Updating the stories from last week about the status of Miyagino fka ex-Yokozuna Hakuho, his retirement request was accepted today by the Japan Sumo Association and will be official next Monday, June 9 when he reportedly returns from a trip back to his native Mongolia. Also today, the transfer of Isegahama Beya to ex-Yokozuna Terunofuji was made official and Isegahama was appointed as a special counselor to the stable despite having to retire, but as a former Yokozuna he also is given 5 years of elder stock and that reportedly means he’ll become, of all people, Miyagino. The stable is expected to reopen but not until the end of the year as reports from Nikkan Sports and YouTuber Chris Sumo indicates some within the Isegahama conglomerate, including stablemaster Asakayama who is also a Director in the Association, pushed for it to happen sooner AND for Hakuho to remain onboard, but the major dissenting voice was Hakkaku, the current Chairman of the Association, who reportedly didn’t get along well with Hakuho. Plus Hakuho reportedly didn’t want to be a junior on paper to his felloe Mongolian Yokozuna. There also was talk of moving the Miyagino wrestlers to Asakayama Beya. For now they remain Isegahama men. Chris Sumo also notes Hakuho does have his share of powerful allies inside and outside of sumo so this could set off a civil war of sorts. I liken what could happen to “Star Wars”, with the Association as the Empire and Hakuho as the Rebellion.
They didn’t take much if any action last week because it was a period of celebration for the promotion of Onosato to Yokozuna, the first Japanese born Grand Champion in roughly 8 years. The last one? Kisenosato, now Onosato’s stablemaster Nishonoseki.
