Akinomaki 41,180 Posted December 26, 2024 (edited) The NSK announced today that Kyokutaisei has retired. He handed in the papers on the 25th and they were accepted, he doesn't remain in the NSK. He made it back to makushita, but was kyujo again last basho. Press confererence tomorrow https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/12/26/0018486101.shtml The announcement actually was later than the article https://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiInformation/detail?id=678 Edited December 26, 2024 by Akinomaki 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,974 Posted December 26, 2024 The famous documentary: https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/51362/A-Normal-Life--Chronicle-of-a-sumo-wrestler 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
code_number3 709 Posted December 26, 2024 Post from the kyokai 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kyokufuji 64 Posted December 26, 2024 The first basho I watched was his first in Makuuchi. After the tournament I was looking to learn more about sumo, and found the documentary. Halfway through, I realized the connection. My username here is inspired by his oyakata’s naming convention. Not the greatest rikishi, but I did want to see him make his way back to juryo. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,388 Posted December 28, 2024 Otsukaresama Kyokutaisei! I have to be honest -- if not for the documentary then at least for me he would've been another unremarkable juryo regular. But thanks to the film I could get a glimpse of his inner thoughts and struggles which made him stand out. He had a long sumo career and I guess he achieved everything his body and talent allowed him to achieve in sumo with the kanto-sho 6 years ago perhaps the highlight. So hopefully he won't have any regrets about quitting. Perhaps only that he got close to reentering juryo again, but at 35 years old I suspect it would've been a short return anyway. Thank you and may he have a long and fruitful second career going forward. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kaninoyama 1,866 Posted December 29, 2024 (edited) In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. Edited December 29, 2024 by Kaninoyama 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dingo 1,388 Posted December 29, 2024 3 hours ago, Kaninoyama said: In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. Nice to hear, hope he'll have some success. As far as I know ex-rikishi restaurants can be really hit or miss but abura-soba seems popular enough that he could do well. At least I like it 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted January 8 Today was the intai press conference in the kokugikan o o o o o o o o o asked about the most memorable bout, he said all were fun, the most memorable basho was his first in makuuchi, with the newcomer kantosho in the end o message https://x.com/sumokyokai/status/1876846590402388192 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morning 90 Posted January 8 That looks like one very happy man. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
themistyseas 242 Posted January 8 On 29/12/2024 at 15:26, Kaninoyama said: In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. Curious - from this or the press conference, any news where that might be - ie within Tokyo or back in Hokkaido? Big fan of Kyokutaisei and abura-soba! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted January 9 21 hours ago, themistyseas said: Curious - from this or the press conference, any news where that might be - ie within Tokyo or back in Hokkaido? Big fan of Kyokutaisei and abura-soba! Not yet where he will open his, he is learning the soba trade now at the abura-soba restaurant chain Kirinji's Takadanobaba location https://suzume-group.co.jp/kirinji/ Commuting to work is hard - he has to support a large family, wife and 3 sons, 5, 2, and 0 years old. The NSK will post a digest later, so far local NHK showed something from the press conference - he hasn't been there for a while and wants to go to Hokkaido, once he has settled in his new life. vid Kyokutaisei decided to retire after the makekoshi at the Aki basho. A press conference without tears oo o o o oo o oo 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashimaru 19 Posted January 19 On 28/12/2024 at 11:48, dingo said: Otsukaresama Kyokutaisei! I have to be honest -- if not for the documentary then at least for me he would've been another unremarkable juryo regular. But thanks to the film I could get a glimpse of his inner thoughts and struggles which made him stand out. [...] The same is true for me. While searching for a documentary about sumo, I found this haunting and rarely filmed work that goes deep behind the usual facades and perspectives. I was all the more delighted to rediscover Kyokutaisei, self-confident and with a positive aura, among the juryo newcomers one day. Alongside his supporters Asahisho and Kyokushuho, of course, who also received special admiration from me for understandable reasons. His special story shows us that similarly successful rikishi have also made a great achievement and can rightly be proud of having made it this far. Especially because of the really tough reality for a sumo wrestler, who also has to struggle with many health problems, as this short film empathically shows. And on the other hand, how few really get to enjoy the sunny side of their success in sumo that every rikishi dreams of at the beginning of their careers. I wish Kyokutaisei good luck and every success in his future endeavors. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted June 1 (edited) Danpatsu weekend: 2 today, in a hotel that of Kyokutaisei, who looks a bit unhealthy slim, about 400 there (280 cutters for Kotoyuki yesterday, Onosho also about 400 today) among them a surprise: Hokuseiho, still with a kind of mage - he had a friendly chat with Tottori Johoku sempai Terunofuji and others from the NSK oo oo o family cutting o Talento Asami Kumakiri cutting oo o o o Takayasu, Terunofuji, Enho o o o Terunofuji o final cut by Oshima-oyakata o oo an ordinary young man now o He's training in Tokyo ATM, to open a restaurant in the future Edited June 4 by Akinomaki 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted June 5 Gagamaru was at Kyokutaisei's danpatsushiki and interviewed him during make making 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yamanashi 3,988 Posted June 5 Kyokutaisei's best basho was Natsu 2018, his first in Makuuchi. At M15 he went 10-5 and won a Kantō-shō, also beating Gagamaru with a nice shitatenange. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpoonThief 2 Posted June 7 Oshima's youtube channel posted a video of his haircutting as well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted June 7 (edited) 8 hours ago, SpoonThief said: Oshima's youtube channel posted a video of his haircutting as well. with career overview Edited June 7 by Akinomaki Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,188 Posted June 7 Sorry for the double post - I approved @SpoonThief's post too late. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,180 Posted Saturday at 19:28 On 07/06/2025 at 14:15, SpoonThief said: Oshima's youtube channel posted a video of his haircutting as well. Oshima-beya has made the first video private and posted a new, bilingual one 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
