The guy is undeniably great, but the fact that people have to justify his current state with this sort of comment is quite sad, really. He deserves to go out with a bang... not like this.
I'm not going to write him off as finished just yet, but almost every great athlete reaches that point where the years of punishment add up to more than all the heart and spirit can overcome.
I truly believe he will come back again win another yusho and then decide on his own terms. He clearly showed in the practice matches and the couple matches he fought this basho that he is still head and shoulders above the rest through technique alone. The real question now is can he ever get 15 straight days of health in a row? I root for greatness and hope he can exit as befits his commitment to the sport. He has been a shining example of total mastery of his art.
I say, give him 1 or maybe 2 more tournaments to get one more win, then he should retire. I don't want him to go, but I just don't think his body can take much more. As it is, it might be past the point of no return.
It's genuinely heartbreaking, coming to terms with the idea that the King of the Dohyo isn't the man he used to be. He'll be missed when it's his turn to retire. But we can at least be proud in saying that we were there to witness one of the most dominant sumo wrestlers to grace the clay
What a beautiful narration and yet so sad video. I sadly never had the chance to see Haluho fighting in person, so him getting older and retiring soon really makes me sad.
Time is ruthless. My generation had Chiyonofuji fading out of sumo and missing him in our hearts every basho after he retired and now my friends, it is time that you will experience the same sad feelings with Hakuho. Time is ruthless...
Hakuho 3 years ago would have pushed through a hurt knee. Now i believe he took the safe route. Gave himself 2 matches to show that he still got what it takes to win, and then back to recovery. I hope he will be back full force next tournament.
I'd love to genuinely believe that this is the case. I'm not prepared for his retirement kakuryu's retirement is saddening as well, the current high ranking ones are somewhat lacking to replace them. I thought in dec that asanoyama can hold it down if one of them retires terunofuji has the power takakeisho has it as well shodai and the other guys are a little lackluster imo. Hopefully he can pull off one more basho and Enho be there to send his master off.
He will win one more basho... I suspect the one closest to the Olympics. And then he will bring the curtain down on the most dominant career in modern sport.
@Shane Tera Lerdsila won 84% of his fights... not quite Hakuho standards. Sanderson competed in what is essentially an amateur sport for 4 years... again, not exactly the same. All of the ones you mentioned are great. No disrespect. I just find Hakuho to be the most impressive of them all.
I was walking down a corridor at the Incheon airport in Korea and turned a corner and came face to face with the up and coming Hakuho. He was just standing there by himself. I was sumo-mad at the time and totally surprised seeing him. All I could do was shake his hand and say that you'll be ozeki soon. Wow, what a prediction. If I had any true sense of foresight I would have said you will be the greatest of all time!
You wish. Apparently, we were on the same flight from UB to Seoul. He got off to stretch his legs and him being in first class and me in the back, he got off first. He was on his way to Japan from Mongolia. The plane does a UB-Seoul-Tokyo/Tokyo-Seoul-UB run. I also met Kyokutenho and Kyokushuzan on another flight. They were on their way to Mongolia from Japan continuing out of Seoul and I was on the same flight. The flight to UB was delayed because they had to replace a row of three seats that broke under the weight of Kyokushuzan. I was sitting in the first row of economy and they were sitting near the back of first class. I got them to sign a magazine in which they were both featured.
I don't think its correct to call him a "shattered" man. He has reached a place that EVERY yokozuna has reached. Would you have described Chiyonofuji shattered at the end of his career. He's reached the end of a career unlike any other. At least you finally admitted you always wanted him to lose. If he is at the end then I choose to congratulate and thank him.
Hakuho the imperfect man vs Hakuho the perfect symbol. In time, all of us must accept that our idols are just as flawed as we are and that what we thought they were was just a stupid fantasy as well as not holding it against them. That's the hardest pill to swallow
Noooooo. End of an era. I'm so grateful to Chris for hooking me into sumo a few years ago so I got to experience him at the end of his greatness! I watched 15/0 and my jaw dropped. I remember it well!
At least he went left the basho with a win. I hope he gets well, rest hit knee and his body. This video gave me goose pimples, thank you got your great content!
since i watched "Way of the Wolf" nearly a 30 times right now.. i feel almost a bid Sad for Hakuho, but this is the Way of Life, he reached everything he can go for (except for Futabayama's Record), still iam Impressed how his Body is able to manage all of this,scuh an Atlethic Form. Hakke Yoi hakuho
Excellent piece thank you Chris and I am very sad to think we wont be able to see the great Hakuho at his best again, however I am grateful that I have seen him at all. Thanks DC
Hakuho has made many who never watched or cared about Sumo now watch. I am impressed with his amazing force in Sumo. I am a fan of his and always will be whether he wrestles or not.
Soon we will say goodbye to Hakuho... But then we will say hello to Hakuho Oyakata! I assume that his ichidai-toshiyori status is a formality at this point, and I will enjoy seeing him train up his successors full-time, as well as the continuation of the Hakuho cup!
Coming back to this episode really helps putting things into perspective! The uncertainty and doubt against Hakuho's winning chances leading up to the July tournament simply makes the all-win victory in the end even more extraordinary!
Sumo are warriors and warriors that cannot fight must retire. A Yokozuna must fight and do not hide at the doctors with excuses. The greatest ever also needs to fight or retire and receive the praise of fond memories and honor. Hakuho is the GOAT, but a GOAT must fight. With all due respect.
I started watching Sumo last year and this man really caught my eye the first day I watched sumo and soon all day I was watching Hakuho's bouts. Had a wish to physically see this man's bout in the dohyo but I guess that's not gonna happen. Thank you Hakuho for making me fall in love with Sumo. He's surely gonna stay the king of the sport ❤️
It's way cool you got to see him. I came into sumo right before the scandal with Haramafuji. His energy, strength and wrestling savvy, made him one fun rikishi to watch. I'm sure you could find Hakuho and Haramafuji vids on YT! Stay well oh sumo fan!
@@blueeyes6852 Ah man. It's surely amazing to see Harumafuji because how unpredictable his bouts were. I have seen quite a few Harumafuji vs Hakuho and loved all of them. You stay well too !
Although I am pleased with the competitive nature of current sumo, it's sad to see Hakuho's era end. After dominating the ring for so long he defines his era. As one of the greatest Yokozonas in history, every upcoming prospect, every new Ozeki, and every new Yokozuna will be measured against him and most probably over-shadowed by him. We can see a similar (not identical) effect in American football with Tom Brady. The greatest QB of all time, so dominant and for such a long period of this game's history. There are now players in the NFL who played Brady on their Madden NFL when they were kids, watched his games, and even been coached by him in youth players camps. Not unlike Hakuho's youth tournaments and prospects he groomed (and will surely groom after his retirement) over the years. Prospects we can now see try their strength fighting up the Banzuke. It’s the human condition for us, at the end of an era, to reminisce - Where we were in life when we first saw him fight, where are we now. What do we remember of him now, what do we remember of him (as a fighter) in twenty years How much am I missing seeing him fight Asashoryu… I think although we saw it coming - we weren’t ready for this …even those of us secretly hoping he will lose a fight to see a more competitive scene 😊 Thanks, Chris Keep up your tremendous work!
I appreciate this video so much. I’ve been thinking this for the last eight months, that the man who comes back will be a shade, nothing but the shadow absent the man...
It is truly sad though, I used to love the energy of the matches in the 2009-2012 era . Man... I can’t wait to see who the next seriously charismatic fighter is.
True Chris, so true. The difference between the Hakuho we used to know and the injured fighter we see today is getting hard to ignore. Not that I'm not still trying ... I guess it's time to celebrate the legend instead of expecting anything more from a man.
He was a short time removed from the coronavirus who's lasting effects are still not known. It's not like he isn't in the high risk group. He will win once again and you'll look bad when he does
Chris, your prose is poetic. Thank you for your wonderful analysis. You're one of the finest commenters of any sport today. I hope we see Hakuho make a strong return in July, but I won't be surprised if he retires from competition.
Such an inspired piece of writing. I lament coming to sumo only a year ago and missing the reign of Hakuho. That second bout with Takarafuji, even if Hakuho was "forced" to wait for him to move first, showed just how quick Hakuho is able to feel an redirect an opponent's force. There just doesn't seem to be anyone right now who has that refined martial arts sense to Hakuho's level.
Great text Chris. I'm saddened that I won't be able to see him live. I had plans to go Japan last year, but you know, there's a little pandemic going on.
Its sad to see. I don't want him to retire but I think his body has already made the decision for him. Fingers crossed he can make one more return before the Olympics and go out on his own terms but sadly, that may not be possible.
Well it seems that hakuho just wants to be in the Olympics and will continue wrestling, even like this, until he finally makes his doyoiri at the Olympics. And he deserves it. Is his last dream
Wow Chris, what a tribute that was! I almost cried, then I laughed when you said 'salamander-like powers of limb regeneration'! Must say, I've never read such an odd and humorous sentence before! That was golden! Thank you for all you do Chris! Happy first day of spring! 🌱
However he ends up leaving the dohyo for good, I'm sure glad I was able to witness him perform in person a few times. Truly amazing presence when he was in full flight. I hope he gets his Olympics dream and then can be the GOAT oyakata instead 😅
Well said and you put to words what I was thinking. I wish him a speedy recovery. If not to fight again at least to have no problems from this inn retirement for none of us truly knows what the future will bring.
I hope he can come back, perhaps win a basho or at least finish it and just after that retire. He has been my idol for years now, i even have the chance to meet him and talk to him, but yes, he is the shadow of the great yokozuna he was. Time past sadly, but all good stories have an end.
Stirring video @Chris Sumo. The only parallel I can think of in sheer utter dominance statistically across any sport would be Donald Bradman in cricket. Hakuho is literally several deviations better than the next closest rikishi. We won't see anyone close to him again in our lifetimes.
True, though the result of his dominance is that the battle to replace Hakuho and Kakuryu is completely wide open , as so many of the lower ranks regularly beat the current group of Ozeki. Logic would say Asanoyama is the most likely to be the next yokozuna, and Terunofuji if he stays fit, fitness being the same factor with takakeisho. Fascinating times ahead !!
C'mon dude. This is maybe the best ever in a CENTURIES-old sport. Every athlete had that time beyond their prime. The day this dude retires is the day sumo loses a literal legend.
There wont be another like him for a very long time. But even now: You see a man of failing talent, I see a legend of failing body with the wisdom to use his talent to snatch victory from men in what counts as their prime (As sad as that prime may be when compared to Hakuho of a decade ago) Hakuho has forgotten more about the art of Sumo than most other rikishi ever even knew, and he still lays them out when he is able to enter the Dohyo. Who among us is the man we were a decade ago. Youth fades... Talent ages. Someday (probably soon) Hakuho's body will fail him beyond the point that his talent can compensate. When that happens we should all remember that this happens to everyone who has ever lived past adulthood. First we doubted him. Then we feared him. Now we should respect him. Soon we'll miss him.
I got the impression from the way he was talking prior to last summer was that Hakuho was holding on to represent Sumo at the Tokyo Olympics and planned to retire shortly afterwards. The postponement has wrecked this scenario and so he has been holding on for the games another full year. 36 years old seems to be the ultimate expiration date in Sumo and in my almost 5 years of being a crazed fan, I haven't seen anyone go beyond that and certainly not a Yokozuna. I am grateful to have witnessed the greatest that has ever been and for Sumo, that is saying something. I will miss everything about him in competition, from the way he throws the salt (overhand) to the shimmy he does before he steps onto the Dohyo and the way he laughs to himself every time he knows he got away, again, from a certain defeat. But this won't be good-bye. Hakuho's commitment to Sumo and Japan means we should see him working with his own cadre of wrestlers. Btw, this was a very nice piece, Chris, I enjoy your commentary. You really get right in there like no one else has.
And still, he won against the defending champ. A younger man, more fired up and motivated than him. I still believe we will see him one more tournament. And he will amaze us all again.
Thank you for the perspective. His body just doesn’t move like it did before. Such a sport that at still a young age for other professions 35 or 36 Is and old body when it comes to sumo. I to wished to watch him lose before and I to was sad to hear he was done. Let him enjoy the Olympics as a Yokozuna he deserves every second.
Too stark, too dramatic a statement. He is older, he has had Covid he has had injuries. But he is and always will be Hakuho. We will see what more he has for us but ,as we all should know by now, recovery from Covid is its own journey.
We all have all wittnesed the greatest Rishiki Sumo of all time , and as such the gold age has been upon us I feeel blessed to not have wittnessed this on grainy old film but live !...I am happy for this
We must not forget that this man was infected , quite recently, with COVID -19 . Τhis virus overwhelms the physical strength and endurance of every human being, even a giant like him. That's why he seemed so weak. I do believe he will recover. In any case, he is a myth and will remain a legend . I am a big fan of him from Greece
it is very sad, if I remember correctly he was aiming to retire after olympics. Was it held in the time he would retire on top. Still his score is legendary and if it happened in 17th century people would just wave it off as legends that no one like him could have existed.
A little over-dramatic. Reminds me of people saying similar things about Roger Federer many years ago. And soon after, he went on to win a few more grand slams. Or Muhammad Ali - "a shell of what he used to be blah blah". I'm not saying Hakuho is the exact same he was a few years ago. But watch him win another basho this year and people who are now very loud getting very quiet.
He may be just a man now and almost certainly on his way out, but he's still awesome. That throw on day 2 might not have been the classic Mongolian fling into the nearest spectators but it was clean af.
Any sumo who can make it to Yokozuna and show staying power and grace is a real Winner. The likes of Hakuho will rarely be seen in future Sumo. They men are wrecked by the time they get there.
Sumo not the same without him, Kakuryu and Haramafuji. AFTER HARAMAFUJI was forced to retire, I noticed something broke in their Spirit and will. It was a demoralizing event. Haramafuji helped bring a brotherhood of Yokozuna ... HAKUHO, kakuryu, and HARAMAFUJI.. Both HAKUHO and KAKURYU LOST SPIRIT, after his forced retirement
Even though he had time off, part of it was recovering from Covid. In addition, his body looked soft compared when he entered the ring as compared to his most recent tournaments. He was not the Hakuho we have come to know.
I've been researching. The great man's slide began to emerge as far back as late 2016, and since then he has completed fewer bashos than he has dropped out of. Beginning with the September 2017 basho, things got worse. Even ignoring the last four no-shows, he has completed only 2/5 of events since then. In total, he's finished only one third of the last 21 bashos. Four years is a very long time to be so consistently struggling to even climb onto the dohyo. I did not expect to find that result. On the other hand, here are the results of Hakuho's last 10 real appearances: 7 yushos 1 jun-yusho 1 11-4 record 1 ugh! (January, 2019) It's a very conflicted picture.
I hope this doesn’t force him into retirement 😓 even with all the critics of him, he’s held sumo in the highest regard for his own image of it. You can tell he truly loves sumo, I just hope this isn’t the end. I believe we’ll see him have one more showing
![[Live] : ONE FIGHT NIGHT 26 วันนี้!! “คริสเตียน vs อาลิเบก”](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UlIiZ3t8nHQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![เปิดบ้าน โคตรสวย ป๋องกพล รู้จักตั้งนาน เพิ่งรู้ว่ารวย!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tmgCF_2HfYI/mqdefault.jpg)
He earned every weakness he now has with decades of greatness.
That was such a great comment! 😊
Best comment ever
The guy is undeniably great, but the fact that people have to justify his current state with this sort of comment is quite sad, really. He deserves to go out with a bang... not like this.
hallelujah
legends never die
I'm not going to write him off as finished just yet, but almost every great athlete reaches that point where the years of punishment add up to more than all the heart and spirit can overcome.
I truly believe he will come back again win another yusho and then decide on his own terms. He clearly showed in the practice matches and the couple matches he fought this basho that he is still head and shoulders above the rest through technique alone. The real question now is can he ever get 15 straight days of health in a row? I root for greatness and hope he can exit as befits his commitment to the sport. He has been a shining example of total mastery of his art.
I say, give him 1 or maybe 2 more tournaments to get one more win, then he should retire. I don't want him to go, but I just don't think his body can take much more. As it is, it might be past the point of no return.
exactly
Nobody is invincible
@@blargh3428 except 36 year old Hakuho who just won his 45th top division championship, I mean... 💁🏻♂️
It's genuinely heartbreaking, coming to terms with the idea that the King of the Dohyo isn't the man he used to be. He'll be missed when it's his turn to retire. But we can at least be proud in saying that we were there to witness one of the most dominant sumo wrestlers to grace the clay
I guess that a 15 and 0 win proves you wrong.
And I'm happy to be wrong this time XD
What a beautiful narration and yet so sad video. I sadly never had the chance to see Haluho fighting in person, so him getting older and retiring soon really makes me sad.
Only *pain*
Time is ruthless. My generation had Chiyonofuji fading out of sumo and missing him in our hearts every basho after he retired and now my friends, it is time that you will experience the same sad feelings with Hakuho. Time is ruthless...
Hakuho 3 years ago would have pushed through a hurt knee. Now i believe he took the safe route. Gave himself 2 matches to show that he still got what it takes to win, and then back to recovery. I hope he will be back full force next tournament.
He's going to have a surgery and will be out the next Basho. But perhaps in July then!
I'd love to genuinely believe that this is the case. I'm not prepared for his retirement kakuryu's retirement is saddening as well, the current high ranking ones are somewhat lacking to replace them. I thought in dec that asanoyama can hold it down if one of them retires terunofuji has the power takakeisho has it as well shodai and the other guys are a little lackluster imo. Hopefully he can pull off one more basho and Enho be there to send his master off.
He will win one more basho... I suspect the one closest to the Olympics. And then he will bring the curtain down on the most dominant career in modern sport.
didn't expect you here
He will win all the bashos... if he got the body. He no longer does. It's over.
@@Fabi_87 yes, it's still isn't clear
@Shane Tera They might... but they'd be wrong.
@Shane Tera Lerdsila won 84% of his fights... not quite Hakuho standards. Sanderson competed in what is essentially an amateur sport for 4 years... again, not exactly the same. All of the ones you mentioned are great. No disrespect. I just find Hakuho to be the most impressive of them all.
I was walking down a corridor at the Incheon airport in Korea and turned a corner and came face to face with the up and coming Hakuho. He was just standing there by himself. I was sumo-mad at the time and totally surprised seeing him. All I could do was shake his hand and say that you'll be ozeki soon. Wow, what a prediction. If I had any true sense of foresight I would have said you will be the greatest of all time!
I smell bullsh*t
You wish. Apparently, we were on the same flight from UB to Seoul. He got off to stretch his legs and him being in first class and me in the back, he got off first. He was on his way to Japan from Mongolia. The plane does a UB-Seoul-Tokyo/Tokyo-Seoul-UB run. I also met Kyokutenho and Kyokushuzan on another flight. They were on their way to Mongolia from Japan continuing out of Seoul and I was on the same flight. The flight to UB was delayed because they had to replace a row of three seats that broke under the weight of Kyokushuzan.
I was sitting in the first row of economy and they were sitting near the back of first class. I got them to sign a magazine in which they were both featured.
I wish, I, was a fish
@@Mulavi I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and believe it.
@@Beos_Valrah I also went to a ceremony for Asashoryo in UB. Got to say hi to him outside afterwards. The end.
It felt that way at the time, but after winning no. 45, Hakuho is not "the king we used to know." He's still got it!
I don't think its correct to call him a "shattered" man. He has reached a place that EVERY yokozuna has reached. Would you have described Chiyonofuji shattered at the end of his career. He's reached the end of a career unlike any other. At least you finally admitted you always wanted him to lose. If he is at the end then I choose to congratulate and thank him.
Hakuho the imperfect man vs Hakuho the perfect symbol. In time, all of us must accept that our idols are just as flawed as we are and that what we thought they were was just a stupid fantasy as well as not holding it against them.
That's the hardest pill to swallow
The fantasy isn't stupid. Its fun
We need Hakuho vs Terunofuji at least one more time damn it
But will it really be Hakuho vs Terunofuji?
@@rigeus no.
@@christianaguirre4560 u sure?
Happy?
@@christianaguirre4560 I also wonder how sure you are about that
Noooooo. End of an era. I'm so grateful to Chris for hooking me into sumo a few years ago so I got to experience him at the end of his greatness! I watched 15/0 and my jaw dropped. I remember it well!
Hakuho is just facing the inevitable truth of life.
At least he went left the basho with a win. I hope he gets well, rest hit knee and his body. This video gave me goose pimples, thank you got your great content!
"I got the feeling something was going to permanently change and perhaps for the worse." Welcome to the dread sense I get every day when I wake up!
right? I wallow in this feeling daily...
Anxiety disorder is a serious thing guys, I’d consult a doctor if I were you. Hope it gets better
Beautifully put. This piece is probably my favorite of yours so far this year.
since i watched "Way of the Wolf" nearly a 30 times right now.. i feel almost a bid Sad for Hakuho, but this is the Way of Life, he reached everything he can go for (except for Futabayama's Record), still iam Impressed how his Body is able to manage all of this,scuh an Atlethic Form. Hakke Yoi hakuho
I too watched way of the wolf so many times. I don't know why but it's such a nice documentary for sumo lovers.
Hakuho is undiputed greatest. But Father time is undefeated. But Father time had to work his ass off like never before.
Excellent piece thank you Chris and I am very sad to think we wont be able to see the great Hakuho at his best again, however I am grateful that I have seen him at all. Thanks DC
Hakuho has made many who never watched or cared about Sumo now watch. I am impressed with his amazing force in Sumo. I am a fan of his and always will be whether he wrestles or not.
Yup! Lol, I just started 5 days ago, and even finished that anime about Sumo.
8 whole months to focus on recoveries and lasted just 2 days. Damn.
Getting covid didnt help things
@@bennybooboo6789 covid didn’t do shit, Hakuho is a 340lb man and his joints are finished
@@bennybooboo6789 covid really use that card huh
@@AntonioLopez-kw3ev what do you mean? The dude had covid. He couldn't train for 2 months.
@@bennybooboo6789 covid isnt the reason why his body is all messed up idiot
Hakuho will probably be the GOAT, for all time. Nothing can take that away from him.
And after all this, Hakuho in his 10th day still dominates the July Basho with 0 losses. What a legend you are Mönkhbatyn.
Soon we will say goodbye to Hakuho... But then we will say hello to Hakuho Oyakata! I assume that his ichidai-toshiyori status is a formality at this point, and I will enjoy seeing him train up his successors full-time, as well as the continuation of the Hakuho cup!
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
A slave stood behind the conqueror...
...holding a golden crown...
...and whispering in his ear a warning...
... that all glory...
...is fleeting.
Thanks Chris, this was melancholic and poetic👍🏼 we will all miss the GOAT
Hakuho is BACK :) No more tears :)
I do believe that he has one more chance to shine before his retirement.
;)
15 and 0 seems fairly definitive.
Coming back to this episode really helps putting things into perspective! The uncertainty and doubt against Hakuho's winning chances leading up to the July tournament simply makes the all-win victory in the end even more extraordinary!
Sumo are warriors and warriors that cannot fight must retire. A Yokozuna must fight and do not hide at the doctors with excuses. The greatest ever also needs to fight or retire and receive the praise of fond memories and honor. Hakuho is the GOAT, but a GOAT must fight. With all due respect.
I started watching Sumo last year and this man really caught my eye the first day I watched sumo and soon all day I was watching Hakuho's bouts. Had a wish to physically see this man's bout in the dohyo but I guess that's not gonna happen. Thank you Hakuho for making me fall in love with Sumo. He's surely gonna stay the king of the sport ❤️
It's way cool you got to see him.
I came into sumo right before the scandal with Haramafuji. His energy, strength and wrestling savvy, made him one fun rikishi to watch.
I'm sure you could find Hakuho and Haramafuji vids on YT!
Stay well oh sumo fan!
@@blueeyes6852 Ah man. It's surely amazing to see Harumafuji because how unpredictable his bouts were. I have seen quite a few Harumafuji vs Hakuho and loved all of them. You stay well too !
Although I am pleased with the competitive nature of current sumo, it's sad to see Hakuho's era end.
After dominating the ring for so long he defines his era.
As one of the greatest Yokozonas in history, every upcoming prospect, every new Ozeki, and every new Yokozuna will be measured against him and most probably over-shadowed by him.
We can see a similar (not identical) effect in American football with Tom Brady.
The greatest QB of all time, so dominant and for such a long period of this game's history.
There are now players in the NFL who played Brady on their Madden NFL when they were kids, watched his games, and even been coached by him in youth players camps.
Not unlike Hakuho's youth tournaments and prospects he groomed (and will surely groom after his retirement) over the years.
Prospects we can now see try their strength fighting up the Banzuke.
It’s the human condition for us, at the end of an era, to reminisce - Where we were in life when we first saw him fight, where are we now.
What do we remember of him now, what do we remember of him (as a fighter) in twenty years
How much am I missing seeing him fight Asashoryu…
I think although we saw it coming - we weren’t ready for this
…even those of us secretly hoping he will lose a fight to see a more competitive scene 😊
Thanks, Chris
Keep up your tremendous work!
Great take..
Nice shoutout to Lalo Schiffrin! Excellent work, Chris, as always.
"Says WHO???" - Hakuho July 2021
I appreciate this video so much. I’ve been thinking this for the last eight months, that the man who comes back will be a shade, nothing but the shadow absent the man...
The man that was is just a fantasy
It is truly sad though, I used to love the energy of the matches in the 2009-2012 era . Man... I can’t wait to see who the next seriously charismatic fighter is.
True Chris, so true.
The difference between the Hakuho we used to know and the injured fighter we see today is getting hard to ignore.
Not that I'm not still trying ...
I guess it's time to celebrate the legend instead of expecting anything more from a man.
He was a short time removed from the coronavirus who's lasting effects are still not known. It's not like he isn't in the high risk group. He will win once again and you'll look bad when he does
He's not done yet. He can still beat every rikishi out there
Time to cut dat chom magi...
Chris, your prose is poetic. Thank you for your wonderful analysis. You're one of the finest commenters of any sport today. I hope we see Hakuho make a strong return in July, but I won't be surprised if he retires from competition.
Such an inspired piece of writing. I lament coming to sumo only a year ago and missing the reign of Hakuho. That second bout with Takarafuji, even if Hakuho was "forced" to wait for him to move first, showed just how quick Hakuho is able to feel an redirect an opponent's force.
There just doesn't seem to be anyone right now who has that refined martial arts sense to Hakuho's level.
Great text Chris. I'm saddened that I won't be able to see him live. I had plans to go Japan last year, but you know, there's a little pandemic going on.
No king rules forever
Wow, Chris! Thank you for that thoughtful post. I felt all that you expressed in it just the way you said it.
Its sad to see. I don't want him to retire but I think his body has already made the decision for him. Fingers crossed he can make one more return before the Olympics and go out on his own terms but sadly, that may not be possible.
Well it seems that hakuho just wants to be in the Olympics and will continue wrestling, even like this, until he finally makes his doyoiri at the Olympics. And he deserves it. Is his last dream
He has become a real life All-Might. Thank you sir.
Wow Chris, what a tribute that was! I almost cried, then I laughed when you said 'salamander-like powers of limb regeneration'! Must say, I've never read such an odd and humorous sentence before! That was golden!
Thank you for all you do Chris!
Happy first day of spring! 🌱
However he ends up leaving the dohyo for good, I'm sure glad I was able to witness him perform in person a few times. Truly amazing presence when he was in full flight.
I hope he gets his Olympics dream and then can be the GOAT oyakata instead 😅
Well said and you put to words what I was thinking. I wish him a speedy recovery. If not to fight again at least to have no problems from this inn retirement for none of us truly knows what the future will bring.
I hope he can come back, perhaps win a basho or at least finish it and just after that retire.
He has been my idol for years now, i even have the chance to meet him and talk to him, but yes, he is the shadow of the great yokozuna he was.
Time past sadly, but all good stories have an end.
Dude. You are a very talented writer.
Stirring video @Chris Sumo. The only parallel I can think of in sheer utter dominance statistically across any sport would be Donald Bradman in cricket. Hakuho is literally several deviations better than the next closest rikishi. We won't see anyone close to him again in our lifetimes.
If he was healthy he’d still be King.
If...
If terunofuji or tochinoshin were they'd both be yokozuna
True, though the result of his dominance is that the battle to replace Hakuho and Kakuryu is completely wide open , as so many of the lower ranks regularly beat the current group of Ozeki. Logic would say Asanoyama is the most likely to be the next yokozuna, and Terunofuji if he stays fit, fitness being the same factor with takakeisho. Fascinating times ahead !!
great essay, chris. you are my favorite english-language sumo intellectual!
Fuckinell, Chris. You write these commentaries beautifully
C'mon dude. This is maybe the best ever in a CENTURIES-old sport. Every athlete had that time beyond their prime. The day this dude retires is the day sumo loses a literal legend.
Every kingdom goes through changes as time passes. We've yet to find the inheritor however.
There wont be another like him for a very long time.
But even now: You see a man of failing talent, I see a legend of failing body with the wisdom to use his talent to snatch victory from men in what counts as their prime (As sad as that prime may be when compared to Hakuho of a decade ago)
Hakuho has forgotten more about the art of Sumo than most other rikishi ever even knew, and he still lays them out when he is able to enter the Dohyo.
Who among us is the man we were a decade ago. Youth fades... Talent ages.
Someday (probably soon) Hakuho's body will fail him beyond the point that his talent can compensate. When that happens we should all remember that this happens to everyone who has ever lived past adulthood.
First we doubted him. Then we feared him. Now we should respect him. Soon we'll miss him.
And he is back...slapping his way through
I got the impression from the way he was talking prior to last summer was that Hakuho was holding on to represent Sumo at the Tokyo Olympics and planned to retire shortly afterwards. The postponement has wrecked this scenario and so he has been holding on for the games another full year. 36 years old seems to be the ultimate expiration date in Sumo and in my almost 5 years of being a crazed fan, I haven't seen anyone go beyond that and certainly not a Yokozuna. I am grateful to have witnessed the greatest that has ever been and for Sumo, that is saying something. I will miss everything about him in competition, from the way he throws the salt (overhand) to the shimmy he does before he steps onto the Dohyo and the way he laughs to himself every time he knows he got away, again, from a certain defeat. But this won't be good-bye. Hakuho's commitment to Sumo and Japan means we should see him working with his own cadre of wrestlers.
Btw, this was a very nice piece, Chris, I enjoy your commentary. You really get right in there like no one else has.
Hes done justice, he can retire and should. He has fought so much, its well deserved.
Yep, and there are new records for him to break, like training the most champions etc. Maybe even his own replacement?
I'm just grateful I lived in the era of chiyonofuji and hakuho, it does not get better than that if you are a sumo fan.
And still, he won against the defending champ. A younger man, more fired up and motivated than him.
I still believe we will see him one more tournament. And he will amaze us all again.
Thank you for the perspective. His body just doesn’t move like it did before. Such a sport that at still a young age for other professions 35 or 36 Is and old body when it comes to sumo. I to wished to watch him lose before and I to was sad to hear he was done. Let him enjoy the Olympics as a Yokozuna he deserves every second.
Don’t talk about him like he still can’t beat everyone
Too stark, too dramatic a statement. He is older, he has had Covid he has had injuries. But he is and always will be Hakuho. We will see what more he has for us but ,as we all should know by now, recovery from Covid is its own journey.
My heart sunk when I saw him unable to squat after day 2... One more time Hakuho...
We all have all wittnesed the greatest Rishiki Sumo of all time , and as such the gold age has been upon us I feeel blessed to not have wittnessed this on grainy old film but live !...I am happy for this
I'm preparing myself mentally for the news of his retirement. It can come any day now.
Sumo will enter an entirely new era after that. I wonder who will take Hakuho's place.
@@Dephire Probably no one. There will be more Yokozuna, but like him... It seems unlikely.
A case of Hakuho the kami versus Hakuho the man.
I so wanted him to have his Olympic opportunity.
A beautiful yet sad tribute
We must not forget that this man was infected , quite recently, with COVID -19 . Τhis virus overwhelms the physical strength and endurance of every human being, even a giant like him. That's why he seemed so weak. I do believe he will recover. In any case, he is a myth and will remain a legend . I am a big fan of him from Greece
Im new here, but this is a great channel, nice job!
I'm not ready yet...
me either
What the minds of the greatest must dwell upon whence their lustre has faded. All the best to the king of the ring.
the GOAT no matter what, even if this was his last, he still went out winning
it is very sad, if I remember correctly he was aiming to retire after olympics. Was it held in the time he would retire on top. Still his score is legendary and if it happened in 17th century people would just wave it off as legends that no one like him could have existed.
That "win" on Day 1 was a loss. Close, and no fault to anyone, but a loss nonetheless.
one of the greats its a pleasure viewing this wrestler from here in canada
A little over-dramatic. Reminds me of people saying similar things about Roger Federer many years ago. And soon after, he went on to win a few more grand slams. Or Muhammad Ali - "a shell of what he used to be blah blah". I'm not saying Hakuho is the exact same he was a few years ago. But watch him win another basho this year and people who are now very loud getting very quiet.
I prefer to believe this. No one really knows for sure, but I choose to see this situation as half-full. C'mon, it's Hakuho we're talking about.
And now...the time has finally come
very poetic
Assash out, Ama out, Kisena out, Teru sick, Tochinoshin injured....man Hakuho is a lucky lucky fellow
My heart crushes at the thought I could never have the chance to see him wrestle live...
The goat has left the building.
Now you're just the Hakuho that i used to know...
He may be just a man now and almost certainly on his way out, but he's still awesome. That throw on day 2 might not have been the classic Mongolian fling into the nearest spectators but it was clean af.
Any sumo who can make it to Yokozuna and show staying power and grace is a real Winner. The likes of Hakuho will rarely be seen in future Sumo. They men are wrecked by the time they get there.
Let s not rush we wait and look ok after All he is Hakuho MGL boy 😉👍
He has such a way with words...
Sumo not the same without him, Kakuryu and Haramafuji. AFTER HARAMAFUJI was forced to retire, I noticed something broke in their Spirit and will. It was a demoralizing event. Haramafuji helped bring a brotherhood of Yokozuna ... HAKUHO, kakuryu, and HARAMAFUJI.. Both HAKUHO and KAKURYU LOST SPIRIT, after his forced retirement
Even though he had time off, part of it was recovering from Covid. In addition, his body looked soft compared when he entered the ring as compared to his most recent tournaments. He was not the Hakuho we have come to know.
Seas would rise when he gave the word
It always hurts to see the superhuman move back down to regular status.
I've been researching.
The great man's slide began to emerge as far back as late 2016, and since then he has completed fewer bashos than he has dropped out of. Beginning with the September 2017 basho, things got worse. Even ignoring the last four no-shows, he has completed only 2/5 of events since then. In total, he's finished only one third of the last 21 bashos.
Four years is a very long time to be so consistently struggling to even climb onto the dohyo. I did not expect to find that result. On the other hand, here are the results of Hakuho's last 10 real appearances:
7 yushos
1 jun-yusho
1 11-4 record
1 ugh! (January, 2019)
It's a very conflicted picture.
I include March in the "last four no-shows." So sue me; it makes sense.
I hope this doesn’t force him into retirement 😓 even with all the critics of him, he’s held sumo in the highest regard for his own image of it. You can tell he truly loves sumo, I just hope this isn’t the end. I believe we’ll see him have one more showing
Sad but true. I wish it werent so.