SUMO - The Passing of the Baton...errrr...BOW

Sumo has a new yumitori with the retirement of Oga. His name is Minanosato. At the moment, he is in sandanme - and judging from his sumo performance in May (3-4), he will remain within that rank, but at a lower level than at the May basho.

Initially, when I heard of Oga's retirement, I conjectured that Hananosato would be the likely successor due to

similarities in physical characteristics. To these old eyes, Oga is quite handsome and on the "slim" side......as rikishis go; ditto for Hananosato. On the other hand, Minanosato is a bit meatier, if you will, and has more of a cute baby-face. (You've GOT to see his wonderful smile!) Well, I don't know if there were auditions, or how Minanosato was chosen, but he is certainly doing a fine job.

As I mentioned in my post about the 20th Yusho party, Minanosato told me he was extremely nervous about performing the yumitori-shiki, or bow twirling ceremony, for the first time in public on the first day of the May tournament. He was particularly fearful of any upset (perceived or real) in the last bout where the spectators tend to throw zabuton onto the dohyo. While the twirling requires a somewhat loose grip on the yumi, or bow, a carelessly thrown

zabuton could knock the bow from his hand and he would be required to pick it up with his feet/toes and continue on. Thankfully, this never happened - although he DID get hit in the head with a cushion after one of Asashoryu's losses - and in Nagoya in July, the yumitori duties will be shared with the designated twirler from the newly ascendant yokozuna Hakuho's heya.

Just one anectidote: although everyone commented on what a fine figure Oga cut as bow-twirler  - me, included - Kimura Shonosuke, the tate-gyoji when Oga was made yumitori always said that while Oga looked really good doing

the ceremony, he was excruciatingly slow and the tate-gyoji would just about get sore squatting for the duration of Oga's performance. If Shonosuke-sensei hadn't retired back in 2005, he would likely be really happy with Minanosato's swift execution of the "twirl".

As for Hananosato, he will have his chance in Hawaii to do the yumitori-shiki and I can't wait to see him at it!

For anyone who hasn't seen Minanosato do his thing, here's one of the videos of his performance that I took:  Yoisho, Minanosato!

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