And in Sumo News

Things are really heating up on the way to the March basho, which starts this evening.

Most significantly since Hatsu basho, one makuuchi rikishi was forced to step down for super disgusting and cruel behavior. Not quite Yabu in the novel (and 2 mini series) Shogun, but he admitted to enjoying the pain he was inflicting on the younger members of his heya. I am guessing that the NHK broadcasters on the English side of the program, at least, will have a lot to say about this.

Also, the head of his stable, Miyagino Oyakata (formerly Hakuho, the winningest yokozuna in the history of sumo) is getting sent down, so to speak. He will not be allowed to run his stable, and it is unclear what his role will be. His punishment is for allowing the behavior that got the other guy canned. It's really serious.

There's a thing that happens when you retire from sumo but stay in the Association as an elder. The first thing you notice is that the rikishi is posted as sort of a guard in the tunnel that leads from backstage to the auditorium. He sits on a folding chair and wears a blue windbreaker. It's the first rung out of the world of the fighter on the way to other roles. Some folks work for the Association. Some take roles as commentators or broadcasters on NHK, and some become trainers in a stable. A rare few are able to buy sumo stock that allows them to take over a stable until the mandatory retirement at the age of 65.

Darn, I only have 3.5 years to join sumo, get good, retire from the ring and get elder stock so I can run a stable...

Anyhoo -- Hakuho got knocked down to the bottom. During this basho he will be wearing the blue windbreaker and sitting in the hanamichi, facing the dohyo. I wonder if anyone will refuse to bow to him when returning from the ring.