Kyokutaisei intai

[Akinomaki 40,421]

The NSK announced today that Kyokutaisei has retired. He handed in the papers on the 25th and they were accepted, he doesn't remain in the NSK. He made it back to makushita, but was kyujo again last basho. Press confererence tomorrow

https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2024/12/26/0018486101.shtml

The announcement actually was later than the article

https://www.sumo.or.jp/IrohaKyokaiInformation/detail?id=678

Edited December 26, 2024 by Akinomaki

[Kintamayama 45,093]

The famous documentary:

https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/51362/A-Normal-Life--Chronicle-of-a-sumo-wrestler

[code_number3 701]

Post from the kyokai

 

[Kyokufuji 64]

The first basho I watched was his first in Makuuchi. After the tournament I was looking to learn more about sumo, and found the documentary. Halfway through, I realized the connection.

My username here is inspired by his oyakata’s naming convention.

Not the greatest rikishi, but I did want to see him make his way back to juryo.

[dingo 1,263]

Otsukaresama Kyokutaisei!

I have to be honest -- if not for the documentary then at least for me he would've been another unremarkable juryo regular. But thanks to the film I could get a glimpse of his inner thoughts and struggles which made him stand out. He had a long sumo career and I guess he achieved everything his body and talent allowed him to achieve in sumo with the kanto-sho 6 years ago perhaps the highlight. So hopefully he won't have any regrets about quitting. Perhaps only that he got close to reentering juryo again, but at 35 years old I suspect it would've been a short return anyway. 

Thank you and may he have a long and fruitful second career going forward. 

[Kaninoyama 1,777]

In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. 

Edited December 29, 2024 by Kaninoyama

[dingo 1,263]

3 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. 

Nice to hear, hope he'll have some success. As far as I know ex-rikishi restaurants can be really hit or miss but abura-soba seems popular enough that he could do well. At least I like it

[Akinomaki 40,421]

Today was the intai press conference in the kokugikan

o o o o o

o o o o

asked about the most memorable bout, he said all were fun, the most memorable basho was his first in makuuchi, with the newcomer kantosho in the end

o

message https://x.com/sumokyokai/status/1876846590402388192

[Morning 78]

That looks like one very happy man.

[themistyseas 242]

On 29/12/2024 at 15:26, Kaninoyama said:

In an interview with Nikkan Sports, he says that in his post-sumo life he aims to open and operate an "abura-soba" (a kind of ramen but without broth) noodle shop, using what he's learned through sumo to overcome the many challenges he'll face in his new life. 

Curious - from this or the press conference, any news where that might be - ie within Tokyo or back in Hokkaido? Big fan of Kyokutaisei and abura-soba!

[Akinomaki 40,421]

21 hours ago, themistyseas said:

Curious - from this or the press conference, any news where that might be - ie within Tokyo or back in Hokkaido? Big fan of Kyokutaisei and abura-soba!

Not yet where he will open his, he is learning the soba trade now at the abura-soba restaurant chain Kirinji's Takadanobaba location https://suzume-group.co.jp/kirinji/

Commuting to work is hard -  he has to support a large family, wife and 3 sons, 5, 2, and 0 years old.

The NSK will post a digest later, so far local NHK showed something from the press conference - he hasn't been there for a while and wants to go to Hokkaido, once he has settled in his new life.

vid

Kyokutaisei decided to retire after the makekoshi at the Aki basho. A press conference without tears

oo o o

o oo o

oo

[Asashimaru 17]

On 28/12/2024 at 11:48, dingo said:

Otsukaresama Kyokutaisei!

I have to be honest -- if not for the documentary then at least for me he would've been another unremarkable juryo regular. But thanks to the film I could get a glimpse of his inner thoughts and struggles which made him stand out. [...]

The same is true for me. While searching for a documentary about sumo, I found this haunting and rarely filmed work that goes deep behind the usual facades and perspectives.

I was all the more delighted to rediscover Kyokutaisei, self-confident and with a positive aura, among the juryo newcomers one day. Alongside his supporters Asahisho and Kyokushuho, of course, who also received special admiration from me for understandable reasons.

His special story shows us that similarly successful rikishi have also made a great achievement and can rightly be proud of having made it this far. Especially because of the really tough reality for a sumo wrestler, who also has to struggle with many health problems, as this short film empathically shows.

And on the other hand, how few really get to enjoy the sunny side of their success in sumo that every rikishi dreams of at the beginning of their careers.

I wish Kyokutaisei good luck and every success in his future endeavors.