39 years old veteran Takekaze, after having finalized his make-koshi on day 9, was faced with a drop to Makushita (which would have been all but certain with a 9th loss).
Yesterday he said “I didn’t get here alone so I cannot make the decision alone”, but apparently he consulted with the powers that be, and came to the decision to retire.
Takekaze joined sumo in Natsu 2002 as a Makushita tsukedashi. He made his debut in Makuuchi in Haru 2003 and had no less that 590 wins there.
Takekaze owns a kabu, and will remain in the NSK as Oshiogawa oyakata.
It is not clear as yet whether he will retire immediately or at the end of the basho.
Source: Sports Hochi
and so it begins – the leader of our Oguruma pack – much thanks and respect to you Takekaze, you paved the way for many, and you’ve been an incredible senpai to Yago. i look forward to seeing how your new path unfolds as Oshiogawa oyakata
Thanks for the update. Sad but it’s time. Your lower-division posts are sorely missed.
Sorry about that. Busy time followed by horrible cold, I can’t sit up for more than half an hour.
Feel better!
Oh no! Heal well and quickly, Herouth!
So sorry to hear that! Hope you are totally genki soon.
Yesterday he said “I didn’t get here alone so I cannot make the decision alone”, <—- I really like this line of thinking, though I think it does have its limits, and rank has a lot to do with it (ahem, Kise…) That’s 3 retirements, (Kise, Takanoiway, and now Takekaze,) in a very short period of time. Is that norma, among the salaried ranks?
I am not sure it’s abnormal but it’s certainly not a small number…3/70 is 4.2%…obviously a turnover like that would mean a complete changoever in the top two divisions in 4 years (just under 24 basho)…so maybe a bit high for one basho but nothing crazy about it.
If you are refering to Takanoiwa his retirement was hardly normal but forced due to his actions. I wouldn’t class him with Kisenosato and Takekaze.
Not retirements but I did a quick check…20/42 of the guys in the top division entering Hatsu 2015 are in the top division at the start of Hatsu 2019
Apparently, the intai avalanche has started. I have a feeling we’re not done with everyone who’s going to retire yet. We’ll see, though. Takekaze can hold his head up proudly about his career. I will be sad to see him stop competing, but I’m sure he’ll help the rikishi of the future do well.
I’m sad about this. I fondly remember Takakaze’s ipponzeoi from a couple of years ago (maybe Hatsu 2017?). Good rikishi whose longevity at the top is quite remarkable.
The source that was linked in the main thread on Sumo forum seemed to indicate that he was expected to be kyujo from Day 10. https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20190122-00000036-sph-spo ” １０日目からは休場する見込み” So I’d say he’s retiring now. We’ll see when the usual withdrawals are announced in a few hours I assume.
Yeah, it’s the same source. It’s actually the only source, and there is nothing in the NSK Kyujo list, and that “expected” seems to indicate lack of certainty.
Oh no :(
On the one hand – very sad news, thank you for sharing
On the other hand – we should celebrate what has been a remarkable career of endurance
On the third hand, which is one more than most people have – I’m surprised my prediction both in my previous post as well as in the podcast has come to fruition so early
Otsukare sama deshita Takekaze! With Aminishiki (just 8 months older) seemingly on his way out too, unless he can keep henka-ing his way around in juryo, the next oldest sekitori will be Yoshikaze, also not genki… But I was surprised to see in the sumo database that there are still 16 active rikishi who are older than Takekaze. Honing those chanko skills!
Yeah. According to SumoSoul, the oldest one, Hanakaze, is indeed an excellent chanko master.
:-) And I recall Fujinokaze (still wet behind the ears at only 41) was introduced on Japanese TV a couple of years ago in a show where rikishi-turned-mangaka Kototsurugi picked his top 3 heya chanko. Oguruma-beya came in first with Fujinokaze’s special curry-chanko and potato salad touted as the best foods in the sumo world. Yago and Tomokaze should be careful if they don’t wanna end up like Amakaze…