Harumafuji qualifies for graduate school

[Umigame 82]

(This was announced two days ago but I don't think it's appeared on the forum yet)

Harumafuji qualified for the graduate course in policy studies at Hosei University in Tokyo.

The Sumo Kyokai said this is unprecedented for an active yokozuna.

He will be attending night courses and weekend courses from April.

http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/chuspo/article/2014031901002055.html

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2014/03/280295.html

I think it's fantastic to see a an intelligent rikishi preparing to make achievements in life after sumo. But personally I don't see how he is going to be able to study in addition to sumo basho, keiko, jungyo, and various yokozuna duties... But I certainly wish him the best and hope he succeeds.

[rzombie1988 157]

Having a master's degree myself, here's my thoughts on this:

Due to his status and due to graduate schools really trying to help you pass, it's highly unlikely he does not get it through it. Believe me, no school is going to fail Harumafuji even if he never goes to class ever. He will be helped and special accommodations will be made for him.

However, Sumo is a really busy sport and arguably, a busy life of its own. I do not know how he can find time to go to classes and get real life working experiences for this when he's going to have to focus on sumo. It's just not possible unless you spread this thing out for a long time, which he could. I don't see why he is getting this degree. His name alone and his connections are enough to get him any job he wishes already plus, he could already make a great income in sumo even if he retires. I would argue that a graduate degree is a huge step down for him and honestly, below him. I don't see how it benefits him.

Edited March 21, 2014 by rzombie1988

[Asashosakari 19,273]

Let's not forget that Harumafuji was already doing that correspondence course in police/investigative work until around the middle of last year. At first I thought this policy program at Hosei is an extension of that when I read this newsbit a few days ago, so I was a little confused; seems it's something new instead.

[yorikiried by fate 2,021]

Does this all mean that he has to hand in another four-page "thesis" (or how much was it the last time?) in order to acquire the "master's degree"?

[krindel 671]

I don't see why he is getting this degree. His name alone and his connections are enough to get him any job he wishes already plus, he could already make a great income in sumo even if he retires. I would argue that a graduate degree is a huge step down for him and honestly, below him. I don't see how it benefits him.

I have no clue what Harumafuji is like as a person off the dohyo, and have even less of a clue about how serious / difficult a degree the one he enrolled for is. However, I can point out that some people just have a need for intellectual stimulation, that is the one thing that is really lacking in the regular life of any athlete. It is possible that he just needs something non-sumo related to occupy his mind.

I remember a Greek basketball player a couple of years back, who made a HUGE effort to get a doctor's degree. He was making in a year what a good doctor would make in 20, but he still said he needed to do it for himself, not for the degree. It's possible that a similar case could apply to Harumafuji.

[Asashosakari 19,273]

I have no clue what Harumafuji is like as a person off the dohyo, and have even less of a clue about how serious / difficult a degree the one he enrolled for is. However, I can point out that some people just have a need for intellectual stimulation, that is the one thing that is really lacking in the regular life of any athlete. It is possible that he just needs something non-sumo related to occupy his mind.

Two perhaps instructive bits we've learnt about a pair of high-rankers in the last couple of years: In his free time, Harumafuji likes to paint. In his free time, Kisenosato likes to watch American football on TV.

I dare say Harumafuji isn't quite the "jock" type of athlete.

[Manekineko 200]

It's quite possible for sportsmen to have other interests. I know of several Croatian athletes who pursued studies (not doctoral, though) that started while they were active, and usually finished them after their retirement from active sport (since it's damn hard to do both well, of course). Since many Mongolian rikishi end up in politics back home when they retire, Harumafuji's choice of studies sounds mighty reasonable. And the engineering scientist in me is tempted to scoff that he's studying soft sciences, so he doesn't have it that hard. ;-)

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

It's quite possible for sportsmen to have other interests. I know of several Croatian athletes who pursued studies (not doctoral, though) that started while they were active, and usually finished them after their retirement from active sport (since it's damn hard to do both well, of course). Since many Mongolian rikishi end up in politics back home when they retire, Harumafuji's choice of studies sounds mighty reasonable. And the engineering scientist in me is tempted to scoff that he's studying soft sciences, so he doesn't have it that hard. ;-)

That's exactly what I thought. Including the last sentence. Policy sounds so soft, I'm convinced an intelligent person with good common sense (like Harumafuji surely is) just needs to have some good reading time and can show up for the examination and even do well. That's literally how I did the economics part of my graduate studies long ago - I don't know most of these professors by face...

[Asashosakari 19,273]

That's exactly what I thought. Including the last sentence. Policy sounds so soft, I'm convinced an intelligent person with good common sense (like Harumafuji surely is) just needs to have some good reading time and can show up for the examination and even do well. That's literally how I did the economics part of my graduate studies long ago - I don't know most of these professors by face...

You can give Haru some pointers then, the Japanese articles mentioned that economics will be his first class in that policy graduate program. ;-)

[Doitsuyama 1,185]

That's exactly what I thought. Including the last sentence. Policy sounds so soft, I'm convinced an intelligent person with good common sense (like Harumafuji surely is) just needs to have some good reading time and can show up for the examination and even do well. That's literally how I did the economics part of my graduate studies long ago - I don't know most of these professors by face...

You can give Haru some pointers then, the Japanese articles mentioned that economics will be his first class in that policy graduate program. ;-)

Oh, just go ahead, you are probably more qualified than I am.

[Asashosakari 19,273]

You can give Haru some pointers then, the Japanese articles mentioned that economics will be his first class in that policy graduate program. ;-)

Oh, just go ahead, you are probably more qualified than I am.

Not in this case, I attended most of my classes. :-P

[Mark.Buckton 68]

hmm, lecture at Hosei from time to time. Might see him!

[Orion 431]

hmm, lecture at Hosei from time to time. Might see him!

What, Hosei is hiring lecturers without any uni experience at all? I don't believe it!

[Mark.Buckton 68]

hmm, lecture at Hosei from time to time. Might see him!

What, Hosei is hiring lecturers without any uni experience at all? I don't believe it!

without uni experience? Three of the so-called 'six' chalked off, if chalking off is your thing. ;)

[Mark.Buckton 68]

spoke to a few of the students and staff today. None were aware he had opted to study at the university.

[Akinomaki 40,340]

HF had his first seminar, about 1 hour. "Other than in college it's rather listening than writing. With watching data and photos it was fun." "I love both sumo and keiko, studying is my hobby. There's not a single bit I dislike."

He's called by his real name Byambadorj-san in the seminar, though he introduced himself as "Harumafuji, Kohei" to the class.
He wants to go there in the evening on weekdays 1, 2 times a week for several hours and finish the master course in 4 years.
http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140413-1284673.html
photo with his exercise book in the university colour orange

Sanspo

[Akinomaki 40,340]

More images:
HF in school on news7 yesterday: as 2nd top news and at 6:38 (bilingual mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m2pUAGaNEk
just the HF news in Japanese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwparBnRFTs
NHK news7 page with (hidden) video: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20140413/k10013705531000.html

[Naganoyama 5,894]

...

"I love both sumo and keiko, studying is my hobby. There's not a single bit I dislike."

...

That sounds a bit like the reply to a question such as "Do you dislike having to do homework?".

[Akinomaki 40,340]

HF had his first seminar, about 1 hour. "Other than in college it's rather listening than writing. With watching data and photos it was fun." "I love both sumo and keiko, studying is my hobby. There's not a single bit I dislike."

He's called by his real name Byambadorj-san in the seminar, though he introduced himself as "Harumafuji, Kohei" to the class.

He wants to go there in the evening on weekdays 1, 2 times a week for several hours and finish the master course in 4 years.

http://www.nikkansports.com/sports/sumo/news/p-sp-tp3-20140413-1284673.html

Harumafuji thinks about taking one year off "First of all, doing sumo properly. I can study any time."

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/04/03/kiji/K20150403010107120.html

Harumafuji filed the request for a year off on the 22nd. "I can't go there during the regional basho, I fell behind and now can't really follow the course any more. It invariably leads to excessive work. The others took videos for me, that is an annoying burden I put on them."

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1466195.html

[Kasutera 258]

I'm a big fan of pro athletes who continue pursuing their education. We should make a bigger deal of it here in the states, because it DOES happen. I think Shaquille O'Neal got an MBA while he was still an active basketball player.

I feel like if I had the income of a professional athlete, I'd probably try and go back to school, too, just to catch up on all the classes I WANTED to take in college but never had time for. That is, after I used said income to pay off all my student loans first. :-P

Edited April 24, 2015 by Kasutera