Latest news with #WorldSumoGrandSlam
Japan Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Hakuho's new venture not an automatic 'Grand Slam'
World Sumo Grand Slam was the moniker used by former yokozuna Hakuho to describe his next venture during a retirement press conference on Monday. It's a smart move to adopt a label used for golf and tennis majors that also evokes imagery of dynamic sumo finishes. In addition to being instantly recognizable and easy to remember, World Sumo Grand Slam is a very catchy name. Unfortunately for those hoping for more details, that's all it seems to be — at least for the moment. Given the suddenness of his departure from professional sumo, it isn't surprising that Hakuho hasn't yet worked out the particulars of this new path. Even so, it was disappointing to receive so little of substance from Hakuho during what was ostensibly an announcement of future plans. The fact that nothing seems to have been decided beyond a vague notion of something related to global sumo was obvious in the hesitant and at times confusing language used by the participants. For example, at one point "rikishi" rather than "senshu" was used to describe international sumo wrestlers, though the former is a term exclusively reserved for those in ōzumo. And while he was no doubt being allegorical, Hakuho's claim that each country has its own yokozuna was a reminder that wrestlers who didn't come up through the collegiate or international amateur systems often have a poor understanding of exactly how those organizations work. The mixing of amateur and professional sumo terminology was unfortunately reminiscent of past failed efforts to create a commercially viable version of international sumo. The most recent of those, World Championship Sumo – a U.S. based production that featured amateurs facing off against former ozumo stars such as Osunaarashi and Wakanoho — hasn't been heard from since a social media post 12 months ago claiming that it was about to 'take off.' It's a reminder that while there has been no shortage of excitement and enthusiasm expressed about Hakuho — arguably sumo's greatest ever exponent — turning his full attention to the global game, expectations should be kept in check. WCS, despite putting on several sold-out shows at large venues and receiving extensive media coverage from outlets such as Jomboy with millions of followers, was unable to parlay early gains into sustained success. Twenty years ago an even bigger production 'World S.U.M.O. Challenge: Battle of the Giants" sold out the almost 20,000-seat Madison Square Garden in New York. With an event that featured taiko drumming and pageantry more akin to professional wrestling, that 2005 tournament was broadcast live on ESPN and covered by CNN, with its participants making appearances on shows such as 'Regis and Kelly' and 'The Late Show with David Letterman.' Despite all the attention and strong ticket sales, plans for a worldwide sumo tour never came to fruition and World S.U.M.O. Challenge met the same fate as every other attempt to create a viable professional sumo organization outside Japan. Hakuho poses with the Brazil team at the Sumo World Championships in Osaka on Aug. 28, 2015. | John Gunning Of course, none of those efforts were led by a 45-time Emperor's Cup winner with significant backing from some of Japan's biggest companies. And Hakuho isn't a total novice when it comes to international or amateur sumo, with his namesake tournament — the Hakuho Cup — being arguably the biggest and most important event on the calendar for elementary school boys, and the Dream Girls Tournament a trailblazing effort to provide something similar for girls. Even so it's going to take significant work — in countries where he has little to no name recognition — for Hakuho to establish a commercially sustainable sumo venture. That's of course assuming World Sumo Grand Slam is even intended to be a professional sports organization. The lack of details in Monday's press conference left it uncertain whether Hakuho's new project will be a professional sporting body or an effort to enhance and build on existing amateur sumo structures. With the stated goal of getting sumo into the Olympic Games, it could very well be the latter. Should that be the case, the former yokozuna may find that the politics and factionalism inherent in amateur sumo are far deeper and more bitterly fought than even those in ōzumo. Over the past three decades, amateur sumo has seen numerous spats and schisms with every split of a governing body or usurping of power weakening the sport and leaving athletes out in the cold — in an activity which can ill-afford to lose participants. And while some may hail Hakuho as a hero riding in on a white horse to save the day, there are plenty who will see the yokozuna's arrival as a threat to their power. Just as there has been backlash in flag football circles to NFL players assuming they can waltz in and take slots on national teams for the 2028 Olympic Games — particularly when many of them display a lack of even the most basic knowledge about the sport — so too may there be resistance in amateur sumo's halls of power to 'outside' interference, even if it comes from the sport's most decorated champion. There is no doubt that ōzumo's loss is international sumo's gain, and having someone with the profile and powerful backing that Hakuho brings opens up all kinds of exciting possibilities. But whether it's a new professional organization, or the improving of existing amateur structures, the scale of the challenge is enormous. Until Hakuho shows he's able to win outside the ring in the same manner that he did inside it, expectations should be tempered.
Japan Forward
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Forward
Beyond Yokozuna Hakuho, Deeper Problems Beset Sumo Association
Hakuho remains a respected yokozuna, a grand champion of sumo, and is considered one of the sport's all-time greats. However, Hakuho also bears considerable responsibility for disrespecting the traditions of Japan's national sport. It is unfortunate but unavoidable that he must exit the sumo world. The Mongolia-born Hakuho won 45 top-level tournaments during his illustrious career. Then, after retiring, he became the master of the Miyagino sumo stable. Now he has been forced to retire from the Japan Sumo Association. The Miyagino stable was ordered closed due to the abuse of young wrestlers in the beya (stable) by one of Hakuho's subordinates. The suspect himself is also a top-level ( makuuchi ) wrestler. Prospects for its revival now appear unlikely. That was just one of the reasons for Hakuho's resignation. At a June 9 press conference, Hakuho announced that he aims to establish a new international sumo organization. He plans to work to popularize and develop the sport worldwide. Stablemaster Miyagino (left) and sumo wrestler Hokuseiho bow in apology before reporters at Miyagino stable in Tokyo on February 23, 2024. (©Kyodo) Some people argue the decision to close Hakuho's beya was too harsh. They compare his punishment to that meted out to others in the past who have had scandals involving bullying or other forms of violence. However, the fact is that when Hakuho was formally named a toshiyori , or "elder," he signed a pledge to abide strictly by its rules. During his active career, Hakuho was notorious for his sometimes flagrant misconduct. He showed disregard for the traditions of the national sport and the rank of yokozuna. For example, he sometimes unilaterally skipped steps expected of a yokozuna when entering the dohyo. Other times, he employed dangerous elbow strikes during his bouts. It seems fair to say that how he mismanaged his subordinate's violence justified the association's concerns. Hakuho should take this opportunity to reflect on whether he ever had what it takes to successfully run a sumo beya . The Japa Sumo Association's poor governance has also been shocking. In October 2018, it announced a zero tolerance policy for violence and proposed training for stablemasters and wrestlers. However, even after that, violent incidents related to sumo stables continued to occur. Asashoryu (2010) and Harumafuji (2017), both yokozuna, retired due to their own violent behavior. And stablemaster Takanohana (former yokozuna Takanohana) resigned in 2018 after clashing with the association over how it handled the violence his disciple Takanoiwa suffered at the hands of Harumafuji. Since the Heisei era, 11 wrestlers have become yokozuna (excluding currently active wrestlers). However, six (including Hakuho) have already left the world of sumo. This is abnormal, to say the least. (From left) Retired yokozuna Hakuho and Masahiro Morii at a press conference about the World Sumo Grand Slam they are planning and Toyota's sponsorship of the project. In Tokyo on June 9. (©Sankei by Kanata Iwasaki) No one can deny Hakuho's accomplishments. At a time when faith in the national sport had hit rock bottom due to professional baseball gambling and match-fixing scandals, he restored the popularity of sumo through his efforts both inside and outside the ring. And how can we ever forget how he stood at the forefront of efforts to support areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake? The association proved unable to develop such a great person into a leader in the sumo world. And in the wake of the recent scandal, it left him in a state of limbo without indicating if or when he would be able to reopen the stable. Isn't how the association operates also one of the root causes of the problem? The number of Japanese rikishi (sumo wrestlers) continues to fall due to the country's declining births. In addition, younger people are turned off by the old-fashioned, violent culture that continues within the sport. It is wrong for the Japan Sumo Association to try to pin all the blame on Hakuho's character. Nor can it summarily close the curtain on the issue because he has departed. (Read the editorial in Japanese .) Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
Sinar Daily
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Sinar Daily
Retired great Hakuho says leaving sumo after bullying scandal
Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year. 09 Jun 2025 04:45pm Former Yokozuna Hakuho attends a press conference to announce his retirement from the Japan Sumo Association and future plans in Tokyo on June 9, 2025. Retired sumo great Hakuho said he was quitting the ancient Japanese sport after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) TOKYO - Retired sumo great Hakuho said Monday he was quitting the ancient sport in Japan after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege. "It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo," the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming he was "leaving the Japan Sumo Association". Mongolian-born former yokozuna Hakuho speaks during a press conference to announce his retirement from the Japan Sumo Association and future plans in Tokyo on June 9, 2025. Retired sumo great Hakuho said he was quitting the ancient Japanese sport after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP) "I have no regrets," he said, adding that his family supported his decision. Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year. The 40-year-old was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of his protege Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them. Sumo has been dogged by multiple scandals in the past including allegations of bullying, illegal betting and links to organised crime. Hakuho, who returned to Tokyo from Mongolia for the press conference, said he had "cried a lot". Having no clear indication of when the stable could resume operations was the main reason for his decision to walk away, he said. Japanese media said last week that the sumo association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho's resignation. Hakuho said Monday he was "moving on to a new dream" and that in the future "I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world". "I believe that... sumo can bring hope to resolve the discrimination, prejudice and roughness in the world today," he said. An adviser to the company Hakuho is setting up to promote sumo said that the new project called "World Sumo Grand Slam" targets amateur wrestlers. Hakuho was born Munkhbat Davaajargal and was the son of a champion Mongolian wrestler who won his country's first Olympic medal at the 1968 Games. Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15. He was turned away by most stables because no one wanted someone "as pale and skinny as me", according to his 2016 autobiography. But he managed to persuade a trainer to take him on and made his sumo debut in 2001. Hakuho won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history. He took Japanese citizenship in 2019, a requirement to run his own stable. Six of the last seven sumo grand champions, including Hakuho, were born in Mongolia. - AFP More Like This
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Retired great Hakuho says leaving sumo after bullying scandal
RETIRED sumo great Hakuho said Monday he was quitting the ancient sport in Japan after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege. 'It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo,' the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming he was 'leaving the Japan Sumo Association'. 'I have no regrets,' he said, adding that his family supported his decision. Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year. The 40-year-old was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of his protege Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them. Sumo has been dogged by multiple scandals in the past including allegations of bullying, illegal betting and links to organised crime. Hakuho, who returned to Tokyo from Mongolia for the press conference, said he had 'cried a lot'. Having no clear indication of when the stable could resume operations was the main reason for his decision to walk away, he said. Japanese media said last week that the sumo association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho's resignation. Hakuho said Monday he was 'moving on to a new dream' and that in the future 'I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world'. 'I believe that... sumo can bring hope to resolve the discrimination, prejudice and roughness in the world today,' he said. An adviser to the company Hakuho is setting up to promote sumo said that the new project called 'World Sumo Grand Slam' targets amateur wrestlers. Hakuho was born Munkhbat Davaajargal and was the son of a champion Mongolian wrestler who won his country's first Olympic medal at the 1968 Games. Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15. He was turned away by most stables because no one wanted someone 'as pale and skinny as me', according to his 2016 autobiography. But he managed to persuade a trainer to take him on and made his sumo debut in 2001. Hakuho won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history. He took Japanese citizenship in 2019, a requirement to run his own stable. Six of the last seven sumo grand champions, including Hakuho, were born in Mongolia.
Japan Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Today
Retired yokozuna Hakuho says he wants to expand sumo to the world
Former yokozuna Hakuho speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Monday, to deliver a farewell message following the reported acceptance of his resignation and to outline his future plans. By Natsuko FUKUE Retired sumo great Hakuho said Monday he was quitting the ancient sport in Japan after his wrestling stable was closed because of a bullying scandal involving his protege. "It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo," the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming he was leaving the Japan Sumo Association. "I have no regrets," he said, adding that his family supported his decision. Hakuho won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year. The 40-year-old was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behavior of his protege Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them. Sumo has been dogged by multiple scandals in the past including allegations of bullying, illegal betting and links to organized crime. Hakuho, who returned to Tokyo from Mongolia for the press conference, said he had "cried a lot". Having no clear indication of when the stable could resume operations was the main reason for his decision to walk away, he said. Japanese media said last week that the sumo association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho's resignation. Hakuho said Monday he was "moving on to a new dream" and that in the future "I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world. "I believe that... sumo can bring hope to resolve the discrimination, prejudice and roughness in the world today," he said. An adviser to the company Hakuho is setting up to promote sumo said that the new project called "World Sumo Grand Slam" targets amateur wrestlers. Hakuho was born Munkhbat Davaajargal and was the son of a champion Mongolian wrestler who won his country's first Olympic medal at the 1968 Games. Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15. He was turned away by most stables because no one wanted someone "as pale and skinny as me", according to his 2016 autobiography. But he managed to persuade a trainer to take him on and made his sumo debut in 2001. Hakuho won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history. He took Japanese citizenship in 2019, a requirement to run his own stable. Six of the last seven sumo grand champions, including Hakuho, were born in Mongolia. © 2025 AFP
