You thought you were rid of me for six weeks. Think again. There are a handful of news items I wanted to bring to your attention.
Minatogawa-Beya (湊川部屋)
Former Ozeki Takakeisho has officially taken the reins at his old stable. Tokiwayama-oyakata, the former shisho (master), will turn 65 right before the next tournament starts on March 1. Currently, 65 is the mandatory retirement age. There is some speculation that might be changed but it’s difficult to imagine many folks will be happy with that if the number of available kabu remains the same.
For a period of five years, the former master can stay on as san’yo in more of an advisory capacity. Current Miyagino-oyakata (Yokozuna Asahifuji) is an example of someone in this san’yo position. However, the master has to hand things over to the next master. Just as Isegahama handed things over to Terunofuji, Tokiwayama-oyakata has passed the baton to Takakeisho. We wish Takakeisho well in this exciting new chapter of his career. This does not make me feel old, at all.
Juryo Promotions
The Japan Sumo Association officially released the names of the three Makushita wresters who will be promoted to Juryo. As Leonid alluded to in his Makushita coverage post, Toshinofuji, Fukuzaki, and Shimazuumi were the three leading candidates for promotion after their senshuraku wins. Toshinofuji and Fukuzaki finished with 5-2 records from Ms2W and Ms3W, respectively, while Shimazuumi managed 6-1 from Ms5W.
Shimazuumi returns to the Juryo after spending the past year in the third division after rehabbing an injury. Toshinofuji and Fukuzaki are bing promoted for the first time. Fukuzaki has also taken on a new shikona with his sekitori promotion. He is now Fujitensei and joins his stablemates Fujiseiun and Fujiryoga as sekitori. This leaves Himukamaru (4-3 from Ms2 East) on the outside, looking in.
Terunofuji Haircut on Abema
Terunofuji’s retirement ceremony will begin at 10:30am on Saturday, Japan Time. That’s 8:30pm Eastern time, 7:30pm Central in the US. It’s apparently being covered on Abema which will be nice for those in Japan — or those with VPNs who can pretend to be there. It should give a bit of a sample of what hanazumo is like.
Terunofuji will perform a dohyo-iri and there will likely be demonstrations of drumming and the hairstyling on the dohyo, as well as jinku singing, shokkiri, possibly some exhibition bouts before the haircut ceremony begins.
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Hi again, Andy – good news are welcome at any time!
Takakeisho has a lot of years ahead to spend them as stablemaster. I wonder how many new sekitori he will acquire and shape from now on!
Shimazuumi back to Juryo gets my full applause. Really nice!
Hope to catch the Teru danpatsushiki somehow on the web…
Thanks for resetting the counter! And I like these colorful squares in the comment section :)
No one expects the Andy Tachiai-ition?
I don’t think some do.