A hard worker yokozuna retires! The reality of Hakuho becoming a “subordinate

Friday?　Thank you.”

When asked by a FRIDAY reporter, “Thank you very much for your 14 years of service,” retired yokozuna Terunofuji (33) replied, “I am very grateful for your hard work. It was January 24, two days before the last match of the tournament, and Terunofuji was in front of his Isekehama stable. In front of his Isekehama stable, he accepted a bouquet of flowers and agreed to be photographed, saying, “Please go through the (Japan Sumo) Association.

He is a hard worker who was promoted to yokozuna despite suffering from repeated knee injuries and diabetes, which caused him to drop to the second rank. At his retirement press conference, he said, “I’ve done too much,” but I think he really meant it. He had wounds all over his body, and it was difficult for him to walk normally.

From now on, he will be the stablemaster of the Isekehama stable, Terunofuji, and will be in charge of teaching the next generation of rikishi.

However, there are some challenges awaiting him.

The Isekehama stable has a former Hakuho stablemate, Miyagino Oyakata (39), who is also a former Hakuho. It is said that the two are “dog-and-monkey” buddies. The kicker was an incident that occurred in October 2005, when yokozuna Hima Fuji assaulted a rikishi in the flat rank (ranked at the time). Hakuho made Terunofuji, the junior yokozuna, sit on his knees and gave him a lecture. Terunofuji had injured his knee several times and underwent surgery. It seems that his knee continued to be in bad shape afterwards due to the sermon.

Isekehama Oyakata will reach the retirement age of 65 this July. If all goes well, Terunofuji will take over the stable. Hakuho, who is attached to the stable, could become “subordinate” to Terunofuji, his junior. However, Reiko Yokono, a sumo journalist, believes that the association will avoid such a situation.

I believe that Hakuho’s temporary assignment to the Isekehama stable (due to the misconduct of his apprentice) will be lifted when Isekehama becomes retired, and the Miyagino-ya stable will be re-established. There is an opinion within the association that it is still too early to reestablish the stable, but there is also a strong feeling of pity for the innocent rikishi from the same stable.

The association’s decision will determine Terunofuji’s future.

From the February 14, 2025 issue of FRIDAY