Shunichi Tokura’s Controversial Statement on Mongolian Yokozuna

The word dignity has become a mere word

Hoshoryu, who was promoted to the 74th Yokozuna at 25, still faces doubts regarding the decision.

On January 28, all nine members of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee participated, and the decision was made “unanimously” to promote him. However, his performance at the January tournament raised concerns, as he lacked consistency with a 12-3 record. Though he managed to win the tournament by defeating lower-ranked wrestlers like Oho (24) and Kinpoyama (27), he didn’t show overwhelming strength.

“His combined total of 33 wins over the last three tournaments met the minimum requirement for Yokozuna promotion, and he also met the standard of ‘two consecutive championships as Ozeki or equivalent results.’ However, there were opinions within the association that it might be better to wait another tournament. But with Terunofuji retiring in January, leaving a gap in the Yokozuna ranks, there was a real concern that this would result in a vacant position for the first time in 32 years.

Also, with the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 set to begin in April, the Grand Sumo Expo is scheduled for August 3, and the Yokozuna’s ring entrance is one of the highlights. There were clear efforts to avoid a vacancy in the Yokozuna position,” said a sports newspaper reporter.

In a sense, it could be seen as a compassionate decision. After the committee meeting, composer Shunichi Tokura (76), a committee member, remarked,

“Not all Mongolian Yokozuna have had the dignity of a Yokozuna, right? Their fighting spirit is good, but they need to be aware that this is the national sport. They should receive guidance from the Tatsunami stable.”

This comment sparked criticism on social media, with users commenting, “It may be true that some Mongolian Yokozuna lacked dignity, but this isn’t the time to say that during Hoshoryu’s promotion,” “What about the dignity of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee?” and “The word ‘dignity’ has become meaningless.” Some even pointed out, “Isn’t this hate speech?”