Retirees after Haru 2022

[Kintamayama 45,527]

Makushita:

Wakanoumi (highest rank- Makushita 18)

Sandanme:

Sakigake (ex-Juryo Mongolian, 5 bashos in Juryo, no kachikoshi) highest rank- Juryo 10

Tamakongou (not from Congo) Highest rank- Makushita 25

Kainishiki (highest rank- Makushita 37)

Sumanoumi - highest rank - Sandanme 3

Jonidan:

Sadanogou - highest rank- Makushita 53

Miyakojima - highest rank - Sandanme 87

Kenshoumaru - highest rank - Jonidan 37

Umizaru  - sea monkey- highest rank Sandanme 100

Daishoujou - highest rank Sandanme 67

Nankairiki - highest rank Makushita 12. Veteran of 19 years in sumo, 34 years old

Iwata - highest rank - Jonidan 51

Jonokuchi;

Katou - higfhest rank- Jonokuchi 4

Kotorikisen - highest rank- Makushita 54

 

Banzuke-gai:

Kotonawa - highest rank- Sandanme 29. Has been off the banzuke since November 2016 (32 bashos) and away from the dohyo since March 2016.

Edited March 30, 2022 by Kintamayama

[Chartorenji 243]

Not as many as recent tournaments, but definitely some impactful ones here. First, Jonokuchi's Kato was expected when he pulled out. Clear while fellow strugglers like Yoshinofuji and Daitenshin were somewhat improving, he was still stuck in his rut. Best of luck to him in his future career. 

Main story of course is Sakigake, as a former Juryo wrestler retiring always is. Sucks that he couldn't get a Kabu. 

[Tigerboy1966 1,474]

1 hour ago, Chartorenji said:

Main story of course is Sakigake, as a former Juryo wrestler retiring always is. Sucks that he couldn't get a Kabu. 

Will also be remembered as the winner of the 9-man play-off for makushita in January last year,

[shumitto 418]

Wikipedia has a Japanese article about Sakigake. As with most wikipedia things, we can't know if the sources are reliable (and neither is the translater, me) , but here are a few bits.

His family runs a road building company. He is the youngest of 4 siblings. His first plan was to become a doctor and he practiced basketball and soccer, but had no sumo background prior to his coming to Japan. His father and Kyokushuzan had a common acquaintance who helped him get a trial in Japan. He caught the attention of then Hanaregoma (late Ozeki Kaiketsu) and ended up joining his stable. His first shikona was Wakatora, but he changed it to Sakigake after stagnating in Sandanme.  By 2011, then aged 25, he finally established himself in makushita, eventually reaching Juryo in early 2014. He amassed 6 basho as sekitori, with 35-55 record there.

To be honest, at some point I expected more from him; at least a couple of kachikoshi in Juryo. But he was mostly outpaced there. I wish him the best of luck, after a lenghty 19 year career that probably didn't bear the fruits he was expecting.

 

Edited March 30, 2022 by shumitto
added "e" to stablish to make it less archaic

[Koorifuu 1,020]

57 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Will also be remembered as the winner of the 9-man play-off for makushita in January last year,

Happy for him that he managed to bow out with a yusho of any kind to his name, or rather, shikona.

[Yokozuna Hattorizakura 153]

Finally they got rid of Kotonawa. Not sure why they left him there since he was clearly long gone. His instagram says he's an acupuncturist or something now.

Now we move on to the mystery of Ounabara. I believe he may have initially run away, but he returned some time in 2019 or 2020 as his yearbook photo updated (heyaaz is down at the moment so can't confirm it). Not sure why he's not fighting though

[shumitto 418]

46 minutes ago, Yokozuna Hattorizakura said:

Finally they got rid of Kotonawa. Not sure why they left him there since he was clearly long gone. His instagram says he's an acupuncturist or something now.

His 6 year long absence must be some sort of record. Maybe his heya had forgotten he even existed, but someone found a plate with his name on it and decided to hand in his intai papers.

Edited March 30, 2022 by shumitto
typo

[ryafuji 815]

John Gunning mentioned Kotonawa briefly in his article on banzuke-gai here. It may simply be that they wanted to leave the door open to a possible return, as obviously once the papers are handed in, that's it. 

[Yamanashi 3,904]

Daisho(u)jo(u) entered Ozumo in March 1999.  How many rikishi still remain who entered in the previous century? [it sounds more awesome to say "previous century]

[Asapedroryu 235]

1 hour ago, Yamanashi said:

Daisho(u)jo(u) entered Ozumo in March 1999.  How many rikishi still remain who entered in the previous century? [it sounds more awesome to say "previous century]

There are 18 rikishi that were active in November 1999 and still active in March 2022.

If you are more inteligent than me, maybe you can do a query that only shows the active rikishi in both basho. If you are like me, then click on the query below, then click on the "intai" label and scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You should be able to view the 18 there.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=1&n_basho=1&rowcount=5&sum_wins=0&showhatsu=on&showintai=on&form1_year=1999&form1_month=11&form1_m=on&form1_j=on&form1_ms=on&form1_sd=on&form1_jd=on&form1_jk=on&form1_mz=on&form1_bg=on&sort_by=intai

 

[ryafuji 815]

19 minutes ago, Asapedroryu said:

There are 18 rikishi that were active in November 1999 and still active in March 2022.

If you are more inteligent than me, maybe you can do a query that only shows the active rikishi in both basho. If you are like me, then click on the query below, then click on the "intai" label and scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You should be able to view the 18 there.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=1&n_basho=1&rowcount=5&sum_wins=0&showhatsu=on&showintai=on&form1_year=1999&form1_month=11&form1_m=on&form1_j=on&form1_ms=on&form1_sd=on&form1_jd=on&form1_jk=on&form1_mz=on&form1_bg=on&sort_by=intai

 

Wow, Sawaisamu really leaps out at me on this list. Been going since 1992, 45 years old, 169 cm and 105 kg, one kachi-koshi since 2014... That's dedication. 

[Ripe 73]

2 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Daisho(u)jo(u) entered Ozumo in March 1999.  How many rikishi still remain who entered in the previous century? [it sounds more awesome to say "previous century]

It would sound even more awesome to say "previous millennium" which is also correct

[Yamanashi 3,904]

1 hour ago, Asapedroryu said:

There are 18 rikishi that were active in November 1999 and still active in March 2022.

If you are more inteligent than me, maybe you can do a query that only shows the active rikishi in both basho. If you are like me, then click on the query below, then click on the "intai" label and scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You should be able to view the 18 there.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=1&n_basho=1&rowcount=5&sum_wins=0&showhatsu=on&showintai=on&form1_year=1999&form1_month=11&form1_m=on&form1_j=on&form1_ms=on&form1_sd=on&form1_jd=on&form1_jk=on&form1_mz=on&form1_bg=on&sort_by=intai

 

I'm looking into this further ... db is down now, WHICH I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT because it means it's being updated.

[Golynohana 321]

26 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

I'm looking into this further ... db is down now, WHICH I AM ECSTATIC ABOUT because it means it's being updated.

Unfortunately it does not. It only means that the connection pool on the server  reached maximum and the website will be back once the pool gets automatically recycled. But the site being constantly worked on and updated does indeed sound much better :)

[Reonito 1,519]

3 hours ago, Yamanashi said:

Daisho(u)jo(u) entered Ozumo in March 1999.  How many rikishi still remain who entered in the previous century? [it sounds more awesome to say "previous century]

Previous millennium, even!

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

Sumanoumi was pictured with an oichomage at Takadagawa-beya's lodgings on senshuraku. He served as Hakuyozan's tsukebito.

 

Farewell Nankairiki, the uchimuso king.  A founding member of Kise-beya and latterly Ura's tsukebito.

I heard Tamakongo had been suffering from neck problems for the last few basho, he will be helping his parents run the family business in the future.

Wakanoumi's intai leaves three rikishi in Nishikido-beya, and one of those has missed the last three basho (well, kyujo either side of the heya's COVID-kyujo in January).

[Yamanashi 3,904]

4 hours ago, Asapedroryu said:

There are 18 rikishi that were active in November 1999 and still active in March 2022.

If you are more inteligent than me, maybe you can do a query that only shows the active rikishi in both basho. If you are like me, then click on the query below, then click on the "intai" label and scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You should be able to view the 18 there.

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=1&n_basho=1&rowcount=5&sum_wins=0&showhatsu=on&showintai=on&form1_year=1999&form1_month=11&form1_m=on&form1_j=on&form1_ms=on&form1_sd=on&form1_jd=on&form1_jk=on&form1_mz=on&form1_bg=on&sort_by=intai

 

                        Hatsu Dohyo before 2000                 

            Name           Month       Year     High Rank

1          Sawaisamu      7          1992    Jd53

2          Tenichi             3          1993    Ms10

3          Terunosato     3          1993    Sd23

4          Itakozakura     3          1994    Jd19

5          Gorikiyama     3          1994    Ms17

6          Kainowaka      3          1995    Ms14

7          Shoketsu         3          1995    Ms4

8          Koshinoryu      3          1995    Ms34

9          Satonofuji       1          1996    Ms56

10        Yoshiazuma     1          1996    M12

11        Daraido           3          1996    J2

12        Shinzan           3          1997    Sd30

13        Musashiumi    3          1997    Ms5

14        Hienriki           3          1998    Ms29

15        Maenofuji       11        1998    Ms53

16        Tochikasuga    3          1999    Sds12

17        Daishojo          3          1999    Sd67

18        Kirizakura        3          1999    Sd69

[Yamanashi 3,904]

            Sekitori w/ Hatsu Dohyo before 2010

1          Name  Month Year     High Rank

2          Sadanoumi      3          2003    M1

3          Tamawashi      1          2004    S

4          Okinoumi        1          2005    S

5          Takayasu         3          2005    O

6          Nishikigi          3          2006    M2

7          Shohozan        3          2006    K

8          Ryuden            3          2006    K

9          Tochinoshin    3          2006    O

10        Chiyonokuni    5          2006    M1

11        Kaisei               9          2006    S

12        Chiyoarashi     3          2007    J10

13        Kotoeko          3          2007    M4

14        Chiyomaru      5          2007    M5

15        Azumaryu        11        2008    M14

16        Tokushoryu     1          2009    M2

17        Takarafuji        1          2009    S

18        Aoiyama          5          2009    S

19        Chiyoshoma    5          2009    M2

20        Myogiryu         5          2009    S

21        Kotokuzan       9          2009    M16

 

I was surprised by Sadanoumi and Nishikigi starting that early.

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

Some pictures from danpatsu-shiki that have taken place recently. First, former Juryo Sakigake.
 

Spoiler

Before the haircutting, he posed for pictures with friends and supporters, such as former rikishi Shishio.

On stage now for a greeting speech from his shisho Shibatayama-oyakata (former Yokozuna Onokuni).

Danpatsu-shiki under way. Hoshoryu makes his cut.

Daishoho.

Kiribayama.

Former Maegashira Arawashi.

Takasago-oyakata (former Sekiwake Asasekiryu).

Nishonoseki-oyakata (former Yokozuna Kisenosato).

Former Yokozuna Kakuryu.

Magaki-oyakata (former Yokozuna Hakuho).

And the final cut by the shisho to bring the ceremony to an end.

A farewell speech from Sakigake afterwards.

 

Wakanoumi's danpatsu-shiki took place at Nishikido-beya.

Spoiler

With his first and last oichomage.

A speech from Nishikido-oyakata (former Sekiwake Mitoizumi).

Yobidashi Tsurutaro makes his cut - he is now the last Honda brother standing, his three rikishi brothers are all retired.

Fukushima.

Mitoryu.

Tokonaka - likely the man who created this oichomage - makes his cut.

Former Juryo Umenosato, brother of the shisho.

The okamisan, Yukiko Ono, makes her cut.

Sendagawa-oyakata (former Komusubi Toki).

The shisho and okamisan presented Wakanoumi with some parting gifts.

Finally, Wakanoumi with the okamisan and his brother Tsurutaro.

The final cut from the shisho can be seen in this video, including a near-slapstick moment when Wakanoumi goes to sit down just as his brother tries to remove the chair.

 

Last but not least, three shots from Nankairiki's danpatsu-shiki which took place at Kise-beya.

Spoiler

A commemorative picture with the rest of the heya.

A supporter makes his cut.

And the final cut from Kise-oyakata (former Maegashira Higonoumi).

 

Tamakongo's danpatsu-shiki also took place recently at Kataonami-beya, which posted some tiny pictures here.

[Seiyashi 4,108]

I must have missed something, but Nankairiki looks awfully thin for an ex-rikishi only in his 30s. Is he ill, or does he just have good genes to be able to shed his fighting weight that fast (+ a delay in the danpatsu from his actual last bout, which the DB says is only 6 months ago)?

Edited April 18, 2022 by Seiyashi

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Quite amazing how many celebrities Sakigake attracted for a rikishi with just six Juryo basho under his mawashi (all make-koshi). Being Mongolian supposably helped.

[bessantj 4]

I wonder why wrestlers like Kato retire. He's only been there a year and while his record is pretty appalling it doesn't seem as if he gave himself a chance to improve. Of course I'm not in his stable and don't know him so he could have an excellent reason for retiring.

[Sue 520]

1 hour ago, bessantj said:

I wonder why wrestlers like Kato retire. He's only been there a year and while his record is pretty appalling it doesn't seem as if he gave himself a chance to improve. Of course I'm not in his stable and don't know him so he could have an excellent reason for retiring.

Heya life is pretty difficult, and a rikishi needs to be strongly motivated, and feeling like he's on the right track, to persevere.

[Yamanashi 3,904]

9 hours ago, bessantj said:

I wonder why wrestlers like Kato retire. He's only been there a year and while his record is pretty appalling it doesn't seem as if he gave himself a chance to improve. Of course I'm not in his stable and don't know him so he could have an excellent reason for retiring.

Meet Kototaiko Ryosuke, 27.  68 basho, kyujo for 5 basho in 2019-2020.  Seven years to reach his highest rank (Jd7).  Currently stuck at Jd94e.  There are a number of rikishi like him. I don't wonder why Kato retired,  I wonder why these other guys haven't retired.*

*Please understand I make no moral judgments on either man.  I just wonder what keeps them going.

[Godango 1,014]

Possibly not the right thread for this and I may have missed the discussion elsewhere -- but Sakigake's intai opens up a foreigner slot for Shibatayama-beya (if I haven't overlooked something). Any ideas on likely takers?