Hakuho retires

[Seiyashi 4,071]

2 minutes ago, themistyseas said:

One must wonder if it's to do a Kisenosato, but on a bigger (commercial) scale and with more resources. Build a modern environment but in an area where it's accessible to fans, and run a gift shop in an area where people with money spend money. We would (and will) go to Ibaraki to see Kisenosato's place, but casuals aren't going there. Meanwhile Hakuho's already got Chanko Ho in Ginza, so he's no stranger to putting properties where people with money actually are.

Given his track record of wanting to make generational impacts, he already seems to have figured out recruiting, and has been dedicated to youth and community initiatives, so I would posit that his exposure to fans at Miyagino beya (which seems to have been one of the more accessible stables for global fans) will probably have clued him in that he can steal a march on some of the dinosaurs of the previous era - whose idea of fansa is at most Jungyo - when it comes to cultivating fan relationships.

I would also imagine, thinking as a fantasy shisho, if you have to live where you work and so does your spouse, and you're well heeled, you'd want to build something spectacular in a spectacular part of town with good access both to Ryogoku and the shinkansen both for basho and for recruiting trips (especially with that stable's links to further flung parts of Japan and beyond).

Out of likes, but you've put it better than I could. Araiso was the obvious, well, not quite parallel but maverick inspiration, although I did wonder if the conservative sumo establishment would sniffle at this and think it vulgar. But in any case, between him and Araiso, we might be looking at a gradual organic evolution in sumo's marketing away from the "fansa=jungyo" attitude, into something more cosmopolitan.

[Hakuhonofan 334]

1 hour ago, WAKATAKE said:

Hakuho's got plans. A new heya worth about 200,000,000 yen is being mentioned for building in Nihombashi. Worthy this means that he is going to move Miyagino or if he's opening another heya is up in the air.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202109280000097.html

A blast from the past :

 

 

 

[sumojoann 1,256]

2 hours ago, themistyseas said:

Meanwhile Hakuho's already got Chanko Ho in Ginza, so he's no stranger to putting properties where people with money actually are.

 

Does Hakuho really have a restaurant named Chanko Ho in the Ginza??  If so, this is the first I have heard of it.

[Hakuhonofan 334]

20 minutes ago, sumojoann said:

Does Hakuho really have a restaurant named Chanko Ho in the Ginza??  If so, this is the first I have heard of it.

Yes. There's one in Hongkong, too.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

20 minutes ago, sumojoann said:

Does Hakuho really have a restaurant named Chanko Ho in the Ginza??  If so, this is the first I have heard of it.

Yeppp. 

Chanko Hō
+81 3-6264-5635
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y4PEjZqEPCiKmoX18

That's definitely on my to-visit list. 

[Karasukurai 165]

Hakuho's managed decline has finally come to an end then. That's not to say that he wasn't entitled to squeeze as much out of his latter years as possible, he was. Still, I'm glad he's intai because I look forward to his next role. Hakuho has already shown that he has a good eye for potential in youngsters and hopefully his stable does well. Somehow I don't think it's going to be easy for him, I suspect that his relationship with the JSA is going to be difficult, I can imagine that if one of his rikishi steps out of line there will be the usual 'foreign born oyakata blah blah, lack of Japanese values blah blah', these could be 'interesting times'.

I was never a fan, there was something about him that always grated on me. Nevertheless, he was the best, good luck Hakuho, best wishes for future success.

[Masunofuji 36]

4 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Hakuho's got plans. A new heya worth about 200,000,000 yen is being mentioned for building in Nihombashi. Worthy this means that he is going to move Miyagino or if he's opening another heya is up in the air.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202109280000097.html

I just realized that Hakuho is going to continue to dab on Kisenosato as an oyakata, too. This is going to be great.

 

A bit of a shame that the greatest rikishi of all times is likely not even getting the ichidai toshiyori kabu. How about the NSK shows remorse for that first.

[Kintamayama 44,350]

4 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Hakuho's got plans. A new heya worth about 200,000,000 yen is being mentioned for building in Nihombashi.

If 1 oku yen is 100,000,000 yen, shouldn't 20 oku be  2,000,000,000 yen (17 mil dollars approx) ?

[specialweek 2 136]

1 minute ago, Kintamayama said:

If 1 oku yen is 100,000,000 yen, shouldn't 20 oku be  2,000,000,000 yen (17 mil dollars approx) ?

Yes 200,000,000 won't by much in Nihonbashi.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

4 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

4 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Hakuho's got plans. A new heya worth about 200,000,000 yen is being mentioned for building in Nihombashi.

If 1 oku yen is 100,000,000 yen, shouldn't 20 oku be  2,000,000,000 yen (17 mil dollars approx) ?

 Holy crap. That is a LOT of moolah.

[Kintamayama 44,350]

You can't take anything away from what  he has done. Being an occasional major embarrassment (that monoii he called against Yoshikaze while standing there for a full three minutes comes to mind, among other things) and active in an era of "lesser" opponents doesn't take away anything from his achievements. The fact that he wasn't around much lately is a fact, but so weren't Kisenosato and Takanohana in their final years. The guy has 45 yushos and holds countless records, you don't sum up his career as "that annoying asshole". As for the future, I guess I am still the only one saying he will not stick around with the Kyokai for long, Nihonbashi  real estate notwithstanding. Thanks for the memories, old chap, and say hi to Asashouryuu. 

Edited September 28, 2021 by Kintamayama

[Chartorenji 235]

Hakuho's about to create the first cyborg sumo wrestler with that 2 billion yen lmao

Edited September 28, 2021 by Chartorenji

[Thorbjarn 214]

It's cool to finally see the Mongolian Yokozunae retire instead of being forced / semi-forced to retire.

The YDC and the questioning of foreigners hinkaku, to my Western eye, come across as pathetic little xenophobes.

The last three major scandals were all involving Japanese Rikishi. The blemish of the injury problems on Hakuho's career is pretty much what Kisenosato had, only if Hakuho did compete, he was a contender to win (and even Zensho). The worst thing he did was trying to call a monoii, which was weird, and "cringe" as the younglings say nowadays. In the same time you had the association trying to keep nurses from the dohyo as they tried to save a man's life and numerous beatings at the stables. 

I fear that Hakuho's "students" will be eyed very critically aswell. And I'm with @Kintamayama

... I don't see a long future for Hakuho in JSA. He will start pretty much at the bottom after being at the top for 1.5 decades. He seems like a very headstrong person. There will be conflict and he will not humblely accept other men's superiority within the system. I suspect a similar fate to that of Takanohana. 

[Yaochozuna 137]

Like many other truly successful people, Hakuho tends to divide. I'm ok with that. I feel privileged to have seen him perform. So long and thanks for all the kimarite

[Kintamayama 44,350]

From what I'm reading, he will be Magaki and work as an assistant coach at Miyagino.

[Inside Sport Japan 760]

 

More here:

[dingo 1,160]

Well, what to say... I was never a big fan either. But his presence, impact and legacy is unquestionable. I'm glad he went out with a zensho yusho bang and not with a whimper (the covid thing doesn't count IMHO). And I'm interested to see what he's gonna do as an oyakata. 

The one thing I can't let pass is the YDC comments though. That was absolutely unbelievable and uncalled for, especially after the retirement news. I can't understand the mentality of wanting to belittle and dirty Hakuho; nevermind anyone's opinion, he still deserves respect for his achievements. As per the wise words in this thread, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself. The YDC would be wise to understand that. 

[yorikiried by fate 1,989]

I like John's article (which is normally not necessarily the case). Very upbeat, very grand. Unfortunately, the last sentence will evaporate over time into the realm of wishful thinking.

[Taikoubana 143]

Nothing much to say that hasn't already been said. I just feel incredibly grateful and lucky that I was alive to witness the greatest dominance in sumo. Hoping that new heya works out, as I'd love to follow the careers of his deshi.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

From what I'm reading, he will be Magaki and work as an assistant coach at Miyagino.

Has a formal story broken?

[Kintamayama 44,350]

13 minutes ago, Seiyashi said:

Has a formal story broken?

No, the usual mainstream news reports which are 99% accurate usually.

[Rocks 1,807]

Chris Sumo reporting Hakuho wants to build a new stable building at 20 million dollars. While I would not be surprised if he does build a new stable the idea he will spend anywhere near 20 million is ridiculous. There is simply not enough income from 1 stable in Sumo to justify such a cost and I doubt Hakuho will spend what would amounts to near if not all of his net worth. 

[Seiyashi 4,071]

22 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Chris Sumo reporting Hakuho wants to build a new stable building at 20 million dollars. While I would not be surprised if he does build a new stable the idea he will spend anywhere near 20 million is ridiculous. There is simply not enough income from 1 stable in Sumo to justify such a cost and I doubt Hakuho will spend what would amounts to near if not all of his net worth. 

Not just CS reporting that: WAKATAKE linked an article from Nikkan that is quoted as saying the same thing (which is probably where CS got his info from too)

[nelimw 80]

I started watching sumo in March 2017, Hakuho was injured and out by day 5. When I saw him come back and zensho in May, I was floored. Watching someone be so dominant in a sport was incredible to say the least. When Kisenosato or Kakuryu lost a match, it was never surprising/shocking. But when Hakuho lost a match, even if it was to someone in san'yaku, it felt like history was made. He wasn't expected to lose and always looked like he was giving 110%. At least that's how I saw it. I'll miss the gravitas of Hakuho's matches. 

[Kintamayama 44,350]

1 hour ago, Rocks said:

Chris Sumo reporting Hakuho wants to build a new stable building at 20 million dollars. While I would not be surprised if he does build a new stable the idea he will spend anywhere near 20 million is ridiculous. There is simply not enough income from 1 stable in Sumo to justify such a cost and I doubt Hakuho will spend what would amounts to near if not all of his net worth. 

17 million and I’m pretty sure he won’t have any problems raising that sort of money. If he indeed decides to stay with the Kyokai.