Photo/Illutration Retired yokozuna Hakuho speaks at a June 9 news conference in Tokyo. (Wataru Sekita)

One week after resigning from the Japan Sumo Association, retired yokozuna great Hakuho said he isn't leaving the sport entirely but wants to take sumo global and support it outside the JSA. 

At a news conference on June 9 that lasted about an hour, Hakuho, 40, explained why he decided to leave the JSA rather than continue as stablemaster Miyagino. 

He said he had decided in March to resign from the association, but waited until after the conclusion of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament held in Tokyo in May to make a formal announcement.

Hakuho said he would establish a new company designed to turn sumo into a global sport and which he would head.

“I have been loved by sumo and have in turn loved sumo for the past 25 years,” Hakuho said. “I am here today to inform all of you that I am leaving the association and moving forward toward a new dream. Thinking about my current position, I decided it would be better to make every effort to further develop sumo from outside the association rather than within it.”

He said he wanted to work toward creating a world sumo grand slam tournament as well as to make it an Olympic sport.

Hakuho added that the religious roots of sumo helps to foster the physical and mental sides of an individual to make them better people.

“I believe it will be possible to transmit the fundamentals of sumo in order to rid the world of discrimination and prejudice,” Hakuho said.

He explained that various proposals were raised within the JSA about what to do with his Miyagino stable, which had been placed under the auspices of the Isegahama stable.

That was a result of disciplinary measures taken against Hakuho for violent acts by some of his stable members that were not reported to the JSA. 

Hakuho said nine stable members decided to retire rather than join a stable suggested by the JSA. Some had insisted on joining the Oshima stable now headed by the former Kyokutenho.

But Hakuho said JSA officials did not approve such a move because Kyokutenho was also originally from Mongolia, like his own country of origin. 

Hakuho also brushed off media reports that suggested he was upset that the retired yokozuna Terunofuji would become the new Isegahama stablemaster rather than himself.

Hakuho said he feels like a father to Terunofuji since he introduced him to a sumo stable when he joined the sumo world.

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