Daizen's future

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Daizen dropped to makushita after who knows how many bashos as a sekitori. Rumour has it that he has acquired the kabu of Fujigane which, I believe, was vacant. So, will he still step onto the dohyo in Osaka or will he call it the day?

Anyone? :-D

[Manekineko 200]

I also wondered that, even expected his retirement announcement before the banzuke is released... but no. It's strange, usually when rikishi wish to retire due to impending fall into lower division, they do so before their name actualy appears on the banzuke in that lower division. So, perhaps he intends to fight on? Perhaps he only suffers from temporary ailment and believes himself to be capable of climbing back to sekitoridom? I don't know. It would be worth it asking this question on the ML, don't you think so?

[Zenjimoto 40]

Of course I am totally guessing, but I feel maybe he wants to give it one more shot before he calls it quits... after all, he is Makushita 1, so a simple 4-3 would suffice to return to the paid ranks.  I would surmise that if he can't manage a 4-3 at least, that it THEN would be reason to call it quits.  I hope he hangs on a little longer!

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

It would be worth it asking this question on the ML, don't you think so?

Please do if you so please. I haven't been an SML member for many moons.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I think Zenjimoto is right. There isn't really so much pressure on former Sanyaku to retire immediately when going down to Makushita, but most retire if they don't go right back (he says ignoring Hamanoshima refusing to give up ;-) ). About now few are interested in more stats on this subject, but do I stop? Oh no... I can tell you for example that Daizen is the 30th rikishi to have held a sanyaku position and dropped down to Makushita, since the opening of the first Kokugikan 1909. Of those 30 13 continued more than one basho below Juryo, of whom 8 had stints of more than 3 basho below Juryo. The longest period had the Ozeki-candidate of 1979-1980, Tochiakagi, who spent 27 basho in the unpaid ranks 1985.07 to 1990.03. Only 3 went as low as Sandanme with Tomoefuji being ranked as low as Sandanme-85. Another extreme case is that of Banryuyama who dropped not once but four times to Makushita, managing to come back to Juryo within 3 basho the three first, but retiring aftet 3 basho the fourth time.

I almost produced the list, but I know when not to push my luck

[Kintamayama 45,093]

I also wondered that, even expected his retirement announcement before the banzuke is released... but no. It's strange, usually when rikishi wish to retire due to impending fall into lower division, they do so before their name actualy appears on the banzuke in that lower division.

Well, it does happen-latest case was in July 2002 when Minatofuji retired. He dropped to Makushita west 11, was ranked of course, and THEN announced his retirement without returning. And the famous Tomonohana who dropped to Makushita west 3 in November 2001 and then retired without returning.

Susanoumi, who is said to have retired this basho ,is still officially active- he's ranked at Makushita east 56, after spending last Basho in jail, I mean Sandanme. No official notice of his retirement on the Kyookai pages as of yet. And he isn't expecting any kabu, or is he?

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Of course I am totally guessing, but I feel maybe he wants to give it one more shot before he calls it quits

I tend to agree with Zenjimoto.  Because Daizen already has a kabu lined up, he's not going around for years and years unless he's really successful.  One more try, get back into the paid ranks, or else, quit and go train young rikishi  (Laughing...)