The "retired" Yokazuna - the straight dope!

[kimata@zeppelin.convex.com (Hiroki Kimata)]

Hi,there.
As for Martin's question,

   What is the REAL story behind the two Yokazuna (I don't even know
   their names) who were forced into "retirement" a few years back.
   Everyone I asked about this in Japan was REALLY reluctant to
   talk about it, and I never got a straight answer.  
   So, do any of you guys know?
   Hiroki, do you know something about this? (you may well have had
   more/better access than me to information at the time?)

I think one of them you are reffering to is Futahaguro, who became Yokozuna
when Chiyonofuji was still playing. He was forced into retirement mainly
due to his own problems. 
He was promoted to Yokozuna after a few consequtive '13-2'-like marks as
a Ozeki,but without any Yusho. Back then, as Chiyonofuji was almost the only 
power, Sumo Kyoukai wanted a new Yokozuna to raise the Sumo popularity.
In fact, he looked talented and people,include myself, thought he deserved 
to be promoted even without Yushou. But it turned out to be wrong when
he disappeared after he knocked his Oyakata down. Though I don't know what 
really happened, it was said that there were some problem with his own 
personality. He was also reported to have had bad treatment on his Tsukibito
rikishis. People felt like betrayed to their apreciation and it might
be one of the reasons why they are reluctant to mention about him.
As you may know, there are two kind of retirement,'Intai' and 'Haigyou'.
'Intai' means the Rikishi will have some relation to Sumo society after
retirement, like being Oyakata. 'Haigyou' means the Rikishi leaves Sumo
society completely. To be rare for former Yokozuna, he was forced into
'Haigyou'.   I think he is a pro-wrestler now.

I can't think of another rikishi who was forced into retirement.
In a meaning, some of Yokozunas, like Oonokuni, who couldn't make good results
as Yokozuna, could be regarded as being forced into retirement, though.

By the way, let me clarify that I ,of course, really apreciate Waka's 
great technics and attitude toward hard practice. IMO, he is the most 
skillful rikishi now. Adding that, his popularity in Japan is said to
exceed Taka's these days. I, however, feel a bit worried about the fact that
being too popular might cause some problems, like lack of concentration
caused by the eagerness of mass-comm to report his privacy, which often
happens in Japan. 

Anyways, 
Go!Go! Waka!! :-)

Hiroki Kimata
kimata@zep.convex.com
Convex Computer Corp
3000 Waterview Parkway, Richardson, Texas 75075, USA






	First of all, let me make it clear that I really