Latest news with #Hakuho
Yomiuri Shimbun
14-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Toyota to Continue Loan of Century Convertible for Sumo Tournament Victory Parades
Toyota Motor Corp. has said that it intends to continue having a special edition of its Century convertible used in sumo tournament victory parades. The automaker revealed the plan on Saturday ahead of the opening of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday. During a general shareholder meeting on June 12, Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda had mentioned the possibility of suspending the loan of the car for such victory parades. The special edition of its flagship Century was developed after former yokozuna Hakuho, who has a connection with Toyoda, proposed the development of such a car when he was the Miyagino stablemaster. The convertible is designed to prevent its body from sinking even when ridden in by heavy sumo wrestlers, such as by strengthening the suspension springs. The car has been used by the winning wrestler since the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in 2024, but the automaker has ownership of the car. At the general shareholder meeting, Toyoda referred to the Japan Sumo Association's handling of Hakuho who left the association in June, saying: 'He is a great yokozuna who has supported sumo, which is a national sport. I honestly feel that this shouldn't be how [Hakuho's career in sumo] ends.' Toyoda also expressed his desire to suspend the loan of the Century. However, Toyoda was later informed by Hakuho that active sumo wrestlers are eager to ride in the Century should they win a tournament. That led the automaker to decide to continue the loan of the car, according to sources.
NHK
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Japan's Emperor, Empress attend traditional Mongolian sports festival ceremony
Japan's Emperor and Empress, now visiting Mongolia, have attended the opening ceremony of the Naadam traditional sports festival, which is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Naadam, which means festival in Mongolian, is held every year from July 11, marking the revolution day, through 13. It focuses on the three traditional games of horse racing, wrestling and archery. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the ceremony at a stadium in the capital Ulaanbaatar on Friday, along with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife. Seated behind the Imperial couple was former sumo wrestler and Yokozuna Grand Champion Hakuho, who was born in Mongolia. The Emperor also attended the event's opening ceremony 18 years ago when he was Crown Prince. The couple watched a parade of a mounted troop carrying a flag of Genghis Khan, the founder of the ancient Mongol empire, and a dance performance honoring the state guests. They then moved to another venue for a demonstration of traditional archers shooting at targets placed about 100 meters away. The Emperor and Empress cheered and applauded when both a male and a female archer hit the targets perfectly. President Khurelsukh also picked up a bow himself and shot an arrow into the sky, which drew smiles and more applause from the Imperial couple. The Emperor and Empress are scheduled to watch horse racing on the vast grassland on Saturday, which is one of the most popular sporting events in Mongolia.
Japan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Emperor and empress attend welcome ceremony in Mongolia
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Tuesday attended a welcome ceremony in Ulaanbaatar, part of a weeklong visit to the country that comes on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The imperial couple shook hands with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife, and were handed flowers from local children decked in traditional attire. The national anthems of Japan and Mongolia were played at the ceremony, with the emperor receiving a guard of honor. Accompanied by the Mongolian president and his wife, the imperial couple climbed up the stairs leading to the Government Palace, waving to people who gathered there. Among those at the welcome ceremony were former yokozuna sumo grand champions Asashoryu, Hakuho and Harumafuji. The emperor and empress then held a meeting with the president and his wife in a Mongolian portable home called a ger. The emperor said last week that he would use the visit to honor Japanese prisoners of war who were detained by the former Soviet Union after World War II and died in Mongolia. "I want to pay tribute to those who died far from their homeland and think about their hardships," the emperor said. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in August, the emperor and empress earlier this year visited Okinawa and Hiroshima prefectures, and Iwoto — also known as Iwo Jima. The emperor said the "suffering and sorrow" experienced by people in these places "should never be forgotten."
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Sumo Scene / Ex-Yokozuna Hakuho Retires from Japan Sumo Association; Aims to Spread Sumo Throughout the World
Former yokozuna Hakuho, who took a hammer to the record book during a career that included an unprecedented 45 makuuchi-division championships, has made a total break from the Japan Sumo Association. The ex-Miyagino stablemaster announced his resignation on June 9, declaring that he would now dedicate himself to promoting the sport outside the association as 'Hakuho Sho,' his adopted name since acquiring Japanese citizenship. I have been covering Hakuho from the time he joined the Miyagino stable after coming to Japan from Mongolia, to his professional debut in 2001, and through to the present day. I have seen my share of others who reached the rank of yokozuna, but none in my memory ever underwent such intense fluctuations in his career as Hakuho. From the very start he quickly rose up the ranks, eventually pulling equal to predecessor and fellow Mongolian Asashoryu. In stark contrast to Asashoryu's 'bad boy' reputation, Hakuho established a strong image as a straight-laced model student. However, this aspect of Hakuho gradually changed after Asashoryu retired in 2010 to take responsibility for a scandal. Around that time, Hakuho began to dominate the other wrestlers as the lone yokozuna, at one point putting together a 63-match winning streak. At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Hakuho took a leading role in reconstruction activities as a representative of the sumo world. He also actively worked to regain the trust of fans after the sport suffered a decline in popularity due to a series of scandals that included match-rigging. However, Hakuho also came under increasing criticism for his heavy-handed techniques during bouts, such as harshly striking opponents or battering them with a forearm to the chest. This win-at-all-costs approach by a yokozuna was condemned as 'lacking the dignity' of the rank. When it came to sumo, there was no doubt Hakuho was peerless in terms of his passion for constantly trying to better himself. He trained diligently, and always made time to study the techniques and tactics of past greats by watching videos of their bouts over and over again. Yet he also showed many aspects of a negative side that affected his popularity, which made him one of those rare wrestlers who divided sumo fans and was either loved or hated. At a press conference following his retirement from the association, Hakuho said, 'I want to move forward in pursuit of a new dream. I want to work to spread sumo throughout the world.' Many eyes will be on his future activities. — Kamimura is a sumo expert.
Kyodo News
14-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Sumo: Hakuho reveals company, Toyota chairman heads amateurs' body
KYODO NEWS - 8 hours ago - 22:35 | Sports, All, Japan Former grand champion Hakuho announced the name of his new company on Saturday as he looks to promote the sport through the concept of a "world sumo grand slam" after leaving the Japan Sumo Association. Earlier in the day, the Japan Sumo Federation, which oversees the amateur side of the sport, unanimously elected the chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. and long-term Hakuho supporter Akio Toyoda as its new head. Hakuho's new company, Hakuho Dayan Sumo & Sports Inc. named after a Mongolian emperor, was unveiled at a party with some 200 of his supporters in Tokyo, including former Japan football star Keisuke Honda and former Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto. "I'm grateful," Hakuho said during the party after hearing of Toyoda's appointment. The Mongolian-born former yokozuna, who hopes sumo will one day become an Olympic sport, also indicated his intention of attending the sumo world championships in Bangkok in September. Toyoda, a supporter of the former grand champion since his wrestling days, was appointed for a two-year term at the federation after the 69-year-old expressed his interest in taking up the role this spring. The move follows Hakuho's decision to leave the JSA on Monday and promote the sport from outside the ruling body. Hakuho, who won a record 45 Emperor's Cups, left little more than a year after the indefinite closure of the Miyagino stable he had overseen as stablemaster, following revelations that one of his proteges had physically abused younger wrestlers. The 40-year-old has organized the Hakuho Cup, an international youth sumo tournament, since 2010 and his future interaction with the Toyoda-led federation could provide a new opportunity for the sport. Toyota Motor has an amateur sumo team and sponsors a national tournament. "It feels we've welcomed a strong leader," the federation's vice chairman Kozo Katsuda said. "We'll look into the idea (of collaborating with Hakuho) if there is such talk." Related coverage: Sumo: Kotozakura bids to get back on track by focusing on basics Sumo great Hakuho plans to promote sport from outside ruling body Sumo: Newly built IG Arena readying for big opening with Nagoya meet
