Ex-Kaounishiki finds a new job in sumo

[Kintamayama 44,990]

Ex-Kaounishiki retired last March after 20 years in sumo and at the age of 43. It took him 60 basho to reach Juryo, although if it were not for the yaocho scandal and the mass exit of rikishi, I'm not sure he would have made it in the first place (Kakizoe was promoted to Juryo with a 3-4..). Anyhow, Kaounishiki is now joining Tagonoura beya as a coach. He was in Azumazeki during his career- different heya, different ichimon. Rare occurrence. Thank you.

Edited June 2, 2022 by Kintamayama

[Katooshu 3,201]

Good for him - congrats Kaounishiki! 

[Asashosakari 19,196]

Man, that scared me for a moment - other sports forums I've been on tend to bring morbid news when a thread features nothing but an ex-athlete's name in the title... Glad to find it's something rather more prosperous in nature. Nice to see Kaonishiki get the opportunity.

In any case, I suspect Tagonoura-oyakata can use the help. 15 rikishi is on the high side for a heya with no affiliated oyakata (since ex-Kise left, anyway), and of course Tagonoura has had his issues both health and otherwise in the not so distant past.

[Asashosakari 19,196]

Looking good in the picture Chunichi used to illustrate their article:

Also, easy to forget that he wasn't exactly a sumo lifer despite staying until his 40s; he's a Toyo University alum.

Edited June 1, 2022 by Asashosakari

[Seiyashi 4,074]

Just to be clear when we say coach, we don't mean oyakata, right? Not that I think he's eligible, but can't recall offhand. 

[yohcun 401]

IIRC he wanted to become a sewanin or wakamonogashira, but couldn't. I'm happy he found a way back in.

[themistyseas 240]

27 minutes ago, yohcun said:

IIRC he wanted to become a sewanin or wakamonogashira, but couldn't. I'm happy he found a way back in.

I'm curious who supports the guys who can't come back in an official capacity (oyakata/sewanin/wakaimonogashira) but still manage to help out and coach at a heya, and also if it's something that happens more often than we know, since it must happen unofficially.

Does the koen-kai support their "salary?" Does the shisho fund it himself, as, in this case, as Asashosakari rightly points out, this particular shisho more than likely needs help?

We also of course know that many of the larger heya have meaningful scouting networks or affiliations, and I imagine those scouts must get some kind of (under the table?) fee for their work.

[Yamanashi 3,820]

2 hours ago, themistyseas said:

I'm curious who supports the guys who can't come back in an official capacity (oyakata/sewanin/wakaimonogashira) but still manage to help out and coach at a heya, and also if it's something that happens more often than we know, since it must happen unofficially.

Does the koen-kai support their "salary?" Does the shisho fund it himself, as, in this case, as Asashosakari rightly points out, this particular shisho more than likely needs help?

We also of course know that many of the larger heya have meaningful scouting networks or affiliations, and I imagine those scouts must get some kind of (under the table?) fee for their work.

That's a good question. I follow Narutobeya closely, and there are currently two "managers" in the heya (the word is literally "マネジャー").  Since they are not on the sewanin/wakaimonogashira list (which seems to be for the big heya that need them?), I assume Naruto foots the bill at least partly.  It appears that each of them are employed part time, and since they are former Sadogatake rikishi they can coach, too.

[Kintamayama 44,990]

8 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

Just to be clear when we say coach, we don't mean oyakata, right? Not that I think he's eligible, but can't recall offhand. 

Indeed.