June 7th
Miyabiyama's mother dies; former Ozeki leaves for Hawaii anyway
Miyabiyama's mother, Masami Takeuchi, passed away yesterday at a hospital in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. She was 66. Mrs. Takeuchi was hospitalized after collapsing on June 2nd due to a brain hemorrhage. The former Ozeki would make the trip to Mishima (less than an hour from Tokyo by shinkansen) each morning after practice to see his mother in the hospital. Miyabiyama's mother couldn't speak, but her son indicated that she would respond to his voice by moving parts of her body. The viewing and funeral arrangements have yet to be determined, but Miyabiyama boarded a plane headed for Hawaii to take part in the Hawaiian exhibition tournament beginning this Saturday. "My mother's biggest pet peeve was when someone took a day off of work," Miyabiyama gave as his reason for traveling to Hawaii. The Musashigawa stablemate lost his father in October 2004.

The other Makuuchi rikishi took off for Hawaii as well departing from Narita Airport. The exhibition will be held at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu beginning on June 9th and continuing through June 10th. The two-day exhibition will consist of knock-out tournaments each day with the winner on Saturday receiving the Mayor's Cup and winner on Sunday receiving the Governor's Cup. Yokozuna Asashoryu invited his parents along for the trip and explained, "I am taking good care of them." Yokozuna Hakuho will also perform his first dohyo-iri overseas at the sport's highest rank. After Hakuho's promotion became official, the venue in Hawaii reported a sudden increase in ticket sales by about 1,000.

June 6th
Hakuho gains unorthodox fan
Yokozuna Hakuho apparently now has the gods (at least one of them) in his favor in his quest to find the true sumo way. The Miyagino-beya post-basho party was held yesterday at the Kamedotenjin Shrine located near the stable. Previously, the stable would just hold their after-tourney parties within the stable facilities, but now with a new Yokozuna on their hands, they have had to find a bigger venue. Kumagataini-oyakta explained the reasons for the choice, "I told Hakuho after his promotion that he would still need to study and learn each day. Kamedotenjin enshrines the scholar Sugawara Michizane, so it works out perfectly. I'm thankful for this arrangement." Three years ago Hakuho attended a festival at the shrine and even helped carry the mikoshi (small, portable shrine), so he already has ties to the shrine. He'll also apparently have the ghost of Suguwara Michizane rooting him on now.

June 5th
Sumo Association eyes exhibition in Los Angeles
The Sumo Association announced yesterday that they are planning an exhibition tournament in Los Angeles for June of next year. The Association dispatched some members of the Jungyo Committee to Los Angeles at the end of last month to begin preliminary preparations and talks. Takadagawa-oyakata commented, "About 300,000 first and second generation Japanese live in LA, so we want to make this an event they can look forward to and be proud of. That's our role as an Association." The sumos (as people ignorantly say) first visited LA in 1952 when a whole three rikishi were sent for an exhibition. Three subsequent exhibitions where held after that with the last occurring in June 1981. Next year's visit will mark 27 years since the sumo caravan has visited Los Angeles. Bi-lingual posters are being planned to promote the event, and mawashi will even be sent to local Japanese schools so the students will have a chance to bump chests with the rikishi. "We still need sign-off from the Directors and the rikishi, and the exact schedule has yet to be determined, but exhibitions go smoothly when there are lots of Japanese around. We really hope to pull this one off," Takadagawa-oyakata concluded.

June 4th
Three rikishi get snipped
The danpatsu-shiki, or top-knot cutting ceremony, was held for former Komusubi, Kyokushuzan on June 2nd at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Thousands of fans were in attendance including 500 people from Mongolia who chartered two airplanes to attend the event. Around 230 people took turns snipping away at Kyokushuzan's mage including the former Mongolian President Natsagiin Bagabandi and Yokozuna Asashoryu, who four years ago was boiled in a feud with his senpai. "I did some pretty severe things to him, but I'm sad to see him go." Kyokushuzan commented, "I could have never imagined when I first came over that there would be two Mongolian Yokozuna during my time. Sure, we had our moments, but they are all fun memories now." Regarding his future, Kyokushuzan explained, "Folks back home are telling me to run for public office, so I don't know what to do."

Yokozuna Hakuho, who also had his turn to snip away at Shu's locks, performed his first dohyo-iri in the Ryogoku Kokugikan as part of the overall ceremony. The Yokozuna still looked a bit stiff as this was only his second day on the job. "I'm still rushing it I think, so I don't have room to relax," he explained afterwards. Regarding Kyokushuzan, the pioneer who paved the way for other Mongolians to enter Japanese sumo, Hakuho commented, "It's because of Shu-zeki that I entered sumo. This dohyo-iri is just one way I can say thanks to him." Hakuho faced fellow Yokozuna, Asashoryu, in a friendly bout and was beaten by tsuri-dashi. "We still have many bouts to come," Hakuho explained seemingly unfazed. Hakuho's duties as Yokozuna are finished for now until he heads for Hawaii on June 7 to take part in the Hawaiian exhibition.

On June 3rd, former Juryo rikishi, Ohga, had his top-knot snipped as well at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Approximately 160 people took turns snipping away at Ohga's mage including famous anime creator Yaku Mitsuru and Yokozuna Asashoryu, who was a stablemate of Ohga, and Kaio, who hails from the same hometown (Fukuoka). Ohga, whose claim to fame was performing the bow twirling ceremony for the last 3 1/2 years and becoming the first Juryo rikishi to perform the ceremony in 31 years, will retire to Fukuoka where he plans to open up a chanko restaurant. "I'm hoping to open my restaurant by the time the Kyushu basho rolls around so I can treat my former stable mates to delicious chanko-nabe." Ohga also performed the bow twirling ceremony for the final time at the event. Appreciative spectators called out "artist!" and "Japan's best!" as Ohga exhibited his craft. After the event, Ohga's wife, a hair stylist, fashioned his hair into an all back style. "I was able to have my wife perform the final piece of life on the dohyo. I have no regrets."

And finally, former Juryo rikishi Fukuzono also had his top-knit snipped at a large stateroom in the Ryogoku Kokugikan facilities. Ozeki Kaio and approximately 150 others took turns snipping Fukuzono's hair. "I want Kaio-zeki to continue his long run," Fukuzono commented afterwards. Fukuzono made his debut with Kaio in Haru 1988.