[sumo] At Crossroads

[JK]

It's fascinating that just one year ago around this time Terunofuji was able to only have 10 training bouts a day as he was still not able to come back from his kyujo.   Another of  his heya mate Homarefuji (now retired) was also off the Hatsu Basho last year as he had to undergo a surgery.   Terunofuji told Homarefuji his intention of retiring from Ozumo and go back to Mongolia to find a work. Having heard this, Isegahama oyakata convinced Terunofuji to continue working as he believed Terunofuji was getting back his strength and he was still young enough to make a comeback.
Mentally Terunofuji suffered a great deal more as he was the first ozeki and the first Makuuchi yusho winner to fall down to Makushita, let alone to Sandanme and Jonidan.  There was no other rikishi who ever had a Sanyaku experience to fall down to this level of Jonidan. Terunoguji made his return at the March basho last year and ironically his second bout turned out to be Amakaze, also a prior Makuuchi rikishi. This was the first ever Jonidan bout by former Makuuchi rikishi in sumo history since the beginning of Showa era.
Terunofuji was ranked at the lowest Juryo this basho so any loss could have made him fall back to Makushita,  the dividing line often known as the ozumo heaven and hell, one on salary roll and the other with pitiful small stipend.  But now winning the yusho and fully back to his former self it's apparent that he would be coming back as strong as before his fall to Jonidan.
So that will leave us with two 36 year olds at Ozumo crossroad.    Toyonoshima at Juryo East 11 and Sokokurai at Juryo 10.  Toyonoshima losing today to Takagenji is now at 4 win and 10 loss, certain fall to Makushita.  He has not looked good at all this basho.  He no longer has enough power to withstand force of many Juryo rikishi, easily getting pushed out of the dohyo.   He appears to have lower back issues.  Now he has more and more reporters coming around for interview as many sense his active days are numbered.  Will he announce his retirement after the basho?   Chances are likely he will as he looks like he is resigned to the fact that he has come to the end of road.
Another is Sokokurai at Juryo East 10, one rank higher than Toyonoshima but with the same record of 4 win and 10 loss after losing to Tobizaru today. Sokokurai has not been his former self either as he is gradually losing his power and his sumo skill has deteriorated considerably.  One thing about Sokokurai though he really does breathe sumo and has sumo running in his veins.  He has been accused of Yaocho and was kicked out of the kyokai. He kept pleading his innocence throughout and has gone to the highest courts to prove his innocence.   He was finally proven right as it came out that the Kyokai's investigation as far as Sokourai's was concerned was a total sham as their "investigation" was based on sheer hearsay and no evidence.
When he arrived in Japan he only knew three Japanese words of greeting.  Since that day one, he has tried to learn one new word every single day and he is now a naturalized Japanese.  Reasonably speaking just as with Toyonoshima Sokourai should be retiring now as his descent to Makushita is rather certain with 4-10 now (and even winning tomorrow) though he could be within top five ranks of Makushita, he could try working hard to come back to Juryo after one basho but there are quite a few rikishi at top Makushita who are younger and stronger and and it's not likely he could even get a Kachikoshi unless his physical condition improves significantly.
Two 36 year olds at the crossroad, interesting to see what they decide.
Jonosuke
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