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Sumo News
Hanaregoma-oyakata dies suddenly
May
18th - The former Hanaregoma-oyakata, a director of the Sumo Association's board
and former commissioner, died suddenly today at the age of
66. He was visiting a golf practice facility in Tokyo with family
members when he suddenly fell ill and collapsed around 2 PM. Hanaregoma
was rushed to a nearby hospital by ambulance and was pronounced dead
shortly after 3:21 PM. The cause of death is being reported as heart
disease.
During his active career, Hanaregoma-oyakata fought under the name of
Kaiketsu and rose as high as the Ozeki rank. During his 13 year career
which ended in 1979, he never once went kyujo. He coined the phrase, "kyujo
wa shiai houki da," or kyujo is a dereliction of duty. Fighting
alongside such names as Kitanoumi, Wajima, and Takanohana I, Kaiketsu
was a popular figure in the 70's and known as "Clean Kaiketsu." During
his first year at Nichidai University as a member of the judo club, he
was scouted by the then Hanaregoma-oyakata and convinced to join sumo.
He took five years to reach the Makuuchi division but quickly rose to
the sanyaku and then picked up his first career yusho by defeating
Kitanoumi in a playoff at the 1974 Kyushu basho. Recently,
Hanaregoma-oyakata was best known for his assuming the reins of the
Association during the yaocho scandal that forced several board members
to temporarily step down including then commissioner, Kitanoumi Rijicho.
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