Hakuho retires

[Kaioshoryu 62]

I don't know how credible the source is, but there is strong rumblings that Hakuho's retirement has been set in motion.

https://twitter.com/SumoFollower/status/1442197463100579845

Edited October 4, 2021 by Kaioshoryu
Spelling

[Akinomaki 39,798]

NHK has it as well, this is it then. Related persons tell that his resolve to retire is firm now. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210927/k10013278171000.html

 

[Faustonowaka 112]

The end of an era

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Yep, the NHK article linked by Akinomaki confirms his intent. 

From the article:

"According to a source, Hakuho has decided that with the condition of his right knee and other factors, he is unable to carry on his duties as a Yokozuna over the course of a 15-day basho, and intends to retire."

 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[Athenayama 953]

Called it 2 months ago after the zensho bout against Terunofuji in the "Nagoya basho 2021" thread, page 41 (I don't know how to insert it here!).  I hoped to be wrong.

 

[Kishinoyama 582]

I am happy that he is retiring after winning his last tournament. Akebono did the same thing when he retired.  I hope Hakuho can stay in the NSK as an oyakata but I wish him only the best no matter what his future holds. Much  for the GOAT. 

Edited September 26, 2021 by Kishinoyama

[Joaoiyama 306]

I didn't think that would be the last i saw of Hakuho on the dohyo, he went out unmatched in every aspect, spirit burning as ever on that final roar. 

[hakutorizakura 590]

Who was it said that Shonanzakura was Hakuho's secret ingredient in some Mongolian black magic for sumo dominance?

Well, that balances the scale.

[Hakuhonofan 334]

Last winning was a fitting end to a long, and  outstanding career. 

[rhyen 1,809]

(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)(Sadgoodbyes...)

[Kotomiyama 165]

We knew that this day was going to come and yet I don't think we are ready for it.

[Ganzohnesushi 507]

"Le roi est mort, vive le roi!"

Sad to see Hakuho go but I think the timing for this decision was perfect.

Ganzohnesushi

[Benihana 1,901]

How much flak will he receive for overshadowing Terunofuji's yusho with this news?

Whatever, it's the right move. 2 months too late, but right. 

[Akinomaki 39,798]

33 minutes ago, Benihana said:

How much flak will he receive for overshadowing Terunofuji's yusho with this news?

None, it's perfect timing: he didn't announce anything himself yet, waited till the day after the basho (in Japan), the morning papers have nothing, only the yusho, and it's just before the banzuke conference.

Edited September 26, 2021 by Akinomaki

[Inside Sport Japan 760]

24 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

the morning papers have nothing

 

 

[dada78641 884]

Incredibly sad news. He was absolutely unmatched in every technical regard and gave us tons of unforgettable bouts. His clashes with Asashoryu especially will forever be etched in marble as some of the greatest ever in sumo history.

I think it's safe to say that every serious article about his career will make reference to the fact he had more than one brush with controversy, but to me none of that ever mattered. He always did his job, even after his body got so wrecked it was a miracle he was able to mount the dohyo again in July, let alone win yet another zensho. He was the ultimate wall and in the end no one was able to come close to breaking him. It will take a very special wrestler for people to even begin to entertain the possibility of his skill and strength being surpassed.

If only COVID-19 hadn't happened I would've been able to go see him wrestle live, but unfortunately I never got that chance. Instead I'll make every effort to go see his successor.

[Godango 956]

For all the talk of his lack of hinkaku, the man was a true yokozuna till the end where (in my opinion) it mattered, on the dohyo. Dominated for a generation, and while he had his injuries towards the end, he never showed up in anything but peak condition to 'do the duty of a yokozuna'. The fact that he ultimately called his own do-or-die basho, then went 15-0 and went out on top is an incredibly fitting end to arguably the greatest rikishi ever. I don't think any of us will see his likeness in this sport again in our lifetime. 

I'll miss him, his aura, and the way I always chuckled in disbelief after his matches at the fact that he was simply too good. 

Long live the GOAT.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

End of an era, for me quite literally as my first basho was the first of his tsuna-run yusho (Haru 2007) so my sumo ‘career’ has matched his Yokozuna tenure almost exactly. I’m glad to see the saga draw to a close though, tbh. He hasn’t really been part of sumo for a couple of years anyway, other than the occasional celebrity cameo. It’s good to draw a line under it so we can do a proper career retrospective without the spectre of his decline haunting us. I’ll probably write something more meaningful later, but for now just this. 

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

The Yahoo Japan link that my Japanese boss texted to me so that I found out the news:

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f0ca3a35be5c9c032464a31e88f17ab594ed0999

Nikkan had taken a while but they finally have their article up too

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202109270000111.html?cx_testId=66&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=3#cxrecs_s

 

[Katooshu 3,135]

Calling it the end of an era doesn't seem to go far enough

[Tiger Tanaka 222]

At this point the GOAT has done it all, and about as good of an ending as you can have going out on a zensho. I was introudced to sumo towards the end of his prime era in January 2017, but still got to see so much magic from him, in addition to rewatching older classics. Thank you for all the incredible memories!

The one last thing I was holding out hope for was a Hakuho vs. Hoshoryu, which would have had some serious intensity to it. 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

47 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

Calling it the end of an era doesn't seem to go far enough

In geological time scale, there’s only ‘eon’ and ‘supereon’ which are bigger.

[Nantonoyama 246]

That is unexpected, I would have thought that he would give a shot at yusho 46. But I guess now that the Olympics are passed, he feels like his time has passed, and doesn't want to risk his knee. It might be a wise decision then, and he leaves with a last zensho yusho, which is great. Definitively the end of an era.

I am watching sumo since Haru 2006, and he is the last makuuchi from Haru 2006 banzuke to retire. Leaving only Dairaido in the then-sekitori ranks. Amazing longevity, that's a career for the ages.

Edited September 27, 2021 by Nantonoyama

[Katooshu 3,135]

7 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

In geological time scale, there’s only ‘eon’ and ‘supereon’ which are bigger.

I'll go for supereon then 

[Morty 1,480]

Every time he mounted the dohyo for the past couple of years I watched closely because I knew I could be seeing it for the last time. And that actual last time (day 15 Nagoya) was one of the most intense sumo bouts I have ever seen, a fitting end to a magnificent career. In sport amongst the many participants a few rise to be champions. Then, very very rarely, one of those champions steps above that level and becomes something else entirely. Hakuho did that - it happens so rarely across all sports and we are lucky that we got to see it happen in sumo for the past decade. His records will stand for a long time and a lot of them will probably never be broken. Genuinely the Greatest of All Time.