[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - ex-Hakuhou and Isegahama beya's current success

[Jeff A]

Moti

It has been confirmed that Asahifuji from  Isegahama beya will make his
debut in Juryo at the November Basho. Having inherited his shikona from his
former Oyakata Miyagino (the former Yokozuna Asahifuji), he reached Juryo
in just six tournaments since his professional debut, tying the record for
the fastest ascent (excluding those who entered via the Makushita
tsukedashi system). With the addition of sanyaku-ranked rikishi like
Atamifuji and Yoshinofuji, the heya now boasts 10 sekitori. This marks the
first time a single heya has had 10 sekitori since Futagoyama beya in March
1993—a span of 33 years. A reporter covering sumo explains: "It is an
'elite heya' where one in every three of its 32 rikishi has reached the
Sekitori ranks. Known for its grueling training, the heya features a
diverse range of rikishi—from the 198-kilogram Atamifuji to the
107-kilogram Enhou, with various fighting styles, such as the tsiuki-oshi
specialist Hakunofuji and the yotsu-sumo rikishi Yoshinofuji. There is
never a shortage of training partners. The heya also retains many coaches,
former rikishi trained by the previous Oyakata, and it is widely expected
that the current Oyakata, Isegahama ( former Yokozuna Terunofuji), will
eventually be elected as a director of the Kyokai."

Meanwhile, fading into the background amidst this prosperity is the former
Yokozuna Hakuhou, who resigned from the Kyokai last June. The former
Miyagino beya, which he once led, saw its rikishi transferred to the care
of Isegahama beya following a series of scandals. Among the 10 sekitori now
at Isegahama, five, including Hakunofuji and Enhou, were originally
disciples of Hakuhou. However, a decision by the rijikai this past May
ended this arrangement, effectively bringing the former Miyagino beya to an
official end. A former Oyakata notes: "This happened just as Enhou returned
to Juryo, marking his 30th tournament as a sekitori - the exact point at
which he met the requirements to acquire a toshiyori-myoseki. Had the heya
remained under 'azukari', Enhou could have inherited it as an existing heya
(a process requiring 12 tournaments in the top Makuuchi division, or a
combined total of 20 tournaments in Makuuchi and Juryo). However, because
the heya was dissolved and would now have to be re-established from
scratch, the criteria become much stricter, requiring 25 tournaments at
Sekiwake or Komusubi, or 60 tournaments in Makuuchi, a threshold Enhou does
not meet. One has to wonder if the Kyokai’s true intention was to erase any
trace of Hakuhou." (This theory was debunked a few times recently, but I'm
only the translator..)

Against this backdrop, the November tournament in Fukuoka approaches. For
Hakuhou, Fukuoka holds special significance: it was the site of his first
kinboshi and his 63-bout winning streak; it is also the location where he
secured the highest number of yusho, tied only with the March tournament.
He enjoyed strong support there, with a koenkai for Miyagino beya that
boasted over 200 members following his retirement. The Miyagino beya’s
Kyushu tournament lodgings, formerly located within the grounds of a temple
in Sasaguri, Kasuya District, now sit as an empty, cleared lot; the
facility was vacated for reconstruction, and the rikishi were subsequently
placed under the temporary care of  Isegahama beya. A senior member of the
koenkai remarks: "The koenkai has been completely disbanded. Everyone held
out hope until May, but just as Enhou became a sekitori and qualified for a
toshiyori miyoseki, the Kyokai dissolved the heya. It feels as though all
hope has been extinguished. Given the scandal involving Terunofuji,
specifically, the assault on his own deshi Hakunofuji, we had truly hoped
for the revival of Miyagino beya... We are deeply disappointed in the
Kyokai."

Although it has been announced that Hakuhou will become the president of
the International Sumo Federation, the global governing body for amateur
sumo, there is no longer a place for him to return to, even if his former
deshi were to achieve great success under the Kyokai's umbrella.


Shukan Post

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Best regards,
Gaijingai

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