[sumo] Takarafuji

[Jonosuke Gomen]

I tend to resurface whenever an old timer retires and certainly Takarafuji fits the bill.  38 year old. Ozumo’s “Matsuko Deluxe” was one of my all time favourite rikishis.  Since his dohyo debut in the 2009 Hatsu Basho, he has never gone on kyujo,and on the Day 5 of this September Basho,  establishing the all time  consecutive appearance record of 1,298, 10th most, past former Makuuchi HIdanohana.  Takarafuji also holds the record of 990 consecutive Makuuchi appearances, 7th all time.

For 15 long years, he kept sekitori status.  He is also remembered as a rikishi who singlehandedly last year kept the string of Makuuchi ranked rikishi from Aomori, now counting 142 years straight (actually the record was in danger of going next basho when Takerufuji went on kyujo this basho, certain for demotion to Juryo next basho but appearing to be saved by Nishikifuji as he would most likely go up to Makuuchi next basho with his 9 win 3 loss record as Juryo W3. NIshikifuji credited Takarafuji for keeping the record intact incidentally. So right now Nishikifuji became Aomori’s last hope).

On the Senshuraku, Takarafuji was easily pushed out looking almost resigned to his predicament of falling out of Juryo by Makushita W3 Wakanosho who would return to Juryo next basho.  Really sad to see  him walking out as we all more or less suspected Takarafuji himself knowing it would be his last walk on “Hanamichi” (literally the Flower Aisle”) after 16 years of his long rikishi life.

Takarafuji will take on as the 22nd Kiriyama meisho and becomes one of the oyakata helping out Yokozuna Terunofuji at Isegahama beya along with the former shisho Yokozuna Asahifuji who took over Miyagino Toshinori share from Yokozuna Hakuho, Magaki oyakata (former M6 Homarefuji) and Magaki  Oyakawa (former M5 Ishiura).

Long live “Matsuko"

Jonosuke