[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Yoshinofuji- Kumamoto earthquake scare

[Jeff A]

Moti

Best regards,
G

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Aug 2, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Yoshinofuji- Kumamoto earthquake scare
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


Komusubi Yoshinofuji, a native of Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, returned
to the summer jungyo with thoughts of his disaster-stricken hometown. The
summer jungyo began on the 2nd at the Gifu Memorial Center Ai Dome.
Yoshinofuji was visiting his hometown when the Kumamoto earthquake struck
on July 28th. His family home suffered extensive damage, with cracks in the
walls and windows coming off, and his parents have not yet been able to
return home. After helping with the recovery efforts, he arrived in Gifu on
the 1st. He vowed to cheer up his hometown with sumo.

He was visiting his hometown when the massive earthquake struck. "I thought
I was going to die." Fortunately, neither he nor his parents were injured.
His family home in Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, which recorded a seismic
intensity of 6+, lost both electricity and water. Cracks appeared in the
walls, windows came off and couldn't be put back in, and the building
tilted. The toilet was also broken, so he used the toilet at a convenience
store. "My family home is half-destroyed. The tombstone has fallen over. We
won't be able to open the shop for a while." Damage was widespread in the
surrounding area, including a train derailment. The memory of the shaking
is still vivid. "There was a loud bang, and then a rattling sound. At first
it was a vertical tremor...it was terrible. I was really scared for the
first time in a long time." He also experienced the Kumamoto earthquake 10
years ago. He was in the third year of junior high school at the time. "I
thought I was going to die more than I did 10 years ago." The fear he
experienced this time was far greater.

"Yakiniku Kusano", the restaurant run by his father, former professional
cyclist Shinichi Kusano, in Uki City, was also damaged. Plates and glasses
were broken and scattered everywhere. On the other hand, the shop still had
electricity, so it became a place where they could sleep for a while. It is
expected to take some time before they can reopen. Even going to a
relative's house to use the bath, a journey that normally takes about 30
minutes, took two hours. Some gas stations were closed, and he had to ask
acquaintances to fill up his tank for him. The cell phone reception was
also poor, and there were times when he couldn't reply to messages from
acquaintances. After helping with the recovery efforts, he arrived in Gifu
on the 1st. "I was able to get a good night's sleep in a hotel last night
for the first time in a while," he revealed. Electricity has been restored
at his family home, but there is no running water. His parents have not yet
been able to return home.

When asked about supporting his hometown, he said, "My own home was
damaged," and spoke of the reality that he must first rebuild his family's
life. On the other hand, he has been told by people in his hometown to
"cheer them up with sumo." "That's all I can do. I hope I can deliver some
good news. Ten years ago there were two major earthquakes, so I pray that
there won't be any more." He will take to the dohyo on tour in an attempt
to bring some good news to his hometown. [Ryotaro Yamada]

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