Chiyozakura 148 Posted January 4, 2002 This year two important Oyakata will retire.Takasago, who thanks to Toki's driving abilities lost some of his power in the NSK, will retire in March and will be succeeded by Wakamatsu Oyakata, former Ozeki Asashio V.These will probably create a popular new Takasago Beya with Toki and Asashoryu, plus maybe Asasekiryu, should he make it to Makuuchi. Also our current Rijicho (Tokitsukaze, not Kotoseiya Yuichi!!!) will quit after the Nagoya basho. Is it already clear who will be next Tokitsukaze Oyakata? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted January 4, 2002 Syd Hoare on Eurosport confirmed a "merger" between the two heya you've just told about, well, interesting ! :-Q Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted January 4, 2002 Well, Kitanoumi is said to be the favourite but the name of Futagoyama has also been mentioned. My Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted January 4, 2002 Is it already clear who will be next Tokitsukaze Oyakata? Oh, now I understood the question right. The next Tokitsukaze! (I am with stupid...) Well, well... Let's see. Arashio & Nishikijima are the heya-tsuki no oyakata at Tokitsukaze-beya but they sound quite low-profile guys (moto-komusubi Oyutaka & Futatsuryu respectively). I believe Minato is the former protege of Tokitsukaze as they share the same shikona (Yutakayama) but I think I read somewhere once that Tokitsukaze was reluctant to give his former shikona to his protege who achieved the rank of komusubi but not higher. There is thought to be some discrepancy between them but I might remember wrong. I don't see any other famous oyakata in Tokitsukaze ichimon right now. Izutsu & Michinoku, no... Why would they want to swap kabu? Basically, I'm just thinking aloud. Anyone's guess is at least as good as mine. (I do not get it...) (No need to be sorry, Yubi. Just a co-incidence.) (Hehe...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted January 4, 2002 Well, if it is clear, I don't know it at least, so I'm just going to speculate... First, it's quite hard to speculate if the Takasago-Wakamatsu merge and Michinoku-Tatsugawa incorporation is just the first sign of a new era with fewer and fewer heya. Still, there doesn't seem to be any apparent heya within Tokitsukaze-ichimon to merge with (except possibly Izutsu or Michinoku, which would produce a HUGE heya) so I would say that's only in an emergency. An outside chance though (as I see it, although of course it doesn't have to be any chance at all...) could be that one of the heya-owners of the smaller stables within Tokitsukaze-ichimon, like Minato (former Komusubi Yutakayama formerly of Tokitsukaze-beya) would be brought in as Tokitsukaze-oyakata, with Minato-beya being incorporated. Of the active Tokitsukaze-rikishi Tokitsuumi and Shimotori, although possible future Tokitsukaze-oyakata, still have years left in sumo. Aogiyama, who could quit any time now is another issue of course. I don't think he is really an option right now though, straight from active rikishi to owner of a big stable. What I CAN see happening is that one of the other oyakata in Tokitsukaze (Nishikijima and Arashio) would take over Tokitsukaze, and Aogiyama would get the free myoseki. Preferably Nishikijima-oyakata, former Komusubi Futatsuryu (who has seniority), who is 51 years old right now, and should retire about the time former Ozeki Shimotori can take over the heya :-P Hm. I'd say the fight is between Minato-oyakata and Nishikijima-oyakata. Since Minatofuji already has acquired Tatsutagawa-myoseki, it seems Aogiyama should have a big chance at getting a toshiyori myoseki on retirement (if he wants to), whatever happens. Edit: After I posted this, I see Kotoseiya had managed to get more or less the same speculation in right in front of me. Sorry for the duplication... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yubiquitoyama 4 Posted January 4, 2002 I believe Minato is the former protege of Tokitsukaze as they share the same shikona (Yutakayama) but I think I read somewhere once that Tokitsukaze was reluctant to give his former shikona to his protege who achieved the rank of komusubi but not higher. There is thought to be some discrepancy between them but I might remember wrong. Yes, I have read about that too. Minato-oyakata (former Nagahama and Yutakayama) was actually Tokitsukazes junior at Tonodai University and was brought into Tokitsukaze-beya. Tokitsukaze didn't want to give him the shikona Yutakayama until he reached Ozeki, but Nagahama REALLY wanted the name and managed to persuade Tokitsukaze to give it to him, on promising he would reach Ozeki. Well, he didn't. And I'm sure that would irritate Tokitsukaze. But I'm not sure exactly what the outcome was. It was 30 years ago (actually 1972.07), and it's not sure this destroyed the contact between the two entirely. Minato-oyakata didn't retire as rikishi until 1981. But I guess it's wait and see mostly, and the result shall be revealed to us... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chiyozakura 148 Posted January 4, 2002 From what I read the next Rijicho should be Kitanoumi, as he is very popular within the Kyokai, was co-elected last time and gave it up for Tokitsukaze and last but not least had an outstanding career.Also Futagoyama had too many scandals in the past years. Tokitsukaze is a historic Heya and won't vanish like Tatsutagawa.It is a historic Heya founded by the great Futabayama and produced Yokozuna Kagamisato plus two Ozeki, Kitabayama and Yutakayama.Also the Tokitsukaze name is a very special one as there were already two Tokitsukaze Rijichos. Still the Heya is everything but blooming right now. Aogiyama has never been more than a Maegashira, Tokitsuumi could be lucky to make Komusubi one day, and Shimotori is not more than a hopeful right now.But looking at our current Sanyaku there are lots of hopefuls that I expect more from. Should there be a merger I think Tokitsukaze would want a Heya with some good rikishi. And Minato Beya is everything but a great Heya.Minatofuji is by far the best rikishi in it, and his career is nearly over and he never achieved anything in Makuuchi.I cannot see any future stars in Michinoku and Izutsu, too...Maybe Shikihide is another option as the Heya is still new one and Shikihide Oyakata, the former Komusubi Ozutsu, has some reputation. Obviously right now there is no Fujishima Beya to merge with so I think there will just be a new Tokitsukaze Oyakata.This could also be a freshly retired rikishi, like it was the case with Tatsunami and Asahiyutaka three years ago.But I can hardly believe that Aogiyama is the right man for it. His career was average and he is no relative of Tokitsukaze.The other two Oyakata in the Heya are not known to me so I guess that their position within the NSK is more or less meaningless. Putting this together it does not look good for the once mighty Tokitsukaze Beya Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maguroyama 27 Posted January 4, 2002 Although they are hardly the greatest authority on sumo these days, the November issue of Sumo World actually confimed that Nishikijima oyakata has been named the next Tokitsukaze. As some-one noted, a very low-profile oyakata, but hey, he may still make a good stable-master. Personally, I thought a merger with Minato beya was the most likely option, but it seems Minato oyakata will have to struggle on with his very unsuccessful stable (once Minatofuji is gone, what is there left?) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
