Hakuhou caught watching Judo

[Kaioshoryu 63]

If Hakuho went to watch judo without informing the NSK, that’s just incredibly short-sighted. I am sure Hak knew there would be a reaction, but decided to do it anyway. This could be really bad for him, but we’ll see. As someone else mentioned: this feels a lot like a certain football match…

[jalil_the_swan 25]

No mahjong or weed involved? Not even worth Shibatayama's time.

[rhyen 1,844]

59 minutes ago, Chankomafuji said:

It surely will be yet another unpopular opinion, but I start to question myself why would Hakuho pursue a career as an Oyakata at all. 
Imagine a day where Hakuho announces his retirement and completely cuts his relationship with the NSK and instead do some private project for his future, denying this pseudo-zealous clique that is the NSK many opportunities to defame him. I want Hakuho to give them a small hint of such possibility just to see what the reaction will be.

Then why jump through all the hoops to change citizenship and obtain the Magaki kabu?

let’s face it, individualistic dai yokozuna (Chiyonofuji, Takanohana, Hakuho, Wajima?) are rarely popular among their peers when they become oyakatas. Probably better to keep your head down like Taiho, Kitanoumi, Futabayama.

[Dapeng 235]

NSK's rules only ban its members going out from banzuke publication to the end of the basho. Hakuho didn't violate any rule.

[ViscountessNivlac 29]

I think Shibatayama knows the NSK’s rules better than us.

[Chankomafuji 51]

1 hour ago, Asashosakari said:

What reaction other than "shrug, life goes on" do you expect? He'd be a lost asset, certainly, but it's hardly like the future of the Kyokai depends on Hakuho's presence as a suit.

Let's imagine this is the kind of response by the NSK. But what about Hakuho? The negativity surrounding him has tremendously increased over the last 2 years. His popularity is at rock bottom level. How can one join the ranks of others who criticize him so much lately? This whole environment is why I question how beneficial for Hakuho is to become an oyakata. 

Which leads to the next question,
 

37 minutes ago, rhyen said:

Then why jump through all the hoops to change citizenship and obtain the Magaki kabu?

In my opinion I see a dramatic difference concerning the attitude towards Hakuho at the time of his Citizenship application (and we all know it takes a while) compared to today. That kind of tension was just not present back then. 

Edited August 2, 2021 by Chankomafuji

[Dapeng 235]

46 minutes ago, ViscountessNivlac said:

I think Shibatayama knows the NSK’s rules better than us.

But he didn't say which rule Hakuho broke.

[rokudenashi 324]

Each transgression Hakuho commits is a step towards the exit door with a progressively wound up middle finger pointed at the NSK brass. He just doesn't care. It's really hard to see him having any sort of future as an oyakata right now,  ongoing kabu transaction notwithstanding.

As for Shibatayama's postulations, to me, they are just feeble attempts at asserting control that probably even he knows are of little consequence, however necessary to maintain the illusion of order.

Much ado about nothing...

[Kaminariyuki 499]

If, indeed, Shibatayama is making a feeble power-play and ran off to the press half-cocked and Hakuho has broken no official rules, I would think an apology is in order. That would certainly seem behavior unbecoming of a respected oyakata.

[Yamanashi 3,879]

Full disclosure: I'm not there, I'm not Japanese.

Good Lord, what a tempest in a teapot!  Hakuho has just gotten free, positive PR for Sumo during a once-in-a-generation national advertisement spot, while the shrewd daimyo of the NSK have managed to finesse themselves into the role of ... boxing landlord?!?

[Rocks 1,809]

2 hours ago, Dapeng said:

But he didn't say which rule Hakuho broke.

I would say this has nothing to do with NSK rules. Rather rules the government has put into effect due to COVID. The NSK is worried about upsetting the government. A good idea when they are financially supporting you during a time of limited financial opportunity.  

[Churaumi 743]

Seems to me this is a passing match between Hakuho and the Kyokai over who owns Hakuho. Unfortunately for him, they do. It's the golden rule from Aladdin.

[sumojoann 1,267]

26 minutes ago, Rocks said:

I would say this has nothing to do with NSK rules. Rather rules the government has put into effect due to COVID. The NSK is worried about upsetting the government. A good idea when they are financially supporting you during a time of limited financial opportunity.  

How much support is sumo getting from the government at the present time?

[Rocks 1,809]

Just now, sumojoann said:

How much support is sumo getting from the government at the present time?

A lot I would think. Their only real income is from the bashos. They haven't had any jungyo in over a year which is a big cash cow I would think. 

[Godango 1,013]

From Yahoo Japan: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cbbce08b9cb305837c92145b748562c111e78fb5

In short, Brain scientist Kenichiro Mogi has said (via twitter): 

"I think it's just discrimination to make assumptions without carefully examining the circumstances of the visit. The Japan Sumo Association is truly awful when it comes to Hakuho. Not to mention the yokozuna judging committee. There is no respect for the great yokozuna, and no respect for diversity."

Couldn't say it better myself. This isn't a situation like Abi, Ryuden and Asanoyama, who went out clandestinely and then lied about it/tried to cover their tracks. Hakuho is there with an official pass, openly posing for photos with others. At worst, he's inadvertently broken vague rules.

I get that he as ruffled a lot of feathers in his tenure, but come on. Your dai-dai-yokozuna who is also an official ambassador attended an olympic event with no spectators and their own strict COVID-19 protocols?! The SCANDAL!

Sadly, several other articles are writing this up as just the latest of his demonstrably non-yokozuna-worthy behaviours, and comparing his situation to that of Maedayama, who was forced to retire after watching a Japan vs. USA baseball game while kyujo.

This quote attributed to Shibatayama concerns me (https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/504af0b7f47acfe685ac0cc6d84cbd1b84d9e83f):

"He was criticised by the Yokozuna Judging Committee for his gut-punching and yell. And then he behaves like this. He is not a yokozuna at all. He has no understanding of common sense or common decency. He is a habitual rule-breaker.".

I love this sport, but I hate the way they treat their G.O.A.T.. A warning and suspension, I wouldn't begrudge. But I'm very worried this is the end of Hakuho.

EDIT: I realise the quote that concerns me is likely just my own inferior translation of Kintamayama's. Still, worrying.

Edited August 3, 2021 by Godango

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Wow. I hope they make Hakuho sit out for a year as punishment.

[sahaven111 176]

30 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Wow. I hope they make Hakuho sit out for a year as punishment.

I attempted to upload the famous "man in a pool pouring water on himself" image. It wasn't successful. I'm sure you get the idea

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

Shibatayama could stand to watch over his own health and maybe spend time training up his deshi better than the criticism of Hakuho, especially if Hakuho had official passes to get in. I know that Hakuho and the NSK/YDC have not seen eye to eye over the years, but Shibatayama right here enforces my opinion of him being my least favorite person in the NSK. 

[junsan 193]

A sad mix of bigotry, envy, inferiority complex, bureaucratic reactionarism and phony outrage on the part of Shibatayama and his pissant colleagues.

[Kujo 117]

2 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Shibatayama could stand to watch over his own health and maybe spend time training up his deshi better than the criticism of Hakuho, especially if Hakuho had official passes to get in. I know that Hakuho and the NSK/YDC have not seen eye to eye over the years, but Shibatayama right here enforces my opinion of him being my least favorite person in the NSK. 

 

1 hour ago, junsan said:

A sad mix of bigotry, envy, inferiority complex, bureaucratic reactionarism and phony outrage on the part of Shibatayama and his pissant colleagues.

Why the hate for Shibatayama?

He's the NSK's mouthpiece and is doing what he is told.

[Seiyashi 4,106]

5 minutes ago, Kujo said:

 

Why the hate for Shibatayama?

He's the NSK's mouthpiece and is doing what he is told.

Probably because he might have gone overboard in the couching of the message. But he does have a point - as far as we know, Hakuho didn't have any business to do with the Olympics and shouldn't have been there in the first place, connections or no (in fact connections make it worse). Unless it subsequently comes out that he was presenting a medal or something, and even then it's still showing a few middle fingers to the NSK who are supposed to have the last word on what rikishi can or cannot do.

The worrying thing is that that's two controversies in less than a month, which for a soon-to-retire rikishi with an elder stock is not great. Hakuho will be starting his oyakata career with a storm over his head - if he even starts it at all.

[Kujo 117]

3 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Hakuho will be starting his oyakata career with a storm over his head - if he even starts it at all.

The operable phrase there seems to be "if he even starts it at all".

[Seiyashi 4,106]

14 minutes ago, Kujo said:

The operable phrase there seems to be "if he even starts it at all".

It depends on how many bridges Hakuho thinks it's worth burning to satiate his desire to be and appear to be connected with the Olympics. In some ways I can't blame him as it's been a goal of his for so long, but on the other hand it's incredibly tone-deaf of him to turn up essentially just for the lulz as well.

I give him two more controversies tops between now and Aki before he quits sumo (i.e. not just retiring, leaving the NSK altogether) in a state of high dudgeon, deshi and Miyagino-beya be damned.

[Kujo 117]

I think he has been on double-secret probation since his infamous "I won't get back up on the dohyo until I get a monoii" tantrum.

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

18 hours ago, Kenneth Minami said:

Not like Asashoryu, who played football when he was having medical treatment in Mongolia

### This is a scripted auto-response to annual football incident revisionism ###

Asashoryu was shanghaied by officials to participate in a fun football much against children at a UNICEF related event in Mongolia, were he spent some time after his latest yusho. He was kyujo at the time and officially allowed to be in Mongolia, because he had sustained a *shoulder* injury in the previous basho. The pictures at the time showed him running around a bit with children, laughing. The story got cooked up weaks later and led to his repulsive two basho suspension.

### If you have triggered this message you should be ashamed, because you -- like quite a few before you -- have participated in the propaganda spin that painted -- for once unjust -- Asashoryu as the culprit ###