Winning isn’t everything
Posted: January 25, 2010 | Author: Doug | Filed under: Japan | 4 Comments »I found this article recently on the Asahi Shimbun and thought it was a really nice story. This is about a veteran sumo wrestler named Kaiō Hiroyuki (魁皇 博之, JP Wikipedia link here), who has never won the title of grand champion or yokozuna (横綱), but has been the longest sumo wrestler currently in the top machūki (幕内) division (out of 6 possible divisions in professional sumo), and holds the next highest-title of ōzeki (大関, champion).
His perseverance has won him the respect of many fans:
Ozeki Kaio Hiroyuki set a new record with 808 career wins in the makuuchi division.
All other wrestlers whose names appear near the top of the most-wins list have been well-known yokozuna. At 37, Kaio is the oldest wrestler in the makuuchi division.
Perhaps he was able to achieve the feat because he doesn’t feel the pressure that comes with the title of yokozuna. Be that as it may, it is not easy to always be “the second strongest.”
While others have passed him by in achieving the rank of yokozuna, Kaio’s strength is legendary:
His grip is apparently so strong that he can rip open frozen faucets and crush apples with one hand. His power would be comparable to that of yokozuna if he could only get an outside grip of his opponent’s mawashi with his right hand and throw him down or push him out of the ring.
But he has earned a reputation as being something of a “gentle giant”:
In Tuesday’s record-breaking bout, his opponent was Chiyotaikai Ryuji. It was the 54th time the two had met in the ring. While they were at one time both ozeki veteran wrestlers, Chiyotaikai was demoted to sekiwake [junior champion] after having chalked up more losses than wins in the November tournament. He is now said to be considering retirement.
Kaio grabbed Chiyotaikai from behind and tossed him out of the ring. When Chiyotaikai stood up, Kaio gently placed his arm around his back.
So while Kaio has never reached the status of Grand Champion, he’s proven to be the consummate sumo wrestler with his excellent technique and good sportsmanship. Winning isn’t everything if one can leave such a positive legacy behind. 
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
The match versus Chiotaikai was very moving. Having watched replays of his defeat over and over that night, he announced his retirement in the morning. Chiotaikai and Kaio have been Ozeki for as long as I can remember, many Yokuzuna have come and gone. As you noted they met 54 times, and there is no doubt in my mind Kaio knew he had just sealed the fate of his long time rival.
In recent years many at the top have not been Japanese Sumo wrestlers: some people have said that the sportsmanship has been compromised as a concequence.
Not having too much of an opinion on that front, it was still a great gesture from Kaio, and maybe befittingly it all took place in the Kyushu tournament, home to both wrestlers.
Stephen
Hi Rev. Stephen! I think you hit upon a good point: yokuzuna’s come and go, but these two guys have really stayed with it a long time, and the rank of ōzeki is quite respectable too, especially if you can keep it this long. I wish I could have seen the match though. Do you know any good Youtube links or some such? Sounds like a really good match.
Sayonara Chiyotaikai is the name of this clip
I feel sorry for just leaving this clip (very bad sumo) so here is one more like Chiyotaikai, famous for his hand thrusts
Chiyotai held the rank Ozeki longer than anyone else.
Stephen
BTW I made a mistake, the round was in Tokyo.
Wow I see what you mean about the hand-thrusts. That’s pretty wicked. I remember once seeing a show with guest Konishiki, and he demonstrated a sumo-style slap on someone versus a regular slap. The really good sumo guys really know how to use their body for extra power, so with the sumo-style slap, the poor celebrity guy was literally floored!
Thanks a lot for posting both!