Despite no Jungyo, there were a few news items of note over the weekend.
Chiyonokuni Danpatsushiki
Chiyonokuni marked his retirement from active sumo and new career as a coach, Sanoyama, on Saturday at Kokugikan. Along with the customary jinku, hair-styling demonstration and shokkiri, we got his final butsukari keiko with Kokonoe-beya stablemates, Chiyonoo, Chiyosakae, Chiyomaru and Chiyoshoma.
The butsukari was done instead of the planned final bout with his older brother, former Makushita-ranked Chiyonoshin. A touching moment there as the name of his brother, Sawada Kensho, was called over the PA system to applause from the gathered audience, and tears of Chiyonokuni. Sawada had taken ill in April and remains hospitalized in serious condition. There was a performance by singer and hip-hop act, SEAMO, as well as food sales in support of the Ishikawa earthquake survivors. Chiyooga (guinea-pig for the hair-style demonstration) closed things out with the bow-twirling ceremony.
Kyushu Basho PR Event
Footage of the PR event is available at the Kyokai’s YouTube channel. The event featured Q&A from five fan faves: Hiradoumi, Shodai, Ura, Ichiyamamoto and — checks notes, Sadanoumi. After about an hour of patiently waiting the crowd was released, in a single file line, to sate their need to rub the sumo wrestler’s Buddha bellies.
Kotoshoho Wedding
Kotoshoho got married and the reception turned into a high-school reunion, of sorts. Rikishi (and several oyakata) of the Saitama-Sakae Sumo Club got together and posed for a great picture. We have guys from Sakae O.G. Shikoroyama-oyakata (Homosho), through Takakeisho, to Goeido, Kotozakura, and younger brother Kototebakari up on the dais.
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The belly touching was a bit weird :)
A bit. LOL. Yes. Yes that was a bit weird. 😂
I always liked Chiyonokuni. Best wishes to him (and his brother!).