If you want to go to Kokonoe stable, it’s very close to Kinshicho station on the JR Sobu Line and Hanzomon Metro Line. You come out the North exit, walk West and then North by this map. It’s about a 15 minute walk. There’s a statue of Chiyonofuji out front and many flowers from those paying their respects.
So reflecting back on the amazing career of Chiyonofuju, I keep coming back to this bout
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTBD_n2bEf8
It was at this point he become the bar that had to be passed to become Yokozuna. If you could not defeat the Wolf, you were unworthy. One of the great bouts of Sumo. Ever.
Sadly I am an old fart, and I compare this to Kisenosato. Did he overcome such an obstacle? Did he every qualify on this level? Granted, Hakuhō is one of the most powerful sumotori in history. But I have to wonder if maybe Kise would be more satisfied if he throws down the master and assumes lordship by victory, rather than by endurance.
If Kisenosato ends his career as a solid ozeki, under the best champion the world has seen, I think that’s better than being remembered as a weak yokozuna. A few yokozuna have not won titles (or 1 or 2) as yokozuna.
Right there with you Andy, but Hokuho looked pretty beat up at the end of Nagoya. He may be fine and ready for Tokyo, but all good things must one day end….
Hope you don’t mind me asking, but when an Oyakata pass away like Chiyonofuji did, who continues the sumobeya, considering he has no son? A deshi? A youshi? Or another rikishi/oyakata from the same stable group?
Great question. I believe your first instinct, the apprentice (弟子: deshi). Chiyotaikai was his deshi and took over as Kokonoe oyakata. He did have a son and two daughters, but his son was not in sumo.