Kakuryu to Retire

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

Kakuryu is retiring. 

"According to connected parties, Kakuryu has made up his mind to retire."

Source

Edited March 24, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[sahaven111 178]

joyous day

Edited March 24, 2021 by sahaven111

[sahaven111 178]

1 minute ago, sahaven111 said:

joyous day

except, i was planning on "Kakuryu Intai" to be my april fools day prank this year...

[Godango 1,015]

Had to happen. He could have saved himself a lot of indignity by making this call earlier, but at least he saw the light and decided to retire before he was pushed.

Hopefully this buy Hakuho a recovery tournament or two (but I'm firmly in the camp of 'he only gets one more shot').

[Kintamayama 45,538]

He gets Toshiyori "Kakuryuu".

[sahaven111 178]

Just now, Houmanumi said:

Had to happen. He could have saved himself a lot of indignity by making this call earlier, but at least he saw the light and decided to retire before he was pushed.

Hopefully this buy Hakuho a recovery tournament or two (but I'm firmly in the camp of 'he only gets one more shot').

this means his last match is the charlie brown incident when he fought endo during the nagoya basho of 2020.

[apraxin 56]

5 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

He gets Toshiyori "Kakuryuu".

Yes, perfectly understandable in context and yet still very odd on one level to see the headline that Kakuryu will retire and take on the name of Kakuryu .

Edited March 24, 2021 by apraxin

[pricklypomegranate 730]

I was expecting it for a long time, but it still hurts. He might have overstayed his welcome in the end, but he gave us many years of wonderful, technical and skilled sumo. Vale, Kakuryu. Thank you for many years of dedicated service. May you have success as an oyakata. 

[sahaven111 178]

i was too but it does not hurt it feels rather lovely

 

Edited March 24, 2021 by sahaven111

[Godango 1,015]

Not to dismiss the huge news that is a Yokozuna intai, but ...

...

What does this mean for Shohoryu as yumitori? Could we see a return of Kasugaryu?

[pricklypomegranate 730]

6 minutes ago, sahaven111 said:

i was too but it does not hurt it feels raver lovely

He's definitely not a typical fan's favourite, but I liked him as a rikishi immensely. He had a mild, yet not stern manner that I felt refreshing in a yokozuna, and as far as technique goes I believe he is one of the best in his generation. Even during his late career he was able to quickly identify chances at winning and execute the correct technique skilfully and efficiently. As far as yokozunas go, he is above average for me. In his absence, the quality of sumo in makuuchi drops a little. One can only hope that he imparts this sensitivity and study for sumo's technique to Kirbayama and his future deshi - we would have more thoughtful, skilful and exciting sumo. It was be interesting to see how Hakuho reacts to this and what his next move will be. 

[robnplunder 976]

That puts pressure on Hak to do the same unless he finds a fountain of youth.

[Thorbjarn 215]

I think almost everyone here feels that it took longer than needed for him to make that decision. That being said... 

I'm glad we got that short spell in 2018 where Kakuryu showed some really good sumo and collected back to back Yusho. I'm generally happy to have seen some "good" Kakuryu amidst all the injuries and troubles he had. 

His demeanor I always liked and I hope it'll translate well to a successful Oyakata-career. 

[yohcun 401]

My favourite rikishi (ignore the shinkansen avatar). I'm a bit relieved, but it still hurts.

22 minutes ago, Thorbjarn said:

I'm glad we got that short spell in 2018 where Kakuryu showed some really good sumo and collected back to back Yusho.

This. I remember being worried that Hatsu 2018 was going to be his swan song. Everything he accomplished afterwards was frosting on the cake, as far as I was concerned.

The 14-1 in Nagoya 2019 will always be my favourite. That amazing match with Hakuho to clinch it.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

Just now, yohcun said:

The 14-1 in Nagoya 2019 will always be my favourite. That amazing match with Hakuho to clinch it.

I'm glad I managed to see him then in his prime. His bout, as well as Hakuho - Ichinojo and Enho's, are my standout memories of that basho.

[SumoKitten 22]

I just woke up to the news. 

Unfortunately, I have not been a sumo regular long enough, so I never got to see him fight. And still, even I can feel the magnitude of this decision. It feels weird. Comparable to when a pope dies. (Luckily, Kakuryu is still a young man and hopefully has a long, fulfilled life ahead of him).................. Maybe the YDC can announce their next choice of yokuzuna with a little bit of white smoke? Also, how long does the waiting period have to be before we can start some future yokuzuna hype trains? 

All jokes aside, this is the right decision. And yet I can absolutely understand why it took him so long to make it. This had to be the (or one of the) hardest decision of his entire life. There is no returning from that. I wish him all the best for his future endeavours. 

 

 

[code_number3 708]

Sad to hear Kakuryu’s intai. Wish him get a permanent kabu and be successful oyakata

Will sumo be yokozuna-less for a longer time than the previous one? Ozeki teams are still ups-and-downs

Edited March 24, 2021 by code_number3

[SumoKitten 22]

5 minutes ago, code_number3 said:

Will sumo be yokozuna-less for a longer time than the previous one? Ozeki teams are still ups-and-downs

Nah, Takayasu gonna start a winning basho streak. You watch him get the nod in November. 

[Shinobi Steve 146]

I'm glad he made the decision. It had to be difficult for him as it is for anyone nearing the end of a long career. It was time though. 

[bessantj 4]

You had a feeling that it was coming, his body just didn't seem to be able to carry on. Though I am surprised at the timing of the announcement, seems a bit random.

[Swami 245]

A surprise only in terms of timing, but long overdue, at least a year overdue in my view.

 

 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Well, that’s a bit out of the blue. Colour me shocked.

I saw Kakuryu when he was still fresh to Makuuchi. Can’t say anything jumped out at me that said ‘future Yokozuna’ tbh, though he did have a good basho. I guess because at the time Asashoryu was Yokozuna and Hakuho was only two basho from becoming one, plus Ama and all the Europeans were there, Kakuryu didn’t really get attention. He was just another foreign rikishi and didn’t stand out in anyway. That’s pretty much how I think of his career overall tbh. He was always overshadowed by his peers, no matter how well he performed. I don’t think he minded though. He’s never seemed like one eager for the limelight. Quiet, respectful, thoughtful. He kept his head down and got on with his job. I can’t say I’ll feel like there’s a hole, but I wish him the best as an Oyakata. I think he’ll be a good advisor and role model for young guys coming up.

Edited March 24, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153]

sad. wish he showed up in the ring at least one more time, a flat note to go out on after such a long absence.

 

[Seiyashi 4,108]

20 minutes ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said:

sad. wish he showed up in the ring at least one more time, a flat note to go out on after such a long absence.

 

It's flatter that his last bout was the koshikudake loss to Endo. I suspect part of his desire to fight was to make sure that wasn't his last bout, and some degree of yokozuna pride wanted one last senshuraku meeting with Hakuho. Once Hakuho said he was out for July, Kakuryu knew there wasn't any hope of lasting that long without being forced to retire, so he jumped before he could be pushed.

Oh well, what's done can't be undone. 

[Shinobi Steve 146]

1 hour ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said:

sad. wish he showed up in the ring at least one more time

 

I would have liked to watch one more ring appearance as well. Now, I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed we get to see Hokuho one last time. I’m glad I saw him both days this tournament, but I hope he gets to properly say goodbye in the ring in July. Hakuho, Haramafuji, and Kakuryu were all Yokozuna when I started watching. It’s bittersweet to watch them all retire, but I’m excited to see what’s next for Kakuryu.