Kintamayama 44,471 Posted January 25, 2022 (edited) Yes, it's true-sumo's oldest active rikishi Hanakaze (51) has announced his retirement. He will be working in a newly opened restaurant in Hyogo prefecture from February. He planned on retiring when he reached 50 but decided to postpone it due to the virus and difficulty in finding a job. He was the first over - 50 rikishi to get a kachikoshi in 116 years in January 2021 and was in charge of the chanko making at Tatsunami beya, feeding Meisei and Houshouryuu lately. Edited January 25, 2022 by Kintamayama 3 13 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,745 Posted January 25, 2022 2 minutes ago, Kintamayama said: Yes, it's true-sumo's oldest active rikishi Hanakaze (51) has announced his retirement. Does he get an extra five-year term as a chanko advisor? What an amazing feat to stick it out that long! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yokozuna Hattorizakura 151 Posted January 25, 2022 End of an era. It's unbelievable how long he was around. Chiyonofuji was in the middle of his reign when he began. He holds so many longevity records and was the only rikishi to fight in the showa, heisei and reiwa eras. I wonder if he gets anything in retirement bonuses, might be a nice sum if so just for how long he was there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themistyseas 226 Posted January 25, 2022 おつかれさまでした。。。 but I was kind of hoping he would stick it out until the mandatory retirement age!!! 9 minutes ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said: It's unbelievable how long he was around. Chiyonofuji was in the middle of his reign when he began. Another fun fact... he also started a year before his shisho! It seems fairly remarkable that anyone who was in sumo that long only worked under two stablemasters. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tiger Tanaka 222 Posted January 25, 2022 Hanakaze shared a banzuke with Oshio in Haru 1986, who shared a banzuke with Kitanonada in Hatsu 1962, who shared a banzuke with Oshio (again!) in Haru 1940, who shared a banzuke with Otokojima in 1919, who's career started in Natsu 1900. 5 rikishi spanning 120+ years of Ozumo dating back to the turn of the 20th century. And the last rikishi to start his career before I was born. A great career of dedication and longevity worth praise, thank you Hanakaze! 3 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jabbamaru 166 Posted January 26, 2022 Farewell old Man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 44,471 Posted January 26, 2022 So the new oldest guy is Shouketsu. 45 years old, Sandanme 76, joined 27 years ago. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,173 Posted January 26, 2022 And the new guy with the longest tenure is Sawaisamu. Hatsu dohyo in Nagoya 1992. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hakutorizakura 595 Posted January 26, 2022 Otsukaresamadeshita I have a vague memory that he was about to break one of Hakuho's records, cannot remember which one. Wonder if he managed to do it before the intai. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryafuji 807 Posted January 26, 2022 12 minutes ago, hakutorizakura said: Otsukaresamadeshita I have a vague memory that he was about to break one of Hakuho's records, cannot remember which one. Wonder if he managed to do it before the intai. Well, he wasn't too far off the record for most kachi koshi, although that record is actually held by Kaio who had one more than Hakuho. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,933 Posted April 14, 2022 (edited) On 25/01/2022 at 22:26, Kintamayama said: sumo's oldest active rikishi Hanakaze (51) has announced his retirement. He will be working in a newly opened restaurant in Hyogo prefecture from February. He planned on retiring when he reached 50 but decided to postpone it due to the virus and difficulty in finding a job. Hanakaze will now work - after training - as driver for Asahi Taxi in Fukuyama, Hiroshima. A member of the Tatsunami-beya koenkai is an acquaintance of the company president. http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/articles/-/155706 He'll be driving this small electric vehicle, a gurisuro (green slow mobility) sightseeing mobile https://asahitaxi.jp/kanko/taxi_kanko/gurisuro/ Edited April 14, 2022 by Akinomaki 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seiyashi 4,071 Posted April 14, 2022 I hope this is just to tide him over while economic conditions improve before opening his restaurant with a proper bang, rather than him changing plans altogether. I would one day like to visit Chanko Hanakaze wherever it may be. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sumojoann 1,256 Posted April 14, 2022 On 25/01/2022 at 15:26, Kintamayama said: Yes, it's true-sumo's oldest active rikishi Hanakaze (51) has announced his retirement. He will be working in a newly opened restaurant in Hyogo prefecture from February. He planned on retiring when he reached 50 but decided to postpone it due to the virus and difficulty in finding a job. He was the first over - 50 rikishi to get a kachikoshi in 116 years in January 2021 and was in charge of the chanko making at Tatsunami beya, feeding Meisei and Houshouryuu lately. 53 minutes ago, Seiyashi said: I hope this is just to tide him over while economic conditions improve before opening his restaurant with a proper bang, rather than him changing plans altogether. I would one day like to visit Chanko Hanakaze wherever it may be. Based on what Kinta said back on Jan 25, it looks like he was going to work in a newly opened restaurant, not HIS restaurant, although it would be great if he had his own restaurant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seiyashi 4,071 Posted April 14, 2022 1 hour ago, sumojoann said: Based on what Kinta said back on Jan 25, it looks like he was going to work in a newly opened restaurant, not HIS restaurant, although it would be great if he had his own restaurant. There was a leaked job ad for a restaurant called Chanko Hanakaze about a basho before Hanakaze retired, before the ad was pulled. The timing was too good to not suspect a connection, although it could well be a restaurant that someone is setting up for him (they bring the funds, he brings the expertise) and something fell through or got delayed. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaitetsu 277 Posted April 14, 2022 5 hours ago, Seiyashi said: There was a leaked job ad for a restaurant called Chanko Hanakaze about a basho before Hanakaze retired, before the ad was pulled. The timing was too good to not suspect a connection, although it could well be a restaurant that someone is setting up for him (they bring the funds, he brings the expertise) and something fell through or got delayed. I really hope it is, when I visit Japan, I would like to have chanko from the cook yokozuna :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,933 Posted April 16, 2022 (edited) On 14/04/2022 at 17:15, Seiyashi said: There was a leaked job ad for a restaurant called Chanko Hanakaze about a basho before Hanakaze retired, before the ad was pulled. The timing was too good to not suspect a connection, although it could well be a restaurant that someone is setting up for him (they bring the funds, he brings the expertise) and something fell through or got delayed. Chanko-cho Hanakaze opened yesterday in Kobe - he switched to Hyogo pref. because he's a big Takarazuka fan. In the heya he created 11 varieties of chanko, preserving the Tatsunami-beya taste, and up to 7 types of other dishes were served when he was chanko-cho. https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2022/04/16/0015223565.shtml I wonder how he'll be taxi driver in Hiroshima pref. while running his restaurant (48min. with the shinkansen from Kobe to Fukuyama, 154min. by car) Edited April 23, 2022 by Akinomaki 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seiyashi 4,071 Posted April 16, 2022 The shinkansen's travelling time doesn't sound too bad, but a constant commute on it is quite the expense. Probably some part-time for one of the jobs, or maybe he's more a consultant/owner than actually involved in the day to day operations of the restaurant. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,933 Posted April 23, 2022 (edited) On 16/04/2022 at 09:54, Akinomaki said: Chanko-cho Hanakaze opened yesterday in Kobe - he switched to Hyogo pref. because he's a big Takarazuka fan. In the heya he created 11 varieties of chanko, preserving the Tatsunami-beya taste, and up to 7 types of other dishes were served when he was chanko-cho. I wonder how he'll be taxi driver in Hiroshima pref. while running his restaurant (48min. with the shinkansen from Kobe to Fukuyama, 154min. by car) The taxi company is based in Fukuyama, but the next article tells that Hanakaze will be on duty in Kyoto on weekdays, only on the weekend he's chanko-cho in his own restaurant, Chanko-cho Hanakaze. http://www.daily.co.jp/opinion-d/2022/04/20/0015232718.shtml It seems he was in Fukuyama only for the training, Asahi taxi also operates in Kyoto keizai.info/general-bingo/103252 I guess the other 3 will be operating the shop alone when he's taxi driver o Pics and info from the menu: https://ameblo.jp/enomotosafe/entry-12737631602.html Edited April 23, 2022 by Akinomaki 3 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octofuji 335 Posted April 23, 2022 Aren't rikishi banned from driving? I hope his training was good, he's got plenty of lost time to make up for... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asojima 2,871 Posted April 23, 2022 12 minutes ago, Octofuji said: Aren't rikishi banned from driving? I hope his training was good, he's got plenty of lost time to make up for... He doesn't appear to be driving a Ferrari or a cement truck. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octofuji 335 Posted April 23, 2022 3 minutes ago, Asojima said: He doesn't appear to be driving a Ferrari or a cement truck. Ah yes I've scrolled up a bit further now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,933 Posted April 25, 2022 On 23/04/2022 at 16:51, Akinomaki said: On 16/04/2022 at 09:54, Akinomaki said: I wonder how he'll be taxi driver in Hiroshima pref. while running his restaurant (48min. with the shinkansen from Kobe to Fukuyama, 154min. by car) The taxi company is based in Fukuyama, but the next article tells that Hanakaze will be on duty in Kyoto on weekdays, only on the weekend he's chanko-cho in his own restaurant, Chanko-cho Hanakaze. http://www.daily.co.jp/opinion-d/2022/04/20/0015232718.shtml It seems he was in Fukuyama only for the training, Asahi taxi also operates in Kyoto keizai.info/general-bingo/103252 I guess the other 3 will be operating the shop alone when he's taxi driver I got this one wrong. He's learning to drive properly in Kyoto, with a usual taxi, and after that goes to Fukuyama - for the week - and drives that little sight-seeing mobile. In the article his 2nd career is still seen as that of only a taxi driver: https://maidonanews.jp/article/14604807 And on the weekend he's in his own restaurant - I wonder who financed it. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seiyashi 4,071 Posted April 26, 2022 6 hours ago, Akinomaki said: And on the weekend he's in his own restaurant - I wonder who financed it. Highest probability guess - Tatsunami koenkai connections. With someone of his seniority and association with the heya, I'm not surprised if someone there bent over backwards more than the usual to tap on his cooking skill. That said, I wonder why he's not running the restaurant full time: maybe he's hedging his bets, wants to do something different for a change, etcetc. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 39,933 Posted April 26, 2022 6 hours ago, Seiyashi said: Highest probability guess - Tatsunami koenkai connections. With someone of his seniority and association with the heya, I'm not surprised if someone there bent over backwards more than the usual to tap on his cooking skill. That said, I wonder why he's not running the restaurant full time: maybe he's hedging his bets, wants to do something different for a change, etcetc. He is dependent on koenkai connections for both careers now, but are they connected to the same persons, with the taxi driver job as something to pay for the restaurant? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seiyashi 4,071 Posted April 26, 2022 5 hours ago, Akinomaki said: He is dependent on koenkai connections for both careers now, but are they connected to the same persons, with the taxi driver job as something to pay for the restaurant? Seems an awfully complicated way to go about things rather than just adjusting the cut he vs his investors take in the restaurant (I'm assuming he doesn't actually have enough funds to set up one on his own). Goes back to hedging the bets about how a new eatery will do in an uncertain business climate? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites