Hibikiryu

[Tochinoumi 4]

Just noticed the horrible injury of Hibikiryu - I am watching Sumo now for more than 20 years and haven't seen nothing like this. Does anybody know something about his health status?

I expected much more information about it.

Does the NSK hide anything? Did someone maybe find out, that the turnaround directly after the match had more fatal consequences? I love this sport but I really hate the dealing with injuries. I look back to the bad knee injuries of Tomokaze or Kotoyuki. They were in horrible pain and had to get up again and had to limp into the wheelchair. This is one of the most despicable things in sumo. Every sport in this world has a big contingent of doctors and ambulance nearby. Why don't they put at least a first-aid attendant close to the dohyo?

[Seiyashi 4,108]

The iast update from his oyakata was essentially asking for thoughts and prayers 2 days after the injury, and we've heard nothing since.

[Churaumi 745]

3 hours ago, Tochinoumi said:

Does the NSK hide anything?

Yes. They hide more than they don't. In fact, there are three things you can always know are true. 1, I love my wife. 2, gravity works, and 3, the NSK is hiding something.

However, they are usually more transparent than this regarding injuries, since their procedures require documentation for basho absences. Perhaps this time is being kept quiet because of Hibikiryu's or his family's wishes, because this may be the worst injury in centuries and the NSK doesn't know how to respectfully handle it, or maybe there just hasn't been anything to report. Spinal/cervical injuries are tricksom devils that take a while to sort out.

Edited April 6, 2021 by Churaumi

[Karasukurai 166]

It's been a few weeks since this page was updated. Any news on Hibikiryu's health would be appreciated if it's out there.

[rhyen 1,846]

2 things for Natsu basho (assuming it goes ahead)

if he is kyujo, that means he is probably still receiving medical treatment or in rehab.

if he is intai, the press might report about the injury that he suffered and we get to watch another trophy cup typhoon/tsunami. 

[sahaven111 178]

5 minutes ago, rhyen said:

and we get to watch another trophy cup typhoon/tsunami. 

i don't understand what this part has to do with Hibikiryu.

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,276]

For what its worth, there's still people on twitter tweeting at the kyokai account asking whats going on almost every day. I doubt anyone who actually knows is going to share here before things are made public since its a sensitive medical issue.

[Akinomaki 40,783]

Just like with Corona cases, information about makushita and below rikishi are undisclosed, unless they are former sekitori. They are basically treated as minors. Some tabloid has to try to investigate this, there will likely be no official information for the press or reports by the media till at least the basho. If the NSK introduces some new measures regarding health issues and injury protection, like the Oh report asks for, new information about his case might surface.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

2 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

 If the NSK introduces some new measures regarding health issues and injury protection, like the Oh report asks for, new information about his case might surface.

Interesting. You didn't nention this before, or maybe I just missed it. Can you elaborate on what measures are being suggested regarding rikishi health? 

[Akinomaki 40,783]

4 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Interesting. You didn't nention this before, or maybe I just missed it. Can you elaborate on what measures are being suggested regarding rikishi health? 

They just demand something, I have to read in detail if there are some suggestions. After the problem with the foreigners, they pick up the problem of injuries and the lack of Japanese recruits, especially because parents are unlikely to entrust their children to an organization which cares for their health that poorly.

[Yaochozuna 137]

1 hour ago, Akinomaki said:

…because parents are unlikely to entrust their children to an organization which cares for their health that poorly.

This sounds surprisingly rational. Maybe the report as a whole isn't as outrageous as many of us have thought?

[Churaumi 745]

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Unless it's one of those fancy 24 hour clocks. Or digital with a dead display.

They could ruminate on the traditions surrounding ichidai toshiyori but just demand something about health and safety? I haven't read it myself though, so my opinion isn't worth much right now.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

4 hours ago, Yaochozuna said:

This sounds surprisingly rational. Maybe the report as a whole isn't as outrageous as many of us have thought?

My thoughts from the start.  

[Churaumi 745]

He's sandanme 79 E, so he hasn't gone into yet. Good sign, I guess.

[ryafuji 815]

53 minutes ago, Churaumi said:

He's sandanme 79 E, so he hasn't gone into yet. Good sign, I guess.

The banzuke is drawn up just a few days after the last tournament though so he was always likely to be on it. 

[Churaumi 745]

9 hours ago, John Gunning said:

There have been rikishi still on the banzuke almost a year after they left a stable, cut their topknot off and started a new life. Until the retirement papers are handed in they are officially still rikishi as far as the JSA is concerned.

He probably has been focused on other things than intai papers lately.

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

15 hours ago, John Gunning said:

There have been rikishi still on the banzuke almost a year after they left a stable, cut their topknot off and started a new life. Until the retirement papers are handed in they are officially still rikishi as far as the JSA is concerned.

Does that mean they still get paid?

[Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153]

26 minutes ago, John Gunning said:

There are various motivations behind not handing in the papers for lower rankers immediately. Money is rarely high up the list as the amount involved is relatively small. Most stablemasters are loathe to give up on recruits as it’s hard to get them in the first place. Setting aside the investment of time and money, stables also need plenty of lower rankers to do the day to day work in the heya. If there are several sekitori that need is even more acute. It isn’t sound policy in the long run to make it easy for guys to quit. 

Then there are cases where rikishi left because of unsavory stuff going on in the stable. Stablemasters definitely worry that they’ll go public with what happened. Cutting off all links - especially soon after they leave when emotions are running high - could be a spur for just such an action.

Keeping the door open and allowing the possibility of them ‘cooling off’ makes sense from the point of those with most to lose. 

What about guys like Kotonawa and Ounabara who have been missing for almost 5 years now? I highly doubt they're coming back.

[Churaumi 745]

1 hour ago, John Gunning said:

Think you misunderstood that one.

Rikishi don’t hand in their intai papers. Stablemasters do. 

I know.

He's probably worried about other stuff too.

Hopefully his first thought when he heard (I assume he wasn't there) it happened wasn't "intai papers."

Edited April 27, 2021 by Churaumi

[Churaumi 745]

3 hours ago, John Gunning said:

When who heard what? I’m not following you.

Let me rephrase that, then, since pronouns get confusing.

Hopefully, Hibikiryu's oyakata's first thought when he heard about Hibikiryu's injury wasn't "I need to get his retirement papers in."

[rhyen 1,846]

R.I.P

[Karasukurai 166]

4 minutes ago, rhyen said:

R.I.P 

This is awful isn't it? Inside Sport Japan is reporting on twitter:

Lower division wrestler Hibikiryu has died a few weeks after sustaining severe injury in the March Grand Sumo tournament.

This is devastating. Thoughts to his family, friends and stable mates.

[since_94 650]

This is heartbreaking. Condolences to the family, friends, and stable mates.
 

Will be tough to view the sport in exactly the same way ever again.
 

RIP, young man.

[specialweek 2 136]

Confirmed. Terrible news. More to follow.

[pricklypomegranate 730]

Nikkan Sports has indeed confirmed and reported that Hibikiryu has tragically died at the age of 28 from a pulmonary embolism. His paralysis seemed to be getting better and he was able to move after quite some time in the hospital, but his condition worsened dramatically from the aforementioned pulmonary embolism. His funeral will be restricted to only heya relations.

Hakkaku-oyakata said, "All members of the JSA would like to express our deepest condolences at the news of his death. I cannot even find any words to comfort the bereaved family. I myself was surprised and stunned and the sudden news. It must have been very difficult for him to fight against this injury for more than a month, but he persevered and fought it like a rikishi, under the loving care of his family and stablemaster. I hope he can rest in peace now. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude on behalf of the deceased to all the medical personnel who gave him the best treatment." 

I'm sorry that you had to go this way, Hibikiryu. Here's hoping that the JSA will learn from this and at least improve their injury protocols. 

Edited April 29, 2021 by pricklypomegranate