komusubi only had a simple danpatsu-shiki in a hotel. What is the reason ? A recent article indicates that Hokutokuni was very well liked behind the scenes, perhaps that's the reason for the big intai fanfare. Incidentally, his shisho considered the extensive repair work on Hokutokuni's wrist a few years ago to be potentially "makuuchi-enabling surgeries" and was apparently all ready to pass the Hokutoumi shikona on to him if he had made it to the top division afterwards. Sadly, further injuries stopped Hokutokuni after he made it back up to juryo. "He'd have made a good oyakata," Hakkaku is quoted as saying. Edited February 23, 2013 by Asashosakari 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
