Otowayama-beya

[Asashosakari 19,943]

On 27/12/2023 at 10:51, Seiyashi said:

Kakuryū is now Otowayama and will branch out from Michinoku (...)

On 27/12/2023 at 11:01, Seiyashi said:

Per the oshirase, Otowayama will move immediately, having secured premises at Mukojima 2-chome 17-ban 11-go (appears to be a preexisting community centre based on GMaps). 

Tokotsuru, Takeuchi, and Hagane will move to Otowayama. 

https://sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiInformation/detail?id=624

Presumably Shirasaka will join Otowayama from the off, rather than Michinoku as previously reported, to make 3 rikishi and 1 tokoyama. 

Nikkan has more information about the location which, contrary to what might have been suspected based on the out-of-the-blue nature of his departure from Michinoku, is not just a temporary one:

The three-storey building previously housed Sumida ward facilities, but having seen reduced use over time and the ward government apparently unwilling to refurbish the aging building, it was sold to a real estate company instead. The company proceeded to renovate it with sumo stable requirements in mind, but without a tenant at hand when they started - Nikkan's writer calls it "unprecedented" for new heya premises to be built that aren't made to order by the shisho who intends to set up there. (I agree that it's a rather odd way of doing real estate business. It's Sumida and all, but still...)

Anyway, when Kakuryu became aware of it he jumped on the opportunity and took out the lease for the location. "Perfect" is the newly-minted Otowayama-oyakata's impression of his heya's facilities, so this appears to have worked out well for everyone involved. While some frills still have to be added (no kanban board yet...), the place is completely ready for use and Kakuryu plus family had already moved in. The two active deshi he's bringing along from Michinoku-beya followed on Wednesday when the decision became official, rookie Shirasaka will join soon as well. "I'd like to eventually coach about 20 deshi here, and bring up yokozuna and ozeki. I want to give back to sumo that way", the shisho explained. Keiko will be starting in earnest after New Year's Day, until then just light training while everybody gets settled in.
 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Asashosakari

[Seiyashi 4,109]

That definitely looks a lot better than the clearly pre-2000s building on GMaps. 

Depending on when the real estate company took over, I wonder if they just took a bet that there would be someone looking for premises. I can believe that at some point in time, an especially savvy businessman could have seen the need for a stable building, around the time where a lot of heya were playing musical heya premises.

[Kaitetsu 315]

In the most recent Sumo Prime Time video on Otowayama-beya, Otowayama now has 4 rikishi.

Takeuchi becomes Kakuho so his younger brother can use the name. The new Takeuchi is a year younger than his brother.

And there is also the 18 year old Hakuryu (Kakuryu had to really think hard for these shikona huh). I don't know if both are making their debut in March, but I think it's probable.

Also, I feel like Kakuryu really gets what needs to be done to make sumo a little more attractive young guys and their parents, with what he said on the video.

[Koorifuu 1,079]

15 minutes ago, Kaitetsu said:

In the most recent Sumo Prime Time video on Otowayama-beya, Otowayama now has 4 rikishi.

Takeuchi becomes Kakuho so his younger brother can use the name. The new Takeuchi is a year younger than his brother.

And there is also the 18 year old Hakuryu (Kakuryu had to really think hard for these shikona huh). I don't know if both are making their debut in March, but I think it's probable.

Also, I feel like Kakuryu really gets what needs to be done to make sumo a little more attractive young guys and their parents, with what he said on the video.

I feel like Otowayama should have been a bit more careful with those shikona, lest people speculate he's closely associating himself with Miyagino. Unless that REALLY is happening and out in the open. It feels a bit over the top if it's just paying homage to someone he respects.

Edited February 19, 2024 by Koorifuu

[themistyseas 242]

16 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

I feel like Otowayama should have been a bit more careful with those shikona, lest people speculate he's closely associating himself with Miyagino. Unless that REALLY is happening and out in the open. It feels a bit over the top if it's just paying homage to someone he respects.

Maybe it's just me, but it feels a bit conspiracy theorist to say one should be careful of associating themselves with Hakuho, who hasn't seemed to have really done anything that wasn't exemplary since joining the Kyokai (as an elder)? He's always going to be prominent by virtue of who he is, but I don't think another shisho really would start giving out shikona out of respect for a mostly unrelated oyakata's career. Could be wrong, but seems like a stretch.

There have been plenty of other rikishi to have taken a "Haku" or  a "ho" (possibly because they were fans, or just wanted it to rub off on them) from outside the stable over the years. Is it over the top for the Mongolian Daishōhō? I think the more notable thing is for Kakuryu to have started giving the "Kaku" prefix to rikishi, not just due to himself but to establish a through line to his old heya.

Edited February 19, 2024 by themistyseas

[Koorifuu 1,079]

15 minutes ago, themistyseas said:

Maybe it's just me, but it feels a bit conspiracy theorist to say one should be careful of associating themselves with Hakuho, who hasn't seemed to have really done anything that wasn't exemplary since joining the Kyokai (as an elder)? He's always going to be prominent by virtue of who he is, but I don't think another shisho really would start giving out shikona out of respect for a mostly unrelated oyakata's career. Could be wrong, but seems like a stretch.

There have been plenty of other rikishi to have taken a "Haku" or  a "ho" (possibly because they were fans, or just wanted it to rub off on them) from outside the stable over the years. Is it over the top for the Mongolian Daishōhō? I think the more notable thing is for Kakuryu to have started giving the "Kaku" prefix to rikishi, not just due to himself but to establish a through line to his old heya.

That's not what I meant, if anything I've been supportive of Hakuho's efforts as an oyakata and of the belief he shouldn't be on any kind of watchlist.

My statement would apply to any pair of rikishi with similar status and age. Say... Let's say that Hidenoyama's first two recruits would be given Kisenoshogiku and Kotonosato, pretty much like Kakuryu's two deshi are a mishmash of his own shikona & Miyagino's. That'd be screaming out Kisenosato, no matter how you look at it. The most likely possibility is that it'd simply be a homage to someone he looked up to while active,  but would it be unrealistic for people to speculate that maybe this meant Hidenoyama was associating / trying to associate himself to Nishonoseki in some way?

Edited February 19, 2024 by Koorifuu

[themistyseas 242]

1 minute ago, Koorifuu said:

 My statement would apply to any pair of rikishi with similar status and age. Say... Let's say that Hidenoyama's first two recruits would be given Kisenoshogiku and Kotonosato. That'd be screaming out Kisenosato, no matter how you look at it. The most likely possibility is that it'd simply be a homage to someone he looked up to while active,  but would it be unrealistic for people to speculate that maybe this meant Hidenoyama was associating / trying to associate himself to Nishonoseki in some way?

Fair enough, obviously a bit of confusion there. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, it's possible he's just got a 16 year old who got to be named after his two favourite rikishi, and he probably ends up with a career not too dissimilar to Jonidan perennial Hakuyo over at Isenoumi-beya. I think most people would assume Kakuryu is already in Hakuho's corner anyway (if that matters), but I take your point. Someone else might know more about whether Hakuho has been able to benefit Kakuryu, maybe he got a couple yusho care of Hakuho withdrawing! I also wonder how he's written the "ho," it could well be 鳳 instead of 鵬

I actually think it'd be brilliant to have a stable master who names his guys after Yokozuna, he could have a Tsurunosato or a Kakumafuji

Kisenoshogiku would be a brilliant name, hahahah (it'd be more interesting than what the likes of Naruto and Nishiiwa have been up to anyway)!!!

[Asashosakari 19,943]

The best shot I've been able to get of the name plates (at 3:17):

The haku of Hakuryū is clearly the same as Hakuhō's 白鵬, but is that the same hō in Kakuhō? My ability to identify calligraphed kanji is legendarily bad.

[Kamitsuumi 408]

It is 峰

[Muhomatsu 246]

It is this one. 峰

[themistyseas 242]

6 minutes ago, Kamitsuumi said:

It is 峰

Fairly but not totally rare reading, currently in use by Kotoshoho, Kinbozan, Mineyaiba, Hoshuzan, Fujiyuho, and Kotokiho for those keeping score

Edited February 19, 2024 by themistyseas

[Asashosakari 19,943]

7 minutes ago, Kamitsuumi said:

It is 峰

Thanks. That's the one I had in mind as well, but the style of the left-hand part confused me.

[Chiyotasuke 311]

29 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

The best shot I've been able to get of the name plates (at 3:17):

The haku of Hakuryū is clearly the same as Hakuhō's 白鵬, but is that the same hō in Kakuhō? My ability to identify calligraphed kanji is legendarily bad.

I noticed Hakuryu's first kanji is the one in his last name Shirasaka 白坂.

And in relating to the talk of whether or not Kakuryu is emulating Hakuho's name, I seem to recall him saying something along the lines of looking up to Hakuho as a role model of a yokozuna ever since he got the rope. And that was when Hakuho announced his retirement I think.

Edited February 19, 2024 by Chiyotasuke

[Katooshu 3,416]

Perfect plan, now those two rikishi will obviously gain the combined powers of Hakuho and Kakuryu. Looking forward to Hakukaku and Kakuryuho joining too.

Edited February 19, 2024 by Katooshu

[WAKATAKE 2,732]

The clear differential is the 鵬 which is Hakuho's "peng" kanji but that isn't what is being used by Kakuho here

[themistyseas 242]

On 19/02/2024 at 22:05, themistyseas said:

Maybe it's just me, but it feels a bit conspiracy theorist to say one should be careful of associating themselves with Hakuho, who hasn't seemed to have really done anything that wasn't exemplary since joining the Kyokai (as an elder)?

Well, that aged very quickly and very poorly!

[rhyen 1,852]

 

[Akinomaki 41,182]

Now Kyodo puts the focus on chanko-cho Hagane, ani-deshi of the oyakata, preserving the Izutsu-beya chanko flavour. Terao/Shikoroyama told him last Aki "I guess you'll go with him if Kakuryu opens a heya. If Maeda is/you are there, it will work well. Please take care of Kakuryu."

o o o

and still active in sandanme (kachi-koshi today) - Hatsu basho:

o o

Several articles focused on the in fact heya manager - maybe till age 70.

the heya already doubled in size:

o

[Akinomaki 41,182]

Kakuryu today presented the new name plate of the heya - written by the chief abbot of the Kiyomizu-dera, who each year in mid December writes the kanji of the year at the temple, broadcast live. The connection is that the temple's sango prefix name is (at least written) Otowayama.

http://www.47news.jp/news/10804062.html

 

[Akinomaki 41,182]

Nobody cared so far, but the heya had no heya opening event yet. Today it took place, on the birthday of Kakuryu's father. 9 rikishi has the heya now on the banzuke, after starting with 2 end of 2023, and a full set of urakata: attached oyakata/sanyo, gyoji, yobidashi, 2 tokoyama, wakaimonogashira and sewanin Yuki.

o

with a new recruit, but heya attached Michinoku oyakata is not in the pic o

oo o o o o

Edited Sunday at 19:18 by Akinomaki

[I am the Yokozuna 204]

It looks a very well done place. Wish him luck. 

[Katooshu 3,416]

That new recruit looks like former middle school yokozuna and multiple time high school tournament winner Kazuma Nishimura from Tottori - a bit like an Ochiai junior.

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 01:37 by Katooshu

[Koorifuu 1,079]

His mug is a perfect amalgamation of Shodai's and Takakeisho's.

Edited Monday at 16:15 by Koorifuu

[sahaven111 188]

On 22/06/2025 at 04:58, Akinomaki said:

Nobody cared so far, but the heya had no heya opening event yet. Today it took place, on the birthday of Kakuryu's father.

Was Kakuryu's father there or was that a coincidence?

[Akinomaki 41,182]

7 minutes ago, sahaven111 said:

Was Kakuryu's father there or was that a coincidence?

I first thought he came for that, but it was a coincidence