[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Some Hakuhou activities, a lot of Kusano, long but interesting peek..

[Jeff A]

Moti

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Some Hakuhou activities, a lot of Kusano, long but
interesting peek..
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


A bit long, but some interesting stories regarding post-Kyokai Hakuhou:

Behind the scenes, various speculations seemed to be brewing surrounding
former Yokozuna Hakuhou, who retired from the Kyokai after the May basho.
In the main bout on the final day, Kotoshouhou, who was leading by one win,
defeated Aonishiki to claim his first yusho. However, if Kusano, who
remained in the running until the end, had won, he would have become only
the third new Makuuchi wrestler to do so. Furthermore, Kusano had won two
consecutive tournaments in Juryo, and winning three consecutive tournaments
in both Juryo and Makuuchi would have been a historic feat.

Kusano was crowned student Yokozuna during his fourth year at Nihon
University, and made his debut at the last May basho at Makushita
tsukedashi. He joined Isegahama beya, and a sumo journalist explains how
this came about: "Kusano, who is from Uto, Kumamoto, decided to enter the
sumo world after being invited by Kawazoe, a fellow wrestler from the same
hometown who was two years older than him. He admired him so much that he
chose the same path as Kawazoe, attending Buntoku High School and Nihon
University. Kusano had originally planned to join Miyagino beya, where
Hakuhou was the Oyakata and Kawazoe was also a member, but the heya was
closed due to a scandal involving Hokuseihou.

The Miyagino rikishi were transferred to Isegahama beya, and Hakuhou became
one of that heya's Oyakata. New deshi were not allowed to join Miyagino, so
Kusano ended up joining Isegahama beya. Hakuhou retired from the Kyokai in
June of this year, and a Kyokai insider says that the chances of Miyagino
beya being revived have become slim. "There is a possibility that former
Maegashira Ishiura, Magaki Oyakata, who was attached to Miyagino beya,
could revive the heya, but this is seen as difficult: Magaki has a total of
26 tournaments in Makuuchi, so if it is treated as a stable succession
(condition: 12 or more tournaments in Makuuchi), it would be possible to
revive Miyagino beya. However, if it is deemed a stable's founding
(condition: 60 or more tournaments in Makuuchi ), Ishiura, whose highest
rank was Maegashira 5, would not be eligible. Considering the relationship
between the executive board and Hakuhou, it is likely to be treated as a
founding, and the rikishi from the former Miyagino heya will effectively be
transferred completely to Isegahama beya."

 As the existence of Miyagino stable is being wiped out, Hakuhou seems to
be trying to make his presence known. "After Hakuhou retired, there was
talk that Toyota Motor Corporation might take back the Century, a special
edition, top-of-the-line car used in victory parades. Chairman Toyoda Akio,
who is a close friend of Hakuhou's, made a statement suggesting this at the
general shareholders' meeting in June. Then, in a complete reversal, it was
decided that the car could be used for the Nagoya basho, and it seems that
this was made possible after Hakuhou, at the request of some young
Oyakatas, asked Chairman Toyoda to continue using it. Furthermore, during
the Nagoya basho, Hakuhou sent voice messages every day to his former
student, Kusano. On day 14, when Kusano still had a chance of winning the
yusho, Hakuhou arrived in Nagoya. He apparently personally advised Kusano
how to beat Takayasu on the final day of the basho. It was rumored that
Hakuhou himself might appear to oversee the victory parade in the open car
that he had worked so hard to put into use. However, in the end,
Kotoshouhou beat Aonishiki and Kusano never got to hold the Emperor's Cup."
>From sending messages to his former disciples to his activities surrounding
the convertible, it appears that Hakuhou is still trying to maintain
contact with the Kyokai even after his retirement.

The aforementioned sumo journalist said: "Although it's only been about a
month since he retired, Hakuhou's presence is gradually fading, and he must
be aware of this crisis. Some reports attribute Kusano's success to the
guidance of his current Oyakata former Yokozuna Terunofuji, and it's also
said that he received advice from his stablemates Terunofuji and Atamifuji,
who were two years his senior at Nihon University. Stars are emerging one
after another, like Aonishiki and the emergence of yusho winner
Kotoshouhou. With Kusano among them, Hakuhou's presence barely remains.
Hakuhou likely feels that once he left the Kyokai, he became just an
ordinary person. In order to continue holding the international youth sumo
tournament, the Hakuhou Cup, at the Kokugikan, he can't completely part
ways with the Kyokai; he needs to maintain a relationship. However, it's
unclear how effective these moves will be. While the Toyota convertible
incident is also credited to Hakuhou, the Nagoya basho is Toyota's
hometown, and the Chunichi Shimbun, which co-hosts the tournament with the
Sumo Association, must have taken their relationship into consideration.
Just before this, a Mercedes-Benz convertible was used in the parade held
in Tsubata, Ishikawa Prefecture, to celebrate Oonosato's promotion to
Yokozuna, so the executives must be feeling that 'Maybe Hakuhou doesn't
need to work so hard...' Hakuhou founded a new company in June to realize
his dream of holding the World Sumo Grand Slam, but things do not look good
for him. at this juncture.

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-- 
Best regards,
Jeffrey Anderson
Gaijingai

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier
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