[sumo] [NO Spoilers] On Banzuke, Not Participating

[Jeanne Hedge]

This information is about rikishi who are on the banzuke, not taking 
part, and fall outside the typical "withdraw/be absent" frame of 
reference. These may or may not be news to you personally, depending 
on how closely you pay attention to sumo during the between basho period.


Although he's on the banzuke, East Juryo 14 TAKAMIFUJI has 
retired.  So has West Makushita 29 SUMANOFUJI (on the NSK website's 
retired list as of about 3 days ago).  And, sadly, East Jonokuchi 39 
TOKITAIZAN has passed away.


This information was originally in the spoiler section of one of my 
recent posts, but it really isn't spoiler material. Tokitaizan's 
passing has certainly gotten enough recent mention, but Takamifuji's 
"forced retirement" may have faded from memory a bit. After I was 
reminded about Sumanofuji's retirement (discussed ages ago but just 
now official), I decided to do the non-spoiler repost.

Regards,
Jeanne Hedge