Asashosakari 20,199 Posted May 28 (edited) Once again it's Daily Sports with the earliest intai list coverage. 11 rikishi in total have left the sumo world in this basho cycle, including Hokutofuji (now Oyama-oyakata) and the late Wakatozakura. The other 9 retirements confirmed today are: Hokutomaru (Hakkaku) Hayatefuji (Isegahama) Ryusei (Isenoumi) Raiho (Isegahama) Masuminato (Onomatsu) Kaitoma (Asakayama) Ono (Isegahama) Satonofuji (Isegahama) Thread Sawaisamu (Shikihide) Thread The retirements by Satonofuji and Sawaisamu mean that the second- and third-oldest active rikishi have left at once. Raiho and Ono were Miyagino recruits, although the latter only did his maezumo as part of the temporarily dissolved stable and had all ranked appearances as a member of Isegahama. I had come to think that Ryusei was never leaving. Most of us had pegged him as likely to retire when his father, ex-Tagaryu, was shutting down Kagamiyama-beya (which only consisted of Ryusei, already 35 years old, and a kyujo Kagamio at the end), but he proceeded to stay for another four years afterwards. Hokutomaru's retirement is rather puzzling at first glance. I hope we hear some details of what prompted him to leave at age 25 and pretty close to juryo. On 25/05/2025 at 20:53, Yubinhaad said: [Kaitoma] Retiring after eight years, knee and hip injuries limiting his sumo so he wants to move on. Plans to work as an interpreter, being able to speak English and Tagalog. Edited May 28 by Asashosakari 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koorifuu 1,101 Posted May 28 (edited) Mentioned this on Satorufuji's intai thread after Hayatefuji got flowers on senshuraku, I'll bring it up here as well. Strange that a 23 year old former high school yokozuna calls it a day after being so close to making juryo, but he does look like he lost a lot of weight after his recent injury. Also, his ceiling seemed to be affected - he seemed to hit his level at lower makushita, as opposed to upper makushita as it used to be. It's easy to associate Isegahama's retirement with his deshi's, and while it's certainly plausible, I tend to suspect this might be physical instead. -- Sad to see Raiho go, he was very entertaining. Hope his next career is good, he'll probably make a quality coach. The second big injury must've taken all the motivation he had to fight through whatever conditions those ex-Miyagino lower division wrestlers are currently consigned to. Considering they're dropping like flies... where there's smoke, there's fire, and all that. -- Hokutomaru seemed to be on an upward curve indeed, but I would imagine some foreign rikishi are under a very different kind of pressure to show results stat, or else. And by 'else' I mean some ruthless stablemasters might be inclined to take a gamble on someone else. Edited May 28 by Koorifuu Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubinhaad 11,950 Posted May 28 28 minutes ago, Koorifuu said: Sad to see Raiho go, he was very entertaining. Hope his next career is good, he'll probably make a quality coach. The second big injury must've taken all the motivation he had to fight through whatever conditions those ex-Miyagino lower division wrestlers are currently consigned to. Considering they're dropping like flies... where there's smoke, there's fire, and all that. On 27/01/2024 at 19:06, Koorifuu said: It didn't make it to this thread, but Miyagino's mini-Enho Raiho suffered a serious looking left knee injury on his Day 12 bout against Kaigo and got rolled out of the dohyo amidst muffled screams of pain. Fusenpai on Day 14. The injury Raiho suffered back then was a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He had successful reconstructive surgery and began a comeback, only to suffer the same injury again during the Haru basho this year. He had surgery again and wanted to return, but this time the knee wasn't recovering, so he decided to retire after consulting with doctors and Miyagino-oyakata (former Yokozuna Hakuho). 28 minutes ago, Koorifuu said: Mentioned this on Satonofuji's intai thread after Hayatefuji got flowers on senshuraku, I'll bring it up here as well. Strange that a 23 year old former high school yokozuna calls it a day after being so close to making juryo, but he does look like he lost a lot of weight after his recent injury. Also, his ceiling seemed to be affected - he seemed to hit his level at lower makushita, as opposed to upper makushita as it used to be. It's easy to associate Isegahama's retirement with his deshi's, and while it's certainly plausible, I tend to suspect this might be physical instead. Yes, Hayatefuji decided to stop because ankle and neck injuries weren't improving and he had lost motivation, in addition to an old knee injury from his high school days. For the near future he will head home to Shizuoka and get his driving license. 28 minutes ago, Koorifuu said: Hokutomaru seemed to be on an upward curve indeed, but I would imagine some foreign rikishi are under a very different kind of pressure to show results stat, or else. And by 'else' I mean some ruthless stablemasters might be inclined to take a gamble on someone else. Hokutomaru's mother worked as a Spanish and Russian translator so the family moved around a lot during his childhood, including Spain, France, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. He himself can speak Spanish, French and English in addition to Mongolian and Japanese, so he should have no trouble finding work somewhere. His retirement leaves Hokutoshin as the last active rikishi from Azumazeki-beya. No danpatsu-shiki yet it seems, but Hakkaku-beya did post a video and pictures for one retirement that didn't make the official list this time, Fujinotani. He retires after 12 years and will return to Hiroshima to work in construction. [LINK] again because I get blacklisted if I try to embed it. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,703 Posted May 28 NikkanSp posted the pics of the retired late this time, yokozuna promotion delayed, Sponichi had a few and Daily one Hokutomaru o Hayatefuji oo Ryusei oo Raiho o o Masuminato o o Kaitoma o Ono o Satonofuji (Nikkan didn't post this this time) o Sawaisamu o and the late Wakatozakura o 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubinhaad 11,950 Posted May 29 Ryusei retires after a 22-year career, most of which was spent in Kagamiyama-beya. When the heya closed the personnel moved to Isenoumi-beya, and his danpatsu-shiki took place at the senshuraku party there. Spoiler With a floral gift following the final bout of his career. Waiting for the danpatsu-shiki to begin. Heya tokoyama Tokomasa is officating the ceremony and also prepared Ryusei's oichomage. Kyonosato pays his respects. Nishikigi. Former Maegashira Kagamio, originally also in Kagamiyama-beya, makes his cut, followed by a supporter. Kagamiyama-oyakata (former Sekiwake Tagaryu), Ryusei's father, makes a cut. Isenoumi-oyakata (former Maegashira Kitakachidoki) makes the tomebasami to bring the danpatsu-shiki to an end. After a proper haircut and a change of clothes, looking very much like his father! Masuminato got involved with the 'Kids Onomatsu' sumo class run by the heya when he was at elementary school, and eventually joined the heya after graduating from Takudai Koryo high school in Kisarazu, Chiba. He endured surgeries to fix knee and ankle injuries, but at the end of 2023 he tore the triceps muscle in his left arm and struggled to adapt to the loss of upper body strength. His favourite memory from his 11-year career is a bout against former Juryo Takaryu in the 2021 Hatsu basho. Takaryu was at Takushoku University when Masuminato was a student at the affiliated Takudai Koryo and helped to train him. "I lost, but I gave it my all, and I was happy to face someone that I admire." He also had fond words for his original shisho, former Sekiwake Masurao, whom he served as a tsukebito when he was in the shimpan department. "Every day was a learning experience. He helped me to grow as a person and to train my mentality." He plans to return to is hometown of Funabashi, Chiba prefecture to work in the food and drink industry. Spoiler Masuminato with his first and last oichomage at the heya senshuraku party. With stablemates Tsugunohana and Nihonyanagi, who were greeting guests at the entrance before the party. With Onomatsu-oyakata (former Maegashira Daido), and I guess the okamisan? A supporter makes a cut. Heya tokoyama Tokotaka is on guide duty. Speech time after a haircut and a new suit. And a couple of commemorative group shots. A few pictures from Satonofuji's danpatsu-shiki. The breadth of his experience is quite remarkable, hundreds of yumitori-shiki performances, a long stint as an instructor at the sumo school, years of tsukebito and tsuna duties. Spoiler Terunofuji-oyakata pays his respects. Heya gyoji Shikimori Seiichiro is officiating this one. Isegahama-oyakata (former Yokozuna Asahifuji) makes the final cut for his longest-serving deshi. A group shot to finish - a suited Satonofuji is way over on the left. 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,199 Posted June 4 Copying this over from the video thread due to relevance: Just now, Asashosakari said: 6 of the 11 retiring rikishi were active on the dohyo to the end of Natsu basho, namely these: Day 13 Jd56w Masuminato (3-3) Najima Jd54w Day 13 Ms49w Ryusei (4-2) Shiroma Ms44w Day 14 Jd100w Satonofuji (2-4) Kumanishiki Jd99w Day 14 Ms40w Noda (3-3) Hayatefuji Ms37w Day 15 Jk24e Sawaisamu (1-5) (2-4) Usagifuji Jk25w Day 15 Jd79w Kaitoma (4-2) Asaazuma Jd78w One fan flower bouquet and a one-man welcoming committee for Hayatefuji, the whole nine yards for Sawaisamu. For the others Abema unfortunately didn't film down the hanamichi after their respective matches. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koorifuu 1,101 Posted June 4 Tamawashi's feats eclipse it, but Ryusei's ability to stay competitive in makushita until the end - almost hitting 40 - is nonetheless remarkable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubinhaad 11,950 Posted June 9 Onomatsu-beya posted a few more pictures from Masuminato's danpatsu-shiki. They also note that he had seven surgeries during his career, but that he always remained positive and would show off the scars to anyone passing by, saying "look at this!". Masuminato himself thinks he is the second-most cheerful person in sumo, behind only Shiranui-oyakata (former Komusubi Wakakoyu). Spoiler Among the participants were bigwigs from the heya's koenkai in Chiba and Tokyo. A cut from Toru Matsudo, Mayor of Funabashi, Masuminato's hometown. A speech from Eiji Fukazawa, who first taught him sumo at the Funabashi Star Sumo Troupe. And finally, a speech from the manager of the sumo club at Takudai Koryo High School. Elsewhere, Kaitoma received the traditional floral tributes after his final bout, but seems to have opted for a non-traditional danpatsu - stablemate Kaiseijo gave him a buzzcut with some clippers. Spoiler At the heya senshuraku party for the last time. Haircut time. With Asakayama-oyakata (former Ozeki Kaio). 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 20,199 Posted June 9 12 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said: the Funabashi Star Sumo Troupe The person responsible for naming that club could teach even Hakuho a thing or two. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heather82Cs 10 Posted June 10 Sorry for the dumb question, why wouldn't Fujinotani's retirement be mentioned in official lists? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Koorifuu 1,101 Posted June 10 5 hours ago, Heather82Cs said: Sorry for the dumb question, why wouldn't Fujinotani's retirement be mentioned in official lists? It's not uncommon for retirements to be formally registered too late for the recent basho. He'll certainly be in the post-Nagoya list. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heather82Cs 10 Posted June 18 On 10/06/2025 at 12:40, Koorifuu said: It's not uncommon for retirements to be formally registered too late for the recent basho. He'll certainly be in the post-Nagoya list. I see, it's a timing issue, not sure why I thought there had to be something else behind. Thanks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 41,703 Posted September 10 Hakuho as the shisho posted pics from Raiho's danpatsu-shiki on the 6th - so the final cut was by him o o o o 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
