Takanohana

Sumo’s Coming Changes

Bruce H Hakuho (白鵬), Harumafuji (日馬富士), Kakuryu (鶴竜), Kisenosato (稀勢の里) , , , , , ,

gunbai.jpg

What’s below is Bruce’s post-Kyushu commentary on the state of sumo. Readers, please feel free to chime in with your own views on how our beloved sport will overcome the challenges before it.

With Kyushu now behind us, sumo inches closer to a reckoning. The basho ended in a somewhat predictable style, with a few compelling story arcs that kept fans satisfied – for now. But in this blogger’s opinion, long overdue changes are continuing to unfold, and will possibly pick up speed into 2018.

The first signal of change will be the resolution (or not) of the Araujo incident.  As we suspected when news broke on day 4 of the basho, there was a complexity to the story that did not fit the template initially forwarded by the media. In fact, we suspect there is a multi-party agenda at work, and Harumafuji’s drunken actions at the bar in Tottori were simply the spark that may burn through the Sumo Association.

Let’s look at what kind of changes might be loaded and ready:

Takanohana – The oyakata of the eponymous heya seems to be using the Harumafuji incident as a vector to change or influence the Kyokai.  He has said in the past that it is his goal to reform sumo, and make it a 21st century sport. Of course, this was not a welcome opinion from the sumo traditionalists, and since then there has been a back-channel low grade struggle on whose vision of the future will eventually prevail. There have been reports that his position as head of the Jungyo PR tour will be forfeit because of his role in airing a normally private matter of rikishi discipline in public, but many think his position in the Kyokai is unassailable.

Jungyo – As discussed in the past on the pages of Tachiai, the Jungyo has grown to proportions where it is negatively impacting rikishi training, discipline and overall athlete longevity. This rests squarely on Takanohana’s shoulders, and John Gunning’s timely article for the Japan Times served to bring to light the toll it was taking on the rikishi. I continue to predict that Jungyo will undergo changes, probably slowly at first, to reduce schedule and intensity, and perhaps total rikishi roster. Rather than “Everyone all the time” there may be a rotating roster of who has “Jungyo Duty” for each period.

Kadoban Rikishi – The name brands of sumo are changing, but the ranks are yet to reflect that.  Since the start of 2017, with Kisenosato’s elevation to Yokozuna, the winds of change have been blowing in the face of the great and the famous. With each basho, the participation of sumo’s top men has been in decline. We have lost 2 Ozeki due to promotion, and as of today, the majority of the Yokozuna are absent in most tournaments. By the numbers:

  • Hatsu 2017 – Harumafuji & Kakuryu kyujo
  • Osaka 2017 – Hakuho kyujo
  • Natsu 2017 – Kisenosato & Kakuryu kyujo
  • Nagoya 2017 – Kisenosato & Kakuryu kyujo
  • Aki 2017 – Hakuho, Kisenosato & Kakuryu kyujo
  • Kyushu 2017 – Harumafuji, Kisenosato & Kakuryu kyujo

Much as everyone loves these guys, the Kyokai has a slate of grand champions that are perpetually too banged up to compete. Personally, I would love to see them all healthy and bashing the daylights out of the tadpoles, but that’s not going to happen, is it?

Kisenosato – Tore his pectoral muscle, and lord knows what else since. Had he gone for surgery right away, and stayed kyujo until now, we might be getting ready to see him back for Hatsu. Instead that damaged muscle is possibly little more than scar tissue now. Furthermore, by limping along he has de-conditioned the rest of his body to the extent that he struggles to win against mid-Maegashira opponents.

Kakuryu – Chronic back problems that cannot be corrected to the extent to ever make him competitive again.  When the guy can manage his pain and injuries, he’s a fantastic sumotori. As frequently stated on these pages, his approach to sumo is somewhat unique and can dismantle any rikishi, including Hakuho.

Harumafuji – We have frequently mused that they would have to drag him out of sumo, in a body bag.  But sadly, there is now a threat that he may not be able to overcome. I expect the Kyokai to move to resolve their involvement in the matter within a few weeks, as they want to put this in the past. Even if he can survive this incident, he is a walking bundle of pain and injury, and we believe he completed Aki by sheer force of will alone.

Hakuho – Sumo fans around the globe revel in “The Boss”, and the reality that he seems strong, fit and committed to a few more years of sumo.  But he is one big injury away from pain and suffering. Everyone hopes we never see the day when the greatest Yokozuna of our age is wheeled away from the dohyo in agony, but we worry that with inter-basho time almost completely consumed by Jungyo, it’s just a matter of time before de-conditioning sets in, and the risk is realized.

I am sure the Sumo Kyokai realize all of this to be true, and they also know that over the next several months they will need to clean up their roster. Sadly, this will likely include Yokozuna intai sooner rather than later. Sumo needs a quorum of the top men each tournament, and if those men can’t fulfill that schedule, we will likely see new top men.

Sumo fans stay sharp, changes are coming soon. While it may be sad to say goodbye to long serving favorites, we have seen first hand that the next generation is strong, ready and already taking their place in the top ranks.

Legends of the Dohyo #5: A Family Divided Part Two

Liam R Kyushu Basho 2017 , , ,

Takanohana Wakanohana

Part One

By the early 90’s, Takanohana II and Wakanohana III, the young princes of sumo, were poised to dominate the future of the sport. They emerged at the forefront of a new generation of talent and had already amassed several awards and accolades, adding to those of their legendary father and uncle. The Hanada family dynasty had never looked stronger. Held up as the model of a perfect Japanese family, few could have predicted their downfall.

For much of their early careers, the Hanada brothers were considered near equals. As time went on, however, it was becoming clear that the bigger and stronger Takanohana was eclipsing his elder brother. In 1994, Takahanohana took four of the year’s six yusho and earned a promotion to the sports highest rank of Yokozuna, while Wakanohana suffered from injuries and remain out of yusho contention for the majority of the mid 90’s. The elder Hanada brother briefly stepped out of his sibling’s shadow at the 1995 Kyushu basho, where he won the yusho in a sudden death play-off against Takanohana. This bout would mark the first, and only time the two brothers ever competed against each other, due to rules forbidding siblings and stablemates from facing off outside of playoffs. In commenting about losing to his own brother, Takanohana stated that he “couldn’t come to terms” with the outcome of the match. Never the less, He carried his brothers yusho-ki banner as Wakanohana celebrated with fans. The first cracks in their relationship began to surface in 1998 when Takanohana developed a liver disorder. To combat this disease, the young Yokozuna consulted with physical therapist Tashiro Tomita. Tomita had a significant impact on Takanohana. In following his therapist’s teachings, Takanohana began to seclude himself from his family. This caused great concern for his father, who believed Tomita was brainwashing his son. During this time, Wakanohan finally managed back to back yusho wins and became sumo’s 66th Yokozuna. Despite making history by becoming the first brothers ever to be Yokozuna simultaneously, Takanohana and Wakanohana scarcely spoke to each other. Although Takanohana eventually reconciled with his family, this had opened the eyes of the world to the underlying issues that afflicted their perceived perfect family.

By the early 2000’s, both brothers had retired from sumo due to persistent injuries. While Wakanohana sought a career first in American football and later as a chanko-nabe restauranteur, Takanohana remained in the sumo association, taking over his father’s prestigious stable. Upon the death of their father in 2005, the Hanada family was divided by an incredibly bitter and public dispute between the two former Yokozuna. As an active member of the association, Takanohana demanded that he be the chief mourner at his father’s funeral, and not his older brother who had left the sumo world to chase fame and celebrity. Rumours also circulated that their quarrel was the result of uncertainty regarding the late Takanohana I’s estate, as he left his children no will.  Although Wakanohana did not give into his brothers demand to be cheif mourner, he did forfiet his claim to their father’s estate. Giving up his inheritance would not be enough to make peace with Takanohana, and from that point on the two brothers became like strangers, rarely if ever speaking to one another.  The once mighty Hanada dynasty, who had ruled the sumo world for nearly five decades, had been shattered.

 

Takanohana (left) vs. Wakanohana (right), Kyushu basho, 1995.

 

Legends of the Dohyo #4: A Family Divided Part One

Liam R Kyushu Basho 2017 , ,

Takanohana Wakanohana 2

Sports have a unique power to bond and connect us. New friendships begin on rinks, courts, and fields all over the world, and many a companion has been made cheering for the home team. Even the bond between siblings can be strengthened by a shared love of sports, and the storied history of athletics is full of brothers competing side by side, and sometimes, against each other. Competition drives us to become better, to push each other to new successes. But just as it can strengthen us, competition and the will to succeed can turn family into foe and tear the bonds of brotherhood apart. Such is the case of the Hanada brothers, Takanohana II and Wakanohana III.

The Hanada brothers were born into sumo royalty. Thier uncle, Yokozuna Wakanohana Kanji, was one of the most popular rikishi of the 1950’s. Nicknamed the devil of the dohyo, he had a prosperous career spanning twelve years and ten yusho championships. Wakanohana I opened the highly successful Futagoyama beya upon his retirement in 1962. One of his most promising students was his own younger brother, Ozeki Takanohana Kenshi. Although Takanohana never went on to reach the rank of Yokozuna, he was incredibly popular with fans throughout the 1970’s. Like his older brother before him, Takanohana would open his own stable (Fujishima beya) in 1982. After a successful junior high sumo career, Takanohana’s youngest son Koji joined his father’s stable in 1988. Not wanting to fall behind, he was soon joined by his older brother Masaru, and the two began to train together. Heya life would be an adjustment for the two brothers. When addressing their father, they were instructed to use the traditional name of oyakata, and they lived alongside their fellow rikishi in the stable, performing all the duties of rookies, regardless of their lineage.

Koji and Masaru adopted the shikona of Takahanada and Wakahanada respectively, and made their debut in March of 1988 alongside future rival Akebono. They made quick progress through the lower ranks amid much fanfare, as it was believed by many that the two “princes of sumo” were destined to continue their family’s prestigious legacy. Both earned promotions into the Maegashira rank in 1990, and by 1993 the brothers had become sumo superstars. With a combined four yusho and six jun-yusho, the brothers were widely credited for the sport’s restored popularity. 1993 also saw both men earn ozeki promotions, with Takahanada’s coming in March and Wakahanada receiving his in September. With these promotions the two were permitted to adopt the shikona of their father and uncle, officially becoming Takanohana II and Wakanohana III. Within six years, the Hanada brothers had taken the sumo world by storm, yet their greatest achievements and most challenging trials were still ahead of them.

End of part one.

Takahanada (left) vs. Chiyonofuji (right), Natsu basho, 1991.

 

Jungyo Newsreel – October 14th

Herouth Hana-zumo, Jungyo (巡業) , , ,

🌐 Location: Kanazawa

Four Of A Kind
K♣️ • K♥️ • K♠️ • K♦️

Before going into today’s stories, here is one that still belongs to Nagano, but was published very early today.

Takanohana performs a miracle

Wait, Takanohana? Didn’t he retire ages ago, and open his own stable?

Yes. Takanohana Oyakata is currently the head of the Jungyo department in the Kyokai. And he spends the days of the Jungyo sitting on one side of the dohyo, and receiving bows from wrestlers, together with his second-in-command, Tamanoi oyakata.

Yesterday, after the Asanoyama affair, Yokozuna Kisenosato proceeded to do sanban with Shodai, taking him for 11 bouts, when the former Dai-Yokozuna decided that being a Yokozuna does not mean that you can’t get an education.

He started by criticizing Kisenosato’s bowed-back, arms-in Shikiri. That same Shikiri the Yokozuna said he was practicing when he picked up his wooden sword the other day. Adding gestures to words, Takanohana invoked previous generations of his own family as well as Kisenosato’s own previous shisho, telling him that they both performed a wide, commanding shikiri.

Takanohana teaching Kisenosato
Listen kid, this is how a real Yokozuna does it!

The relative he invoked was, in fact, the first Wakanohana, also known as “The Demon of The Dohyo”.

But the coaching didn’t end with just an improved shikiri posture. Takanohana proceeded to shower the lone Japanese Yokozuna with advice for seven of the 11 bouts. In response to this guidance, Kisenosato’s signature left ottsuke, which has been AWOL since his injury, made a reappearance!

Kisenosato practicing left Ottsuke

And if that’s not a miracle, I don’t know what is.

(Based on article in Sanspo)

The return of the King

Hakuho joined the jungyo today, as you could see in the opening photo. He concentrated mostly on doing dohyo-side workouts:

Heh. Even his nail-gazing is more impressive than Kisenosato’s. :-)

He didn’t do any san-ban, but he did offer butsukari to Kagayaki. Today it was Kagayaki’s turn in the spotlight, as he hails from Ishikawa prefecture. So like Mitakeumi yesterday, he got various honors, including having his oicho done in public, and of course, butsukari with Hakuho is definitely an honor (if a painful one):

hakuho-butsukari-kagayaki

The crowd cheered for the local. Following that first training with a sekitori since his kyujo he remarked: “Kagayaki was hitting me as hard as he could, being on his home turf. It was a good feeling”. Following the butsukari, his chest remained red (as can be seen in the four Yokozuna picture above!), and he remarked: “I have been undergoing rehabilitation and preparing my body for this sort of exertion as much as the circumstances allowed. The red spot? That’s a man’s decoration.”

The musubi-no-ichiban was Hakuho vs. Kisenosato. “Am I the only Yokozuna who has not engaged with him yet?” he asked. In the Haru basho, when Kisenosato made his debut as a Yokozuna, Hakuho was kyujo, then Kisenosato was kyujo, and then both of them.

hakuho-kisenosato

The result, unsurprisingly, was Hakuho winning by uwatenage. And as you can see in this picture, this was despite Kisenosato prevailing in the grip war.

Enho bathes in adoration

As promised, there was another arrival from Miyagino beya – Hakuho’s uchi-deshi and three zensho-yusho winner, Enho, who also hails from Kanazawa. And he found himself the center of attention, surrounded by clicking phones from every side.

The Sandanme rikishi did morning keiko with all the Makushita-and-below rikishi, but admitted he was too nervous “what with all the sekitori around to bow to”. The sekitori, however, were determined to put him in the limelight, and he was invited to butsukari by both komusubi Tamawashi, and our favorite Uncle Sumo:

enho-aminishiki
Enho with a surprisingly bandage-free Aminishiki

This is a 17 year age gap butsukari that you see here. What was Aminishiki doing when he was Enho’s age? Probably offering his chest to a young Ama…

As the sekitori started their own training, Enho remained and worked out below the dohyo. Yoshikaze took notice of him and said “Right now I’m at my prime. I’d really like to take you on, so hurry up and get yourself advanced.” Enho is working with Hakuho on improving his physique, but Yoshikaze told him “don’t put on too much weight. Your ideal should probably be 105kg”.

Enho later commented: “Until last year, I was just a spectator in Jungyo events. Now I find myself as a participant! I’m glad I could do it in such a good form” (referring to his 21 consecutive wins).

And of course, he did his torikumi in his usual style: