Latest set of urakata promotions decided

[Yubinhaad 11,683]

The rijikai today decided the latest set of promotions amongst the gyoji, yobidashi and tokoyama. These major promotions take effect as of October 26th, banzuke release date for the Kyushu basho:

Gyoji:

Kimura Shoji - to Juryo

Yobidashi:

Takuro - to Tate Yobidashi

Teruki - to Makuuchi

Tasuke and Shigetaro - to Juryo

Teruki originally entered ozumo as a rikishi, but he was forced to retire after just two years due to a right knee injury. He briefly began the training to be a tokoyama, but then a yobidashi position became available so he switched to that instead.

The remaining promotions take effect as of December 24th, banzuke release for the 2016 Hatsu basho.

Gyoji:

Shikimori Tomokazu and Shikimori Kinosuke - to Makushita

Kimura Toyohiko - to Sandanme

Yobidashi:

Mamoru - to Makushita

Setsuo - to Sandanme

Tokoyama:

Tokokazu - to Tokuto (special rank)

Tokoharu and Tokofumi - to Santo (3rd rank)

Tokokaze - to Yonto (4th rank)

Looks like they've shown some heart with Tokokazu's promotion. He entered at the same time as Tokoyodo in May 1972 but is five years older, and will reach the mandatory retirement age in August 2016. In fact, now that I look closely, he's older than two of the current tokuto tokoyama. So, I assume he's been advanced to the special rank now so that he can retire with it. I like that.

Edited October 1, 2015 by Yubinhaad

[Akinomaki 40,471]

And still no Kimura Shonosuke.

[orandashoho 720]

Waiting for a promotable candidate with zero monoii to his name?

[shumitto 418]

Speaking of yobidashi, does anyone know if the two yobidashi sitting by the salt are still with the kyokai ? I remember their presence for many years, but on opposite sides. I think I haven't seen the one on the left for some basho, I guess, and I have searched the names from the kyokai list but to no avail. If I am not mistaken, I saw him on the official listing and he was born in 1978 and is called Shuntarou, or maybe Shintarou. Sorry, I don't know for sure.

[WAKATAKE 2,656]

I've been wondering about whether you are allowed to switch occupations for urakata in the Kyokai. I would imagine it's very, very rare, but are rikishi allowed to become urakata if they have to retire due to injury nowadays?

[Itachiyama 115]

Speaking of yobidashi, does anyone know if the two yobidashi sitting by the salt are still with the kyokai ? I remember their presence for many years, but on opposite sides. I think I haven't seen the one on the left for some basho

he died some years ago (suicide).

Sorry, the one on the left should be Shigetarou (Kokonoe), the one on the right Satoru. The one who died was Shintarou (Minatou-beya).

Shigetarou and Shintarou have been looking similar (as their Shikona).

Edited October 2, 2015 by Itachiyama

[Benevolance 2,501]

Surely by this time Japan has the technology upload Kunio's singing talent into a Robodashi to cover makuuchi?

[Akinomaki 40,471]

The rijikai today decided the latest set of promotions amongst the gyoji, yobidashi and tokoyama. These major promotions take effect as of October 26th, banzuke release date for the Kyushu basho:

Yobidashi:

Shigetaro - to Juryo

Shigetaro (36, from Yonago-city, Tottori) entered Kokonoe-beya in 1995 after middle school graduation, as a fan of ex-Chiyonofuji he had written (a) letter(s) to him while in middle school. As a small boy his father took him to a jungyo and he was fascinated by the taiko drumming of the yobidashi. http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASHBM55PTHBMPUUB00F.html

Shigetaro at the Haru basho

[Kuroyama 715]

Is there any insight into exactly why we still have no Kimura Shonosuke? Internal politics? Embarrassing top candidates? Pique? Ennui? Some other French word?

[Kasutera 258]

Pique? Ennui? Some other French word?

I hear there's some serious bechamel among the rijikai.

[d_golem 213]

Pique? Ennui? Some other French word?

I hear there's some serious bechamel among the rijikai.

Much tête-à-tête to be had for such a prestigious position I reckon

[Naganoyama 5,911]

Shikimori Inosuke is still pretty young at not yet 56. Maybe that has something to do with it.

[Orion 431]

Shikimori Inosuke is still pretty young at not yet 56. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Apart from a somewhat wild youth (though perfectly in accord with the sumo lifestyle), this seems to be the biggest problem. Close to ten years of him. What's more, the next in line, S. Kandayu, is about three months older, so he wouldn't get a look in at all.

Orion

[Akinomaki 40,471]

I also think that this is a big reason for them to wait: the next Inosuke/Shonosuke pair is to remain in office for a long, long time.

I wonder how much influence the sashi-chigae overruling against Inosuke just before the yearly round of urakata promotions has on the delay of promotion(s).

[Yubinhaad 11,683]

The untimely death of Kimura Masanao in January 2013 resulted in the large experience gap between the last Shonosuke (debut 1965) and the current Inosuke (debut 1975). Had he lived, Masanao (debut 1969) would have become the 38th Shonosuke and held the post until turning 65 in 2018. That would have led to a more "normal" succession timetable for the current Inosuke after that point.

Incidentally, I just noticed that there's a seven-year experience gap between newly-promoted Juryo gyoji Kimura Zennosuke and the top Makushita gyoji, Kimura Ryosuke.

[Akinomaki 40,471]

The rijikai today decided the latest set of promotions amongst the gyoji, yobidashi and tokoyama. These major promotions take effect as of October 26th, banzuke release date for the Kyushu basho:

Yobidashi:

Takuro - to Tate Yobidashi

The position is filled again after last year's Kyushu.

It usually takes 15 years or more for a yobidashi to appear on the printed banzuke as a full-fledged one with juryo duty, similar to sekitori, and 40 years or more to reach sanyaku-yobidashi.

Presently there are 44 yobidashi, with a limit of 45: one position is available.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/column/sumo/news/1565104.html

With his favorite item, the hyoshi-gi wooden claps from his sempai Teruo, who died over 10 years ago. The widow gave it to him, in use for about 50 years now