Hakuho steps down as rikishi-kaicho

[Akinomaki 40,098]

Like he had announced after the basho, Hakuho stepped down today as head of the rikishi-kai and handed the task over to Harumafuji - again he just announced it, on his Twitter, nothing is mentioned yet about Harumafuji accepting it (wikipedia has him already though, see below), just that Hakuho will support him at his new task.

His last work was the announcement and deciding that the rikishi-kai will support the Kumamoto earthquake victims and cheer up Tokitenku, who's still fighting against malignant lymphoma.

He took over as the 20th head of the rikishi-kai from Asashoryu and was it for 6 years.
http://www.daily.co.jp/newsflash/general/2016/04/20/0009007443.shtml

I wonder if Hakuho just simply appointed Harumafuji to the chairman post without his knowledge?

Wouldn't it be better to pass it to Kotoshogiku?

It is always (one from) the rikishi top - if there are yokozuna, a yokozuna. So far always till intai or death, or till a yokozuna appears, if it's an ozeki like Konishiki who isn't the one that makes it to yokozuna - which the 1st rikishi-kaicho managed to do: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%8A%9B%E5%A3%AB%E4%BC%9A#.E6.AD.B4.E4.BB.A3.E4.BC.9A.E9.95.B7

Edited April 20, 2016 by Akinomaki

[WAKATAKE 2,644]

I take it there may have been some calls for him to step down or did he see some kind of writing on the wall? Not that I would say it's a big deal but unusual that someone would step down especially with him being as successful as he is.

[Akinomaki 40,098]

The old and new kaicho together made the rikishi-kai (the sekitori assembly) donate 20 000 yen each to Tokitenku.

Harumafuji: "It's a grave illness, so we all united want to support him as good as we can."

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1635102.html

[Akinomaki 40,098]

The rikishi-kai on the 26th will get a visit from the renewed shimpan department: top Nishonoseki with both his deputies, Tomozuna and Fujishima, to demand proper conduct, first of all from Hakuho: extra shoves like against Okinoumi on day 4 and especially Yoshikaze on day 8 are called intolerable - for a while before his extra shoves had worried them.

They'll also call for corrections of the many bad tachi-ai, topknot grabbing etc. to all rikishi.

http://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2016/04/21/0009010019.shtml

Edited April 26, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,098]

corrected:

The rikishi-kai on the 26th will get a visit from the renewed shimpan department: top Nishonoseki with both his deputies, Tomozuna and Fujishima, to demand proper conduct, first of all from Hakuho: extra shoves like against Okinoumi on day 4 and especially Yoshikaze on day 8 are called intolerable - for a while before his extra shoves had worried them.
They'll also call for corrections of the many bad tachi-ai, topknot grabbing etc. to all rikishi.

Hakuho at the rikishi-kai today officially handed over the task of kaicho to Harumafuji

at the rikishi-kai the rare official warning against extra shoves etc. was made (not before as I had written when it was announced) - head of the shimpan department Nishonoseki spoke to the press afterwards, telling that at the Natsu basho for one very annoying matta performance there will be a warning, not just after 3 times matta at the tachi-ai as usual.

From the rikishi came a request for a more precise explanation after a mono-ii.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20160426/sum16042617580004-n1.html

I wonder who met on the 20th to decide on the donations for Tokitenku

Hakuho with Miyagino-oyakata at the heya

the new tsuna is a bit thinner than so far http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1637792.html

Edited April 26, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,098]

Fund raising for the victims of the Kumamoto earthquakes will take place at the keiko soken on the 29th, open to the public. Harumafuji rikishi-kaicho: "With all rikishi we want to cooperate and do what we can." http://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=2016042600708&g=spo

[inhashi 2,363]

With Tokitenku recuperating from treatment, Hakuho presented Tokitenku's mother with donations from rikishi kai offering their support. Possibly Hakuho's last act/duty as kaicho? Hakuho: "I am hoping that you may quickly return soon one day."

Edited April 26, 2016 by inhashi

[Akinomaki 40,098]

at the rikishi-kai the rare official warning against extra shoves etc. was made - head of the shimpan department Nishonoseki spoke to the press afterwards, telling that at the Natsu basho for one very annoying matta performance there will be a warning, not just after 3 times matta at the tachi-ai as usual.http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20160426/sum16042617580004-n1.html

Deputy head Tomozuna made clear that all misbehavior will from now on get severely punished.

Should Hakuho commit another grave extra-shove at the Natsu-basho, he will be suspended for one basho, having been sternly warned last basho.

The shimpan heads also complained about Kotoyuki's 'Huh': "Ridiculous!" - this may be the end of it at a honbasho.

All is part of the policy Hakkaku-rijicho announced when he got re-elected: improvement on the doyho

http://www.daily.co.jp/sumo/2016/04/27/0009028429.shtml

this must have been before the shimpan invasion

afterwards

checking in the mirror

Edited April 27, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Nantonoyama 248]

The shimpan heads also complained about Kotoyuki's 'Huh': "Ridiculous!" - this may be the end of it at a honbasho.

I do not understand the point to this. It is not harmful to the image of sumo, adds some extra-personality features to rikishi and can help in their popularity and thus the popularity of sumo. particularly in the case of Kotoyuki, shin-sekiwake and japanese hope. Takamisakari was a good maegashira-level rikishi that beneficiated from huge popularity due to his dohyo behaviour. I do not think Takamisakari's behaviour harmed in any way the image of sumo...

[Akinomaki 40,098]

at the rikishi-kai the rare official warning against extra shoves etc. was made - head of the shimpan department Nishonoseki spoke to the press afterwards, telling that at the Natsu basho for one very annoying matta performance there will be a warning, not just after 3 times matta at the tachi-ai as usual.

Deputy head Tomozuna made clear that all misbehavior will from now on get severely punished.

The shimpan heads also complained about Kotoyuki's 'Huh': "Ridiculous!" - this may be the end of it at a honbasho.

Now the "hands down" rule will be handled more strict as well.

Kotoyuki will be under pressure to change both his pre-bout routine and the tachi-ai, having been told "Like you did before will be all be matta now."

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2016/05/02/kiji/K20160502012508080.html

I'm off to the airport and offline for a while.

[rhyen 1,823]

at the rikishi-kai the rare official warning against extra shoves etc. was made - head of the shimpan department Nishonoseki spoke to the press afterwards, telling that at the Natsu basho for one very annoying matta performance there will be a warning, not just after 3 times matta at the tachi-ai as usual.

Deputy head Tomozuna made clear that all misbehavior will from now on get severely punished.

The shimpan heads also complained about Kotoyuki's 'Huh': "Ridiculous!" - this may be the end of it at a honbasho.

Now the "hands down" rule will be handled more strict as well.

Kotoyuki will be under pressure to change both his pre-bout routine and the tachi-ai, having been told "Like you did before will be all be matta now."

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2016/05/02/kiji/K20160502012508080.html

I'm off to the airport and offline for a while.

And it was from his stablemate, Ozeki Kotoshogiku's criticism of tachiai shenanigans.

[hamcornheinz 839]

is this from him supposedly not putting both hands down? Because if that's the case, the person they really need to warn is Gagamaru...

[ScottyJoyJrBebe 97]

The shimpan heads also complained about Kotoyuki's 'Huh': "Ridiculous!" - this may be the end of it at a honbasho.

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RabidJohn 1,725]

You've got to wonder how much the NSK wants to increase the popularity of Ozumo...

I was in 2 minds about Kotoyuki's Tom Jones impression at first, but I noticed last Basho that it was getting a positive reaction from the audience, a reaction that seemed to grow each day. So, he's popular and his routine is popular, so why would the NSK want to shoot itself in the foot like this?

[Gurowake 4,021]

is this from him supposedly not putting both hands down? Because if that's the case, the person they really need to warn is Gagamaru...

Gagamaru isn't a Sekiwake, nor has he put up a good record in the joi. Kotoyuki is threatening Ozeki promotion with a style of tachiai that's not supposed to be used, and could easily be giving him some unfair advantage over those who follow the required procedures. Also, in my mind I don't think it's nearly as bad for Gagamaru; my mental image of him has him stooped over with his hands rather close to the ground, whereas Kotoyuki's are nowhere close and he sort of just pushes them down a little bit at the tachiai, but usually not nearly enough because he isn't as bent over as the other rikishi by necessity for getting their hands down.

[CT3* 331]

I'm glad that Kotoyuki will have to be mindful to get his hands down. He's been getting away with it for quite some time.

[Senkoho 552]

Let me say it again: Kotoyuki usually touches the dohyo with his hands at the tachiai. His fingers extended and pointing down, the fingertips scrape the surface of the dohyo.

Edited May 4, 2016 by Senkoho

[Washuyama 638]

Kotoyuki is threatening Ozeki promotion ...

That's a little premature don't you think?? If he gets 11+ wins this basho (which I highly doubt) THEN he'll be threatening ozeki promotion. Personally, I predict he'll win 5 or less.

[kuroimori 1,634]

Kotoyuki is threatening Ozeki promotion ...

That's a little premature don't you think?? If he gets 11+ wins this basho (which I highly doubt) THEN he'll be threatening ozeki promotion. Personally, I predict he'll win 5 or less.

I agree, I expect (hope) he gets his ass handed to him in double digits

Dunno why but I never really liked the kid - maybe because I don't like pure slappers.

[Gurowake 4,021]

Kotoyuki is threatening Ozeki promotion ...

That's a little premature don't you think?? If he gets 11+ wins this basho (which I highly doubt) THEN he'll be threatening ozeki promotion. Personally, I predict he'll win 5 or less.

Oh, I have the same sort of expectations for Kotoyuki, but when someone produces a performance that if repeated would lead to Ozeki, I would consider that "threatening". If you don't think that's appropriate terminology to use in this situation, that's a reasonable opinion. I suppose it is a bit premature to say that, but I wanted to emphasize the fact that his performance in terms of number of wins last basho was very Ozeki-like (and even better than 2 of the Yokozuna regularly do) while having a tachiai that's generally not appropriate. It's important that his tachiai style is addressed before it gets too far out of hand. With someone like Gagamaru, it's not all that relevant.

[RabidJohn 1,725]

It's important that his tachiai style is addressed before it gets too far out of hand. With someone like Gagamaru, it's not all that relevant.

I can see your point, but if it's an issue that really needs to be addressed, it should be applied across the board, not just to those on a possible run to high rank.

I wouldn't mind seeing them all start with two hands clearly down on the dohyo, like Yoshikaze always seems to do.

[Unkonoyama 104]

It's important that his tachiai style is addressed before it gets too far out of hand. With someone like Gagamaru, it's not all that relevant.

I can see your point, but if it's an issue that really needs to be addressed, it should be applied across the board, not just to those on a possible run to high rank.

I wouldn't mind seeing them all start with two hands clearly down on the dohyo, like Yoshikaze always seems to do.

It is possible that it will be enforced more closely across the board, but that the shinpan decided to warn Kotoyuki specifically because he is in the joi/getting a lot of media attention recently. We'll all find out soon.

[Katooshu 3,182]

Kotoyuki is threatening Ozeki promotion ...

That's a little premature don't you think?? If he gets 11+ wins this basho (which I highly doubt) THEN he'll be threatening ozeki promotion. Personally, I predict he'll win 5 or less.

I agree, I expect (hope) he gets his ass handed to him in double digits

Dunno why but I never really liked the kid - maybe because I don't like pure slappers.

Ya, I haven't really warmed to him either.

[Akinomaki 40,098]

Main news yesterday: Kotoyuki declared he'll refrain from doing the "huh" - the shimpan put a lid on it.

http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2016/05/05/0009051953.shtml

bye-bye to this

Edit: here in the vicinity of Tokyo I won't be posting much this basho, but at least I got my news collector working this year

Edited May 5, 2016 by Akinomaki

[Kuroyama 715]

Main news yesterday: Kotoyuki declared he'll refrain from doing the "huh" - the shimpan put a lid on it.

I have this fantasy that the crowd will fill it in for him...