Former yokozuna Hakuho to leave sumo association
Quitting the JSA means the former yokozuna will no longer be part of the sumo wrestling world as a stablemaster, a role responsible for training and mentoring junior wrestlers. The JSA accepted his resignation and he will officially leave the association on June 9.
Hakuho, who is currently in Mongolia, is expected to hold a news conference next week, according to media reports.
The Miyagino stable shut down in February 2024 after one of its wrestlers, Hokuseiho, was found to have been regularly beating junior wrestlers in the same stable. Hakuho was demoted and received a pay cut for failing to prevent the incident.
After the stable shut down, its members moved to the Isegahama stable, headed by Isegahama oyakata, better known as former yokozuna Asahifuji.
In a statement, JSA said it had been discussing with Hakuho and other board members about restoring the stable after the November basho, trying to persuade him to stay on but without success.
'I've tried multiple times to persuade him to stay, to be patient a bit more, since the stable will be restarted soon, but he was adamant,' Asahifuji was quoted as saying in the statement.
Asahifuji also noted that Hakuho seemed to be 'less passionate' in training junior wrestlers, apparently because his mind was elsewhere with him considering resignation.
Local media reports said Hakuho was discontent with Asahifuji's decision to appoint former yokozuna Terunofuji, with whom he doesn't have a good relationship, as the new stablemaster for Isegahama stable. The decision was approved by the association the same day.
The physical abuse incident tainted the career of the former yokozuna, who won 45 Emperor's Cups with 1,093 makuuchi victories, both record highs. In 2009 and 2010, he had a record 86 wins in a year.
Born as Davaajargal Monkhbatyn, Hakuho became the 69th yokozuna in 2007 at the age of 22. He became a naturalized citizen of Japan in 2019 and retired as a wrestler in 2021.
Japan Times sumo columnist John Gunning has described former Hakuho as arguably 'the greatest wrestler in the 2,000-year history of sumo,' comparing his achievements in the sport to the likes of Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Information from Jiji added
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