omgitssumo 0 Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) i am very aware that he is not the best sumo ever (no offense if youre reading this daisaku) but if he makes it to the march basho next year, he will have the longest career in modern sumo. Edited October 29, 2015 by omgitssumo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
omgitssumo 0 Posted October 29, 2015 i am very aware that he is not the best sumo ever (no offense if youre reading this daisaku) but if he makes it to the march basho next year, he will have the longest career in modern sumo. same for hokutoryu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
d_golem 213 Posted October 30, 2015 Wow almost 30 years in professional sumo! Now what I would like to know is what makes them stay in it for such a long time even with such, erm....."mediocre" careers? Sure you can always say that they love sumo and it's their life's passion, but surely there are other factors in play. I assume that with their current ranks (and pay grade) they are still living communally in a heya so lodging and food is not an issue so that's one plus point. What happens then when they decide to retire? Do they need to leave the heya and find other jobs or can they stay in some sort of coaching capacity? Or maybe secretarial/clerical capacity? Have they married the oyakata's daughter perhaps? Sure as heck hoping Hanakaze and Hokutoryu (or any rikishi with similar situation) are not reading this. Just curious from my part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
orandashoho 720 Posted October 30, 2015 I would think that being an active rikishi living in a heya is more than being a sportsman with a long career (however mediocre) -- it is a way of life, more than anything else I can think of in modern times. Steeped in tradition, these men are embodying Japanese history and are loved and respected for it. To be part of that could make anyone proud, to survive its hardships for so long and still be an active member can mean a lot to a person who might otherwise have a dull and uneventful life in anonymity. Like other veterans he has experience, he must have had his share of bruises and lessons how to stay on the banzuke without injury. This information is valuable in a heya, so even if he does not rise very high in rank he can have a respected position in the heya as an assistant trainer. Not everyone can be top dog but you can be good at something without rising to the top. To stay in that long you must love the way of life, and there is also the possibility that life in the outside world would be hard if you have no savings to open a restaurant with... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAKATAKE 2,677 Posted November 4, 2015 I would imagine that hopefully somebody could provide a sewanin position to them in the event that it is finally time to retire. I would also think that they have managed to stay relatively injury free during their long careers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
