Former yokozuna Hakuho plans to retire from the Japan Sumo Association amid uncertainty about the future of his scandal-hit Miyagino stable, a source with knowledge of the matter said Friday.
Former yokozuna Hakuho, known now as elder Miyagino, is pictured at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena on May 25, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The Mongolian-born winner of a record 45 elite-level championships was serving as the Miyagino stablemaster when it was closed in April 2024 after then top-division grappler Hokuseiho was found to have physically abused two junior wrestlers.
Wrestlers and elders from the Miyagino stable transferred to the Isegahama stable indefinitely after the closure.
More than a year later, the future of the Miyagino stable has yet to be seriously discussed by the association’s board of directors, largely due to a belief that its reopening will not be feasible, according to a source.
The status of the stable is expected to be discussed at an extraordinary board meeting on Monday. If the retirement of the 40-year-old former grand champion, now known as elder Miyagino, is made official, he is likely to hold a press conference a week later.
Hakuho retired from competition in September 2021 and became a stablemaster the following July. He was found responsible and punished over the violent behavior of the Mongolian-born, Hokkaido-raised Hokuseiho, who retired from sumo over the scandal.
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AloJapan.com