Re: Some remarks about the Natsu basho

[Dale Carlson <drc@oz.net>]

At 11:36 PM 5/31/01 +0900, Doreen Simmons wrote:
>>This may be findable in the archives, but can an active rikishi
>>inherit and run a heya- like if Takatoriki were to stay active
>>somehow for a few more years?
>
>OTOH, there's nothing in the rules that says that Taiho *has* to hang on 
>till he's 65. He's not in the best of health and may be happy to relinquish 
>the reins to his son-in-law. If he wants to soldier on, however, then 
>Takatoriki would become Odake oyakata and move to Taiho-beya as a coach 
>until he takes over; in either case it will become Odake-beya, since 
>Taiho's name retires with him.

But were Taiho to retire tomorrow, would Takatoriki have to retire
as well to take over the then Odake-beya? It isn't possible to
become oyakata while an active rikishi, is it- like a "player-
coach"? Seems like I remember this happening earlier in the
century (perhaps with a yokozuna). Even if that happened in the
past, there may well be a rule aginst it now, I guess. 

Has an oyakata ever died or retired suddenly, forcing his still-active 
heir to retire from the dohyo to become an oyakata, in order to keep the 
heya open?

Thanks,
Dale