Re: [sumo] More WakaTaka after the Kyokai Service

[Jeanne Hedge <sumo@jhedge.com>]

At 09:30 PM 6/13/2005, Joe Kuroda wrote:
>At the Memorial Service held for Futagoyama Oyakata in
>the Kokugikan on June 13, Masaru Hanada lighted the
>incense right after the chief mourner Takanohana
>oyakata and left without saying anything or making any
>overt gesture towards his brother, The ceremony was
>attended by 4800 people.
>
>Rather than doing interviews with the media, Masaru
>has sent a fax to saying, "This matter is strictly a
>private affair within the Hanada family and I'd like
>to refrain from making any further comment regarding
>this issue."
>
>"As I should be in the position to guard the Hanada
>family legacy, I feel deeply reponsible for the
>current  uproars," Masaru added.
>
>Meanwhile as if to falling into the dark side,
>Takanohana oyakata did strike back and attack his
>older brother by appearing on a live news program on
>Nihon TV network only three hours after the Kyokai
>Memorial Service ended.
>
>"There is only one truth. That's not doing it by a
>fax, I want him to come out right here on live TV and
>respond to me with his own words," Takanohana oyakata
>shot back.
>
>"I am taking the ashes back to my home. When I think
>of the shisho, I want to stay as close to him as
>possible and as well we also have his grandson,"
>
>Before the ceremony, Takanohana oyakata picked up the
>ashes from his brother's house in less than two
>minutes without responding to his brother's greerting.
>
>
>Initially he promised to his brother that he would
>bring back the ashes once the service was over but
>when he had it in his possession, he felt there was no
>need to hand it back to his brother or anyone else.
>
>Normally the ashes will be kept by the relatives until
>the burial ceremony which takes place 49 days after
>the death.  As the 49th day will be close to the start
>of Nagoya Basho, the oyakata is planning to have one
>on July 3 and until then he is expected to keep it at
>his house.
>
>"It was a magnificent service we had today,"
>Takanohana oyakata commented proudly with a chilling smile.

I'm sorry, but I find Takanohana's behavior through all of this quite
disgusting.

This fuss with his older brother Masaru (Wakanohana III), making claims to
position within the family that, as the younger brother, he just doesn't
have in Japanese society. Not to mention taking all available public
opportunities to snipe at him, while Masaru appears to be taking the high
road in public.

Claiming the certificates were lost and asking that they be reissued to
him, when it turned out his father *had* given them to someone else for
safekeeping. From what I read of his comments, it sounds as if he was very
much aware of where they were when he asked for them to be reissued to him.
To echo the thoughts of someone else on another sumo forum, it appears to
me Takanohana was "trying to pull a fast one".

Now Takanohana appears to have lied to his brother about their father's
remains, running off with them to do what he wants. Not to mention sniping
at Masaru on live TV for Masaru having been on live TV himself (huh?)

He's just another egomaniac prima donna sports star running amok, just one
of many around the world and nothing special at all.  I'm sure his beloved
the sumo association is quite proud of him. Yeah boy, now *there's* a guy
that people in the sumo world should look up to and emulate.

Regards,
Jeanne Hedge



[EndPost by Jeanne Hedge <sumo@jhedge.com>]