orandashoho 720 Posted July 31, 2016 I knew that he was likely so succumb to his illness but still... unimaginable that he is gone now... such a sad, sad day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
littlebutts 14 Posted August 1, 2016 Very sad, and young too... for the general population, at least. Rikishi definitely undergo a bit more wear and tear than average folk... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robnplunder 975 Posted August 1, 2016 RIP, wolf. He is the one I remembered from my business trip to Japan years ago, and got me into sumo watching now. Not too big in size but at top of the sports for so long ... he is truly an inspiration to many, I am sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhyen 1,842 Posted August 1, 2016 for those who want to read this morning's newspaper clippings, courtesy of this twitter user: https://twitter.com/sjjjswjsmdshc13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 245 Posted August 1, 2016 Horrible news, the moment i'we read about his diagnosis i knew it wouldn't end well, such a shame... I lost my father to that horrible disease at the end of April, so that makes it especially tough for me. Swami Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 245 Posted August 1, 2016 Along with Futabayama, Taiho and Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji was the greatest. Hakuho may have won more yusho, but whilst I don't dislike him, I just think he is way overrated. Chiyonofuji's nage technique was bred-in-the-bone and amazing to watch. Swami 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAKATAKE 2,656 Posted August 1, 2016 Looking to the future, who will take over Kokonoe? While not official, Sanoyama mentions that Chiyonofuji definitely favored him taking over the beya after him. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1687687.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Washuyama 641 Posted August 1, 2016 My memories of Chiyonofuji are quite different than most people... I remember him as a Juryo/lower Maegashira rikishi. To watch a "skinny" (less than 100kg) guy wrestle in the top division enamoured the 8-year old me. He had six-pack abs and his pre-bout shiko was near vertical. His sumo was very entertaining to watch (think Takanoyama). When I visited the KK I used to stand in the opposite hanamichi for most of the day to watch the bouts (the ushers never bothered me) and snap a few pics of the pre-bout action. In fact the only pictures I ever took during an actual bout was a single pic of a bout between Chiyonofuji and Aobajo. (Aobajo won). A few months after I took that pic, I moved away from Japan and my only connection to sumo became Sumo World where, a few years later, I was able to "witness" his rise to dominance. So RIP to the "skinny guy" who let a skinny 8-year old dream maybe he COULD make it in sumo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CT3* 331 Posted August 1, 2016 Terrible news. The Wolf has left us... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dapeng 235 Posted August 1, 2016 Taiho, Chiyonofuji and Kitanoumi all have left us in a little more than 3,5 years...... Three of the four great yokozuna from Hokkaido have passed away ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SumpaX 23 Posted August 1, 2016 RIP, he was legendary... if that dropout at haru 1986 didn't happen he would have had an 9 consecutive yusho win streak. Along with Futabayama, Taiho and Kitanoumi, Chiyonofuji was the greatest. Hakuho may have won more yusho, but whilst I don't dislike him, I just think he is way overrated. Chiyonofuji's nage technique was bred-in-the-bone and amazing to watch. Swami Exactly how I feel, but still you probably have to give hakuho a spot up there, not because of his many yusho wins, but because of his sumo style which reminds me of the traditional yokozuna of the past. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,535 Posted August 1, 2016 It will be a private funeral for Kokonoe-oyakata - on the 7th at 12:30h. http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20160801/sum16080121340016-n1.html He was no riji when he died, so no kyokai funeral will take place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RabidJohn 1,789 Posted August 1, 2016 Chiyonofuji (Jinmaku-oyakata at the time) smiled and waved to me at the London Basho in 1991... Ok, he was probably just smiling and waving at the crowd, but it felt like he was looking at me. Chiyonofuji was awesome, and not just technically. He was unbelievably intimidating at the shikiri, especially considering most of his opponents were bigger. His stare simply told his opponent it was losing time, and most of them appeared to believe it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rhyen 1,842 Posted August 1, 2016 It will be a private funeral for Kokonoe-oyakata - on the 7th at 12:30h. http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20160801/sum16080121340016-n1.html He was no riji when he died, so no kyokai funeral will take place. Not fair, he was a dai-yokozuna. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shokikogi 33 Posted August 1, 2016 The greatest powerhouse of sumo history. What a loss, now is the last of the three legendary yokozuna of hokkaido also gone. It´s sad, but his name will last forever. RIP Wolf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 245 Posted August 1, 2016 The greatest powerhouse of sumo history. What a loss, now is the last of the three legendary yokozuna of hokkaido also gone. It´s sad, but his name will last forever. RIP Wolf So many amazing bouts stick in the memory. I remember in Natsu 1988 before his rensho started, he beat Tochinowaka with the most amazing uwatenage, absolutely slammed him to the clay. Tsuriotoshi against Terao in Kyushu 1989 was another epic. But I guess the yusho win against Onokuni in March 1989 summed Chiyonofuji up - the desire was so strong, no matter how many shoulder dislocations he had, he was still prepared to run that risk again. Swami Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skotkotaikai 2 Posted August 1, 2016 Very sad news :( Rest in peace Chiyonofuji. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubinhaad 11,698 Posted August 1, 2016 I can only echo the sentiment others have said, not unexpected news but still very sad. He and Kitanoumi both had this immense aura of strength and power, which seemed to persist long after their active days were over. Unfortunately, nobody is invincible. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
inhashi 2,363 Posted August 1, 2016 ... He and Kitanoumi both had this immense aura of strength and power, which seemed to persist long after their active days were over. Unfortunately, nobody is invincible. While looking fixedly at this photo that was my exact thoughts. Although here, Chiyonofuji and Kitanoumi almost do indeed look invincible, emanating strength and seizing the entire mood and attention of everything/everyone around them. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarako 3 Posted August 1, 2016 Once, while on vacation in Hawaii, we were eating mochi anpan outside a bakery tucked away in an abandoned strip mall in Kailua. We'd just come from a drive over to Waimanalo to see the Akebono statue. Some local ladies sat down and struck up a conversation with us. One lady was from Waimanalo, and we ended up talking about sumo for the next half an hour. We spent a lot of time talking about what a heartthrob Chiyonofuji was ("the skin!!!), and how they and their girlfriends would go to the airport just to get a glimpse of Chiyonofuji when he and other sumo wrestlers came to town. They talked about following sumo, and later how highly they regarded the Hawaiians who had gone to Japan to pursue their dreams. I'm thinking of those nice ladies today, and hoping they aren't too sad. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maguroyama 27 Posted August 1, 2016 Very very sad today. Chiyo's retirement was what started my interest in sumo and when I later saw some Channel 4 documentaries featuring "The Wolf", there was no doubt - he was The One. As strong as he was and with all the physical obstacles he overcame, I really didn't think we'd be having this thread as early as 2016... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WAKATAKE 2,656 Posted August 1, 2016 Hard to believe that he has passed, I should have figured it when he wasn't looking so great during some of those broadcasts. The one that really struck me was when they had him in the broadcast room right after Kitanoumi died, I could tell he wanted to cry. Now he's gone off to join the likes of Taiho and Kitanoumi. There is going to be a memorial service at the Kokugikan for the public on October 1. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1688026.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swami 245 Posted August 2, 2016 Hard to believe that he has passed, I should have figured it when he wasn't looking so great during some of those broadcasts. The one that really struck me was when they had him in the broadcast room right after Kitanoumi died, I could tell he wanted to cry. Now he's gone off to join the likes of Taiho and Kitanoumi. There is going to be a memorial service at the Kokugikan for the public on October 1. http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1688026.html It is actually quite shocking the number of significant rikishi from Chiyonofuji's era who have passed in recent times - Hokutenyu, Takanosato, Kitanoumi and now Chiyonofuji himself. Swami Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,535 Posted August 2, 2016 For me Chiyonofuji was my first lasting and positive impression of sumo. Before even starting with preparations to go to Japan, I by chance watched two 30 minutes old basho digests - in 1987 on a new TV channel that had several things from East Asia - it also made Hiroyuki Sanada my favorite Japanese actor, moving in front of Toshiro Mifune. The focus was on Takamiyama and on Chiyonofuji - one very old basho and one yusho by Chiyonofuji that must have been still a few years ago. When I arrived in Japan he was in his 53 winning streak - my sumo focus for my first stay was always on him. He retired soon after I returned home - I had no sumo coverage at that time - and when I came back he just had become Kokonoe. It really makes me sad - and for the first time a rikishi has passed away that actually had been my favorite one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,495 Posted August 3, 2016 Gutted. My all time favourite rikishi and the guy that first got me interested. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites