Goeido has decided to call it quits after a 15-year long career. A determined yotsu specialist from Osaka, he rose quickly through the junior ranks collecting yusho in Jonokuchi, Sandanme, and two in Makushita before becoming sekitori at the close of 2006. Two years later he cracked into the sanyaku for the first time.
In 2012, he reached Sekiwake again and stayed for 14 consecutive tournaments before his promotion to Ozeki after an impressive run, picking up two jun-yusho and three consecutive tournaments with special prizes. The highlight of his career was his zensho yusho in September 2016.
Unfortunately, the later phase of his career was hampered by injury, notably his ankle. This may have contributed to consistency issues which cropped up early in his Ozeki phase. Shortly after his promotion, this blog commonly referred to him and Kotoshogiku as the “kadoban twins” for the frequency with which they were under demotion pressure. For Hatsu 2020, he was kadoban yet again due to his kyujo in Kyushu but this time he was not able to clear that status with a winning record. He finished with a poor 5-10 performance, though he gave it all in each bout.
With the Osaka tournament coming up next, it seemed a perfect time for a last stand, a chance to throw everything at getting 10 wins to reclaim his Ozeki rank or at least have a last hurrah in front of the home crowd. Perhaps the condition of his injury is too poor to perform to his expectation with too little time between now and then, even with a break from jungyo.
*Update*
The Official Sumo Kyokai account announced that Goeido of Sakaigawa-beya had acquired a kabu (stock), afterall, and would be taking on the elder name Takekuma (武隈). We’re eager to see Takekuma-oyakata build his own stable.
We will post future updates on dates for the intai ceremony. Ceremonies for top former wrestlers, of which he would certainly be included, are usually held at Kokugikan but I would hope they would be able to hold his in Osaka next March. In the meantime, Takekaze is next on the docket for this weekend.
Intai Watch 2020
Hakuho’s shock admission that he plans to retire this year has put the sumo world on notice that change is coming. Obviously, the date for Hakuho’s retirement is likely in the latter half of the year but a massive question mark remains. With his and Kakuryu’s kyujo, dates for both announcements may be soon.
There are also several big name retirement ceremonies on the docket this year.
Takekaze
Takekaze’s intai celebration will take place at Kokugikan, next Saturday, Feb. 1. We should all get used to his elder name: Oshiogawa (押尾川). Below is the announcement from his official Twitter profile. If you’ll be in Tokyo next week there are only a few seats left in the A and B rings of the upper level!
Arawashi
Arawashi announced his retirement during the Hatsu Basho 2020. The tournament was his second consecutive complete kyujo (全休). He had fallen from Juryo into Makushita for Kyushu and was no longer the top-ranked rikishi (heyagashira) at Minezaki beya. Arawashi’s retirement ceremony will be on May 31, at Kokugikan. (Hat tip to Herouth!) If I find a website, I will pass that info along.
Aminishiki
Uncle Sumo’s storied career came to an end in Nagoya last year. Versatility was his virtue, having won using some 46 kimarite. He was well adapted to win using both yotsu and oshi styles…though late in his career he became quite fond of the henka. Now known as Ajigawa-oyakata (安治川), you can go watch his retirement ceremony on October 4. Some seating has sold out but you can get lower level MASU boxes in the B and C rings, as well as A, B, and C rings of the second level.
Yoshikaze
Yoshikaze followed Aminishiki off the dohyo the following tournament after falling into Juryo. However, he’s getting his haircut one day earlier, on October 3 at Kokugikan. Tickets have not yet gone on sale but that is expected to happen around Feb. 2.
The berserker’s wild, aggressive style was still quite successful in the lower ranks of the maegashira so his kyujo and subsequent retirement appeared to be quite sudden compared to the longer slides we have seen. We look forward to seeing the deshi Nakamura-oyakata (中村) produces.
We have to remember for all of them, in many ways their careers are just starting. I wish all of them happiness and success, and wish I could thank them personally for the many hours of happiness they have given me.
Goeido has officially become Takekuma Oyakata.
You know, I dropped out of Watching Sumo when Musashimaru retired. At the time I lived in Hawaii and was big into the Hawaiians, and had I been a few years younger, I would of joined Sumo myself. ( beside the point though ) That said, I feel like I have missed so much and am only now coming in to see what must of been an incredible time in sumo coming to a close. Hakuho aside ( I like him but he’s also my ” Villain ” ) The rise of Kisenosato, Goeido, Takayasu, Tochinoshin ( Who I was here just in time to see him make ozeki.. and fall like a boulder ) Not to mention the other Yokozunas, and now Hakuho and big K are both on the verge of retiring it seems….. I know it’s a transition time but honestly… I feel bad I never got to see Genki Goeido and the others…. I know I can go back and watch old matches but it’s not quite the same as seeing them do it live.
Goeido was one of the guys on my very arbitrary and ever changing “heels” list and he was by far the most feared.
Whenever my current favorite rikishi was due to face Goeido I always worried. Even when he was having a bad tournament still he could still give a great fight and could conceivably beat anyone on given day if he got the jump on them.
It will be less exciting not having him around and I hope he makes a successful transition into coaching.
No matter how you look at it, Goeido will be one of those Ozeki that has left an polarizing effect on the sport. I actually like the guy, and it is a matter of debate where he belongs on the pantheon of previous Ozeki — mediocre or great. I give him major, major praise for staying in a brutal sport for 15 years, through heartache and triumph (like the one, lone Makuuchi yusho back in 2016), via multiple ankle surgeries. Now that’s the definition of a iron-clad sumotori!
So, in ending, I wish Goeido, along with Takekaze, Arawashi, Aminishiki & Yoshikaze…ALL the BEST in the upcoming, exciting chapters in their lives. Well done, gentlemen!
ًWill Yokozuna Hakuho win more Yusho???
If he’s in and healthy, who else can? Osaka will be very interesting…not least because I figure both Yokozuna would be expected to see it through.