Retirees after Aki 2018

[Asashosakari 18,670]

The retirement list is on the larger side this time with 16 names:

Tetsuyuzan (Onomatsu)
Aokishin (Kasugano)
Dewaizumi (Dewanoumi)
Kamiyutaka (Tokitsukaze)
Toryu (Shikoroyama)
Nishiyama (Onoe)
Orora (Yamahibiki)
Takanonari (Chiganoura)
Maeta (Shibatayama)
Kiminofuji (Isegahama)
Satoiazuma (Tamanoi)
Koreyasu (Asakayama)
Kozakura (Tatsunami, banzuke-gai)
Iwamori (Hakkaku, banzuke-gai)
Kitasatsuma (Chiganoura, banzuke-gai)
Asahisato (Asahiyama, banzuke-gai)
 

[Jakusotsu 5,757]

Maeta, too? Average weight in Jonidan must have dropped by 5kg...

[Yubinhaad 11,506]

Ex-Nichidai rikishi Maeta retires after 13 years in the professional ranks. Originally joining Hanaregoma-beya, he was a near-constant presence in Makushita for eight years after winning the Sandanme yusho in 2006 Haru. He added a Makushita yusho four years later and reached his highest rank of Makushita 3, which saw him fight his one and only Juryo bout, a loss to Masuraumi in 2010 Nagoya. When Hanaregoma-beya closed the remaining rikishi moved to Shibatayama-beya. Unfortunately two years ago an achilles injury sent Maeta down to Jonokuchi, and with age against him he never looked like regaining that lost ground. Only three pictures from the heya senshuraku party I'm afraid.
 

Spoiler

Shibatayama-oyakata (former Yokozuna Onokuni) makes the final cut.

Maeta's severed oicho.

And finally a commemorative picture with the shisho and the rest of Shibatayama-beya.

 

Satoiazuma endured four surgeries on his wrist in order to return to the dohyo after two years off the banzuke. If you're morbidly curious, here is a shot of his post-surgery wrist (not for the faint hearted). Sadly, he decided to retire now after sustaining a radial head fracture of the elbow, but fortunately that doesn't need surgery. I didn't find any actual danpatsu-shiki pictures, just two before-and-after shots.
 

Spoiler

First and last oichomage:

After a proper haircut:

 

Nishiyama retires after eight years in ozumo. If nothing else, he'll be remembered for being on the receiving end of a duff mawashi hansoku call by the shimpan in 2017 Haru, which led to the banzuke committee giving him a bigger promotion to make up for their error.
 

Spoiler

Danpatsu-shiki underway.

A speech from Onoe-oyakata (former Komusubi Hamanoshima).

The okamisan?

And another speech from the shisho as Nishiyama returns to the stage after a tidy-up.

In almost any other basho Maeta would probably have been be the heaviest retiree, but here that title belongs to Orora, who retires after an 18-year career. It all got a bit awkward to watch lately as he struggled even to get onto the dohyo, but there was clearly a lot of affection for the big man. Trivia note: like most larger rikishi he had plenty of kimedashi wins, more than any other active rikishi in fact, with 42.
 

Spoiler

Heading back down the hanamichi for the final time with flowers, following his last bout.

With his first and last oichomage, posing with supporters.

Danpatsu-shiki underway.

Yamahibiki-oyakata (former Maegashira Ganyu) makes the final cut.

The shisho bought Orora a suit to wear after his danpatsu-shiki was over. Here, Kitaharima models the jacket.

It's a better fit for the man himself, seen here with a supporter.

 

Toryu retires after six years. I can't think of much else to say about him, but there are some good pictures around.
 

Spoiler

Greeted with flowers by his friends and stablemates following his final bout on senshuraku. Dressed like a referee on the left is former stablemate Shunjin, who we'll see again at the danpatsu-shiki.

Toryu with an oichomage and stablemate Tetsubisho.

And here with Shunjin again.

Shunjin makes his cut as the danpatsu-shiki takes place.

Seiro.

Abi.

And now Shikoroyama-oyakata (former Sekiwake Terao) brings the ceremony to an end with the final cut.

Suited and booted after a proper haircut, Toryu shows off a framed picture of himself which was a gift.

With Tetsubisho again and another picture, this one signed by everyone.

The shisho accompanies Toryu around the room for a meet-and-greet.

With Shunjin again.

Seems like a very popular guy, and there also seems to be a good spirit in Shikoroyama-beya.

 

One picture each for Dewaizumi and Kamiyutaka, both leaving the Kokugikan with their flowers.
 

Spoiler

Dewaizumi:

Kamiyutaka's intai was an open secret as far back as May when his stablemate Rikito retired. He can finally give his heavily-bandaged knees a rest now.

 

And a couple of one-liners:

Aokishin was one of the eight surviving rikishi of the old Tagonoura-beya, and is the first one to retire.

Sad to see Kitasatsuma finally succumb to his litany of injuries, but the last three years must have been tough so it's not a surprise.

[Asashosakari 18,670]

Just to add, Iwamori is of course the giant kid who'd never done sumo before joining up earlier this year:

Probably not a major surprise that he didn't end up in for the long haul.

Kozakura (as Shiina) had some before-joining backstory, too:

He finally got through the physicals one basho later (I can't find that thread right now).

[Yubinhaad 11,506]

Chiganoura-beya posted a great set of pictures from Takanonari's danpatsu-shiki.

 

Spoiler

Outside the heya with the shisho, okamisan and heyagashira Takanosho.

Takanonari was assisted in dressing for the occasion by stablemates Masutenryu and Taichiyama.

A speech from Chiganoura-oyakata (former Komusubi Takamisugi) first.

The danpatsu-shiki begins. Burinosato, the heya's longest-serving rikishi, makes his cut.

Masutenryu.

Masutoo.

Masunoyama.

Taichiyama.

Wakaseiun.

Yuriki.

Takanoryu.

Takanosho.

Now the heya's urakata take their turns, beginning with sewanin Tochinoyama.

Gyoji Kimura Hideaki.

Tokoyama Tokosen.

Yobidashi Hiroshi.

The previous shisho, former Sekiwake Masudayama, makes his cut.

And finally the current shisho makes the final cut.

Takanonari washes his hair before getting a proper haircut.

Barber Kitano is a member of the heya koenkai and is often called upon to give a retiree his first proper haircut.

All done.

With his severed mage in a display case, Takanonari also received his nameplate from the heya's banzuke board.

And finally, a commemorative picture with everyone.

 

A few shots eventually emerged from Kamiyutaka's danpatsu-shiki, held at Tokitsukaze-beya's senshuraku party. He will apparently be working for a seafood company in his home prefecture of Miyagi.

 

Spoiler

Tokitsukaze-oyakata (former Maegashira Tokitsuumi) gives a speech. Blame Toyonoshima for the crooked angle.

And now the shisho ends the ceremony with the final cut.

Kamiyutaka, minus mage.

After a change of clothes and a proper haircut, Kamiyutaka returned to the stage where Shodai and Yutakayama gave farewell speeches. All three are alumni of Tokyo Nogyo university.

 

Lastly, a few pictures from the aftermath of Tetsuyuzan's danpatsu-shiki at Onomatsu-beya's senshuraku party.

 

Spoiler

Tetsuyuzan with an oichomage.

Following the danpatsu-shiki.

Joined by former stablemates Amuru and Makuhari.

And a commemorative picture with everyone.

 

[Yubinhaad 11,506]

The okamisan belatedly posted some pictures from Tetsuyuzan's danpatsu-shiki shortly before the Kyushu basho, so before I forget here they are. Haven't found any for the Kyushu retirees yet, although Musashigawa promises some for Buken at some point.

 

Spoiler

Tetsuyuzan with his parents, who travelled from Towada, Aomori prefecture for the danpatsu-shiki.

Waiting for the danpatsu-shiki to begin.

Sumo-bu director Yamazaki of Sanbongi Agricultural High School in Aomori makes his cut. Tetsuyuzan competed against the likes of Goeido and Tochiozan during his high school years; they joined ozumo after that while Tetsuyuzan went on to Senshu University.

And now sumo-bu director Ono of Senshu University makes his cut.

Former stablemates were among the participants, Amuru here.

And now Oruri, who was also an alumni of Senshu University before joining ozumo. Since his own intai, Oruri has passed the exams to become an administrative scrivener.

Makuhari.

Tetsuyuzan's mother makes her cut.

And now his father makes his cut. Tetsuyuzan reached a highest rank of Makushita 17 in the 2016 Hatsu basho, but neck problems led to a gradual decline. His father is a judo therapist and advised him on treatment, and Tetsuyuzan hopes to follow in his footsteps after retiring.

Onomatsu-oyakata (former Sekiwake Masurao) ends the danpatsu-shiki with the final cut.

A farewell speech from the shisho.

Tetsuyuzan returns following a proper haircut and change of clothes.

And now directors Yamazaki and Ono make their own speeches, sharing stories about Tetsuyuzan from his school and university days.