Retirements after Kyushu 2025

[Asashosakari]

As usual, a new ozeki or yokozuna means that none of the newspapers are getting around to putting the retirement list online, so our first source this time is the official listing by the Kyokai. Only five retirements in total in this cycle, including the one by former komusubi Endo that was already confirmed before the basho had commenced.

The other four rikishi leaving are:

Narutaki (Isenoumi)
Taiyo (Onoe)
Yamadaumi (Dewanoumi)
Nishikimaru (Asahiyama)

Despite being fairly small Narutaki was a promising rikishi early in his career, having first reached makushita by age 20 back in Hatsu 2019. However, he didn't make much further progress from there for the next three years which put a big damper on his chances of becoming sekitori. More recently he had finally established himself in the upper half of the division, but the big breakthrough was arguably a longshot with him now being 27 years old. Maybe we'll hear what specifically prompted him to call it quits at this time.

Taiyo was even smaller, having barely qualified for ozumo eligibility at 167 cm of height, and although the 24-year-old did briefly reach makushita for a few tournaments, almost his entire career was spent in the sandanme division (27 out of 35 basho). I seem to recall him as a pretty fun, speedy pusher.

A fairly short career of just three and a half years for Yamadaumi who had joined out of middle school, so he's still only 19 years old. He never really went past low jonidan with no kachikoshi records achieved above the Jd90's, so the writing was on the wall.

And lastly, 220+ kg youngster Nishikimaru. Like Yamadaumi a middle school joiner, and also like him he needed nine ranked tournaments to obtain his first kachikoshi, at the time still quite a bit lighter than today (though by no means small). The increasing weight took its toll on the 22-year-old's knees and IIRC Asahiyama-oyakata had implored him to get to a more fit fighting weight about a year ago, but it doesn't look like that idea went anywhere.

Edited November 26 by Asashosakari

[Akinomaki]

Nikkan only posted pics of Nishikimaru so far, the one too fat to reach his veins for the blood test

 o

On 15/02/2025 at 14:32, Akinomaki said:

On 05/02/2025 at 13:09, Akinomaki said:

A heavy one, Nishikimaru - several nurses tried to get some blood from him - it took 45min (still at 147kg in the DB, over 210kg now)

o  o o

On 14/02/2025 at 14:06, Kintamayama said:

Jonokuchi Nishikimaru had to wait around for 45 minutes till someone finally found a vein. 220 kilos. Now, he has been hospitalized with cellulitis. "Yes, he's way too heavy," said Asahiyama Oyakata his boss. He is slated to be released in time for Haru basho.

Still happy after the torture on the 5th

o

He had a fever of 39deg.C last week, since December he wasn't at the keiko ground, going from one physician to the next. At the health check they found that his heart is enlarged and his lungs white like close to pneumonia. He realized he has to reduce his weight and stopped eating between meals, the super-size onigiri his mother brought him, now only the hospital food. The heya is making a Nishikimaru diet plan.

the diet plan didn't work, he was listed with 226.9kg in the end https://www.sumo.or.jp/ResultRikishiData/profile/3931/

To avoid the drop from the banzuke he did one bout at the end of the basho for Hatsu and Haru, 4 in the return for the 2nd half of the Natsu basho (which he all won) and then only makekoshi http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=12540

Edited November 26 by Akinomaki

[Koorifuu]

Yeah, I'm merely stating the obvious here but he absolutely shouldn't be competing. There was a very real chance the kyokai would end up with an on-dohyo fatality. I hope he gets something figured out ASAP.

[Faustonowaka]

Tatsunami’s special class tokoyama Tokotatsu turns 65 in December and has retired too after 46 years on the job.

 

https://www.sumo.or.jp/Profile/tokoyama/2024/

 

Edited November 26 by Faustonowaka

[Yamanashi]

7 hours ago, Faustonowaka said:

Tatsunami’s special class tokoyama Tokotatsu turns 65 in December and has retired too after 46 years on the job.

 

https://www.sumo.or.jp/Profile/tokoyama/2024/

 

When I translate the profile, it says he was born December 9, 1953 and is age 64.

I wish I were!

[Faustonowaka]

The heya’s Istagram page mentionned he was retiring and this website states he was born in 1960:

https://sumowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Tokotatsu_(tokoyama)

[Kamitsuumi]

It looks like Google Translate has trouble with translating the year Showa 35 (昭和35年), which is 1960.

[Kaitetsu]

8 hours ago, Faustonowaka said:

The heya’s Istagram page mentionned he was retiring and this website states he was born in 1960:

https://sumowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Tokotatsu_(tokoyama)

I made that page, and yes I checked manually that Showa 35 was indeed 1960. Google translate really has problems with traditional japanese year names

Edited November 27 by Kaitetsu

[Yubinhaad]

Short pro career for Taiyo but he's been doing sumo since elementary school. As a third-year student at Sashiki Junior High he was on the winning team at a National Prefectural Junior High Championships, and then went on to Buntoku High School where was again part of a winning team at the Inter-Highs. He became familiar with Onoe-beya as they hold annual winter training camps in his hometown of Ashikita, Kumamoto prefecture.

A few pictures from his danpatsu-shiki.

Spoiler

With his first and last oichomage. Onoe-oyakata (former Komusubi Hamanoshima) on the right.

Danpatsu-shiki under way. Chiganoura-oyakata (former Maegashira Satoyama) appears to be the MC.

The shisho makes the concluding cut.

And afterwards, Taiyo back with a proper haircut and a tie that badly needs straightening.

 

And some from Nishikimaru's danpatsu-shiki. His last bout was a win in a lengthy struggle with Kyonosato, who is also arguably too big for his own good, or at least for his knees. A good final effort from Nishikimaru, but I think that was really the only type of opponent he could do it with.

Spoiler

Ready for the danpatsu-shiki with his first and last oichomage.

The only pictures of the cutting I found show the tomebasami from Asahiyama-oyakata (former Sekiwake Kotonishiki).

The severed mage.

And later with a floral tribute.

 

Edited November 30 by Yubinhaad

[Asashosakari]

45 minutes ago, Yubinhaad said:

[Nishikimaru's] last bout was a win in a lengthy struggle with Kyonosato, who is also arguably too big for his own good, or at least for his knees. A good final effort from Nishikimaru, but I think that was really the only type of opponent he could do it with.

And that's my cue to add this and the other retirees' final appearances, including Narutaki's back in Aki.

(Aki) Day 13 Ms4e Kamito (2-4) Narutaki Ms11w
Day 13 Jd98e Yamadaumi (3-3) Hokutonada Jd94w
Day 15 Jk9e Nishikimaru (2-4) Kyonosato Jk12e
Day 15 Sd37w Taiyo (2-4) Asaobora Sd32w
 

[Yamanashi]

Taiyo looked like he still has some gas left in the tank.

The Jk9 takes down the upstart Jk12.

I expect to see the Nishikimaru vs Kyonosato bout show up someday in a Guardian article, portrayed as a "typical bout between Sumos."