<div><div dir="auto">Thank you, Katrina for this intimate look into Yuji Hattori’s life. Another reason why I love being on this list.<br clear="all"><br>Jeff<br><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><br></div><div>For of all sad words of tongue or pen,</div><div>The saddest are these:</div><div>It might have been.</div><div>- John Greenleaf Whittier</div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Jun 7, 2025 at 6:46 AM Katrina Watts via Sumo <<a href="mailto:sumo@webtrek.com" target="_blank">sumo@webtrek.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)"><div dir="auto"><div><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">I was very saddened to learn of the death of my good friend, Yuji Hattori, former Fujinokawa of Isenoumi beya</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">Due to his success in amateur sumo, twice Student Yokozuna and twice All Japan Amateur Yokozuna, he entered sumo at Makushita level and secured the yusho there 7-0.  He was expected to do well in Ozumo and hailed as possibly the next student champion to become Yokozuna.  However, he explained to me that when he entered in 1983 he already had a herniated disc and his back problems only got worse, forcing him to retire in 1987.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">Fujinokawa’s story highlights Onosato’s success in achieving the rank of Yokozuna as only the college champion to achieve that rank since Wajima in 1973.  By the time these college champions enter Ozumo many of them already worn out or carry injuries,  and have a hard time living up to the promise of their amateur successes.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">Fujinokawa only reached makuuchi 3 before his retirement and told me that was a reason for him to leave the Sumo Kyokai.  In Ozumo you are always referred to be your highest rank, former yokozuna Hakuho, former komusubi Mainoumi.  Hattori didn’t want to be known as former Makuuchi 3 Fujinokawa, so left to undertake study at Tsukuba University where he gained a doctorate in coaching science.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">While working at Tokai University he began a sumo club, which did quite well but later closed, and was involved in research into sports related injuries, with a focus on sumo.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">He worked with the International Sumo Federation and I would see him at the Sumo World Championships until his back made long international flights difficult.  </span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:22px"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody"></span><br></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">A kind, intelligent and generous man with a great sense of fun and humour.  At 64 a great loss from cancer to his friends, family and students and to the world of sumo.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;line-height:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><span style="font-family:UICTFontTextStyleBody">Katrina</span></p></div><div dir="ltr"><br></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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