[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Stories-Typhoon, ex-Takakeishou

[Jeff A]

Moti


Best regards,
Gaijingai

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

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 21, 2026 at 9:05 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Stories-Typhoon, ex-Takakeishou
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


Typhoon update:

Anticipating transportation disruptions due to the approach of Typhoon No.
25, rikishi scheduled to compete on Day 9 of the were forced to alter their
usual travel routines. Junior rikishi from Nishonoseki beya, located in Ami
Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, about 53 kilometers from Ryogoku Kokugikan,
responded by setting out earlier than usual. Gotou (18), ranked Jonidan 4W
, left the heya about an hour ahead of schedule to catch a 7:30 a.m. train.
Although he noted that he had wanted to take an even earlier train but
found it suspended, he arrived at the Kokugikan without major incident. In
his bout, he was defeated by Buomaru via yorikiri. Onbashira (20), ranked
Jonidan 52E, also traveled on the 7:30 a.m. train and arrived at the venue
by 9:00 a.m., allowing himself plenty of time before his match, which took
place around 10:40 a.m. He had injured his left knee at last year's Nagoya
Tournament and still wears white athletic tape on it. After losing to
Suigafuji via oshitaoshi (both were 4-0), he walked away with a noticeable
limp. He revealed, "I hadn't had trouble moving it up until yesterday, but
today my knee wasn't in good shape, and I felt like my leg was dragging
behind me." While the exact cause is unclear, he explained, "I've
experienced leg pain on typhoon days in the past, too."



 Shikihide beya, located in Ryugasaki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, about 45
kilometers from the Ryogoku Kokugikan, responded by taking an earlier train
than usual. Furanshisu (28, proud member of the "Celebs" list), ranked
Jonidan 27W, revealed, "I usually take a train after 8:30 a.m., but this
time I traveled on the train around 7:30 a.m." He had previously missed a
scheduled bout during this year's New Year Tournament because a train delay
prevented him from arriving on time, forcing the match to be postponed.
Mindful of this, he traveled early on this day, thinking, "I knew about the
typhoon, so it would be bad news if the trains stopped running." He arrived
around 9:20 a.m., just as the Jonokuchi bouts were beginning, and recalled
the atmosphere in the shitakubeya: "Usually, there are few people around at
that time, but there were quite a few people there today." On this day, he
lost to Chiyotsurugi via hikiotoshi, bringing his record to a one win and
four losses makekoshi. He expressed his frustration, saying, "My legs
weren't moving right. There were moments where I just couldn't close out
the win."

Minatogawa Oyakata (ex- Ozeki Takakeishou), known for his polite and clear
commentary, appeared alongside Nakamura Oyakata (ex- Sekiwake Yoshikaze) at
a talk show held at the Sumo Museum, where he revealed how the words of a
commentator had once propped up his spirits during his active career. When
asked what he keeps in mind when providing commentary, he recalled his own
bid for promotion to Yokozuna. He recounted a time when play-by-play
announcers repeatedly described his chances as "hopeless," only for
commentator Nakamura Oyakata to step in and say, "There's no need to call
it hopeless." "It really meant a lot to me; it made me want to keep
trying," he said. That experience informs his own approach to commentary
today. "Rikishi have families, support groups, and fans. I feel strongly
that we shouldn't judge them based solely on the outcome of a single day's
matches," he remarked. Nakamura also remembered the incident. He admitted
he had been concerned about the impact his words might have on the rikishi,
thinking, "I worried that saying things like that might negatively affect
Takakeishou's future sumo." He also revealed his personal feelings, adding,
"I was rooting for him so much." According to Minatogawa Oyakata, active
rikishi actually listen to the commentary quite a bit. "It served as
encouragement and gave me the drive to keep working hard, that happened a
lot," he recalled. Nakamura Oyakata responded, "That is a wonderful story;
thank you," and the two exchanged words with smiles on their faces.

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