Takanohana Oyakata to run for riji spot next year

[Kintamayama 45,111]

Be interesting if/when we find out who the unnamed guy is, because I can't even begin to speculate...

It's Naruto. "I won't be nominating myself, but if I will be asked, I will oblige", is what he said. According to other close sources, he will be entering the race for sure. In any case, the Nishonoseki Ichimon-kai is tomorrow.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Be interesting if/when we find out who the unnamed guy is, because I can't even begin to speculate...

It's Naruto. "I won't be nominating myself, but if I will be asked, I will oblige", is what he said. According to other close sources, he will be entering the race for sure.

Washuyama called it! >:-( Seriously though, that's quite a surprise to me, but perhaps he wants to leave a bigger mark than just being known as a regular oyakata...he'll be retiring in 2017, so it's at most three election periods for him even if he gets chosen this time.

In any case, the Nishonoseki Ichimon-kai is tomorrow.

Thanks for not outright stating that I screwed that part up. (Nodding yes...) I totally missed the part of Friday's article that mentioned a (future) date for the meeting and just assumed it was talking about something that had already happened. Well, that could get interesting tomorrow. (Maybe they'll get Nishonoseki to not run instead? One can hope...)

[ilovesumo 12]

Of course, Hakkaku might be a dark horse for rijicho.

Although I don't know the ins and outs of ichimon horse trading, I've heard more than once that he is a future rijicho from people who should know. (They are people who play golf with him plenty too, so it is possible they are just campaigning for their buddy).

Of the former yokozuna, he does seem to have his head screwed on and I know he is respected by the media.

Let me just add that that dark horse was very "friendly" when asked about taking part in my survey....

Kokonoe was and I am very thankful.

I told an other Shisho about the whole thing, asking for advise and what I have done wrong and how Hakkaku's reaction broke my heart, he said something important: "The one you respect or like the most is not said to be a nice guy". That nice guy-factor might have influence on the guys voting as well, no?

I always thought Hakkaku is a nice fellow...

[Washuyama 641]

Washuyama called it! >:-(

Even a blind squirrel.... (Nodding yes...)

[Kintamayama 45,111]

The Nishonoseki Ichimon meeting has decided to send 4 candidates to the rijikai-Nishonoseki, Hanaregoma, Takanohana and Naruto. If all 4 are up for election, there could be an interim election to decide who will get in for the first time since 2002.

[Asashosakari 19,319]

A bit late, but it's not like it's time-critical information or something...a few days after the above-mentioned developments Sports Hochi ran a pretty detailed article, reiterating that Takanohana seems deadly serious about running and may even do so if his ichimon decides to throw its weight behind Naruto as a candidate instead. This could of course lead to a similar situation as that which resulted in Takadagawa-oyakata's explusion from Takasago-ichimon a decade ago, Hochi's writer speculates.

As Tamanaogijima pointed out and Hochi affirms there's a need to collect at least 10 votes (besides his own, I presume) in order to secure election. Takanohana is rumoured to have secured six votes at this time. Otake (ex-Takatoriki) and Onomatsu (ex-Masurao) are said to be his major boosters, the latter apparently suggesting that he run for election even two years ago. Reading between the lines of this article and others, I think it can be inferred that the other four people he's got on his side aren't necessarily from Nishonoseki-ichimon. Nonetheless, his election as an independent candidate appears to be far from assured, so the ichimon's final nomination decision in January will be crucial. (In lesser news, the ichimon will run Shiranui as a deputy riji candidate again.)

Meanwhile, Tatsunami-ichimon may be headed to its own nomination battle. He has yet to announce it officially, but according to Sankei Sports Isegahama-oyakata (ex-Asahifuji) will likely be throwing his hat in the ring for one of Tatsunami's two riji slots. Both incumbents Oshima and Tomozuna have also more or less stated that they intend to continue holding their posts.

[Chiyozakura 148]

A bit late, but it's not like it's time-critical information or something...

I love these speculations. They are sometimes more interesting than the actual matches on the dohyo. It's like the stars of the past now battling it out in sumo politics. The elections promise to be interesting and maybe a first step into changes within the NSK. After the last election I already wondered why Nishonoseki Ichimon elected Nishonoseki himself, as he was not a successful Oyakata and had a quite negative past with scandals like mahjong gambling. If they decide to send four candidates I hope that both Takanohana and Naruto are elected. I do not know how much heya policy is part of the elections but I assume that Takanohana will get the votes of Otowayama and Tokiwayama as they both belong to his heya as well as Futagoyama's vote, as Takanohana is the owner of the kabu. Add those three to Takanohana, Otake and Onomatsu and you have the six secured votes. I doubt they would really throw Takanohana out of the ichimon as he is in a much stronger position than former Takadagawa was. Given his resume Takanohana is a logical choice for a future Rijicho, especially as there are no other Yokozuna of his generation still in the Kyokai with the exception of Musashimaru, who does not even posess his own kabu.

Isegahama's tendency to run this time is kind of a surprise. With the name change from Ajigawa to Isegahama it was quite obvious that he intended to run for Riji someday, but I thought he would wait another two years until his former shisho Oshima would be too old to run again. It would be strange to see Oshima as the current #2 man in sumo to lose his Riji post. Maybe Isegahama will finally refrain and just wants to make sure that he is nominated in 2012.

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Isegahama's tendency to run this time is kind of a surprise. With the name change from Ajigawa to Isegahama it was quite obvious that he intended to run for Riji someday, but I thought he would wait another two years until his former shisho Oshima would be too old to run again. It would be strange to see Oshima as the current #2 man in sumo to lose his Riji post. Maybe Isegahama will finally refrain and just wants to make sure that he is nominated in 2012.

I think it's something like that. It's probably Ozumo's best-kept secret right now, but as I mentioned last month (post #14) there's a huge, unavoidable sea-change at the top coming up. If we assume that nobody will be nominated to a term he can't fully serve, the current nine riji and three fuku-riji will be done after the following election periods:

Dewanoumi-ichimon:

Dewanoumi - 2012/13 (retires Apr 2014)

Kitanoumi - 2016/17 (May 2018)

Musashigawa - 2010/11 (Feb 2013...clock's ticking, only two years to the next rijicho choice.)

Mihogaseki (fuku) - 2010/11 (Nov 2013...not a hugely important post, maybe he'll still be nominated in 2012?)

Nishonoseki-ichimon:

Hanaregoma - 2010/11 (Feb 2013)

Nishonoseki - 2010/11 (Nov 2013...almost another full period possible, but doubtful with his shaky standing.)

Shiranui (fuku) - 2010/11 (Nov 2013...just four days before Nishonoseki, in fact. Not going to be riji anyway.)

Tokitsukaze-ichimon:

Isenoumi - right now (Sep 2011...I'm surprised we have yet to hear from them. Will he serve for 20 months?)

Minato (fuku) - 2010/11 (Oct 2012...perhaps moving up to replace Isenoumi for one round, only then somebody else?)

Takasago-ichimon:

Kokonoe - 2018/19 (Jun 2020)

Tatsunami-ichimon:

Oshima - 2010/11 (Apr 2012)

Tomozuna - 2014/15 (Jun 2017)

Small wonder that guys are already starting to jockey for future positions now, it's going to get awfully empty up there after the upcoming election cycle.

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Nishonoseki-ichimon will be ringing in the holiday season with a special interim meeting on December 22 as it appears they really, really don't want to leave their pesky "four candidates for three spots" issue hanging around until the next regular meeting in January (from which it will be only a few weeks to the rijikai elections, after all).

[Kintamayama 45,111]

The Nishonoseki Ichimon had a special meeting today regarding their nominees for riji for the coming January elections. Nobody was ready for the bomb Takanohana dropped- he declared his intention of leaving the Ichimon! This of course is an extremely rare occurrence, but he apparently has the support of many young Oyakata who, like him, seek reforms. "In the current situation I am causing everyone trouble, so I will be leaving the Ichimon!", he declared. The Ichimon has decided to put its final decision on hold, and will convene again on January the 8th, but some Oyakata were heard saying that he is determined to leave the Ichimon. "Please allow me to refrain from any comments", said Takanohana to the awaiting press.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,111]

Coming out of the meeting:

[Washuyama 641]

Is Taka sporting a mullet? (Whatever above, it is funny...)

[Kintamayama 45,111]

Returning from a Bar Mitzvah gig as a magician:

[Takamizawa 0]

Returning from a Bar Mitzvah gig as a magician:

I have to admit... the suit is pretty badass. Sometimes the suit choices the oyakata make are rather... iffy, but the three piece pinstripe is just toooo cool (Holiday feeling...)

[Naganoyama 5,911]

Returning from a Bar Mitzvah gig as a magician:

I have to admit... the suit is pretty badass. Sometimes the suit choices the oyakata make are rather... iffy, but the three piece pinstripe is just toooo cool (Holiday feeling...)

It might just be the picture, but the quality of the material looks poor.

[Kintamayama 45,111]

It might just be the picture, but the quality of the material looks poor.

And the suit doesn't look that great either..

[Asashosakari 19,319]

I do not know how much heya policy is part of the elections but I assume that Takanohana will get the votes of Otowayama and Tokiwayama as they both belong to his heya as well as Futagoyama's vote, as Takanohana is the owner of the kabu. Add those three to Takanohana, Otake and Onomatsu and you have the six secured votes.

Sports Hochi clarified themselves today and that's exactly the six votes they were talking about. Their writer somehow doesn't sound that confident that Takanohana can organize the necessary 4+ additional votes to get elected as an independent.

Today's mini-development is that Otake-oyakata (ex-Takatoriki) has officially affirmed his support of Takanohana; he had yet to speak out since Takanohana brought up the possibility of leaving the ichimon a few days ago, leading some to wonder if that might have served to change his stance. It hasn't.

Bonus pic - Taka and Taka at keiko back in June 2005:

[Kintamayama 45,111]

Takanohana was seen in public today for the first time since the Nishonoseki Ichimon meeting. "I have nothing to say", he said about 4 times in different ways.

"Now for my next trick-As you see, I have nothing in my hands.."

[Kintamayama 45,111]

The special Nishonoseki Ichimon meeting convened to try to reach some kind of agreement concerning their three candidates (there are four at the moment) ended in failure today. The other three candidates (Hanaregoma, Nishonoseki and Naruto) seem to have strong support, which led Takanohana to leave the meeting in the middle. "I'm leaving the Ichimon. I said to them 'I declare I am a candidate again. Thanks for everything' ". (Translation- go screw yourselves..). It is now pretty clear he will be leaving the Ichimon, and that after 8 years there will be an interim election, as there are 11 nominees for 10 posts.

Edit for irony: Anyone else see the irony in the fact that he joins Takadagawa beya in being a renegade heya? I do..

"I'll need a place to stay.."

Gallery, looks more like a photo shoot of Armani's spring collection:

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/100108/s...81304004-n1.htm

Edited January 8, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Edit for irony: Anyone else see the irony in the fact that he joins Takadagawa beya in being a renegade heya? I do..

That's exactly what I was thinking when you first reported his intentions.

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Edit for irony: Anyone else see the irony in the fact that he joins Takadagawa beya in being a renegade heya? I do..

That's exactly what I was thinking when you first reported his intentions.

Seconded. I wonder if that'll change Akinoshima's intentions to keep going alone? The waiting arms of Nishonoseki-beya may well be extended after the election. Then again, I guess we best wait for all the fallout from Taka's decision first, e.g. what's going to happen with Otake-beya etc.

[yorikiried by fate 2,028]

Please enlighten me: What's the irony?

Edited January 8, 2010 by yorikiried by fate

[Asashosakari 19,319]

Please enlighten me: What's the irony?

Takadagawa-beya is headed by the former Akinoshima who left Nishonoseki-ichimon due to massive personal problems with Takanohana a few years ago.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Asashosakari

[yorikiried by fate 2,028]

Thanks. Nice.

[Jakusotsu 5,969]

Gallery, looks more like a photo shoot of Armani's spring collection:

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/100108/s...81304004-n1.htm

Looks more like a Manic Street Preacher to me. (Laughing...)