Yokozuna Kakuryu May Unworthy of Grand Champion Title

A few episodes ago, Zaikei penned on the growing popularity of Sumo and mentioned certain aspects of Sumo contrary to its century-long tradition.

Today, another episode is due on the honor and dignity of Sumo as seen from the viewpoint of shoulds and should-nots of Grand Champion, Yokozuna.

Not that lower-ranking rikishi (wrestlers) may behave as they please on the ring, the Yokozuna (Grand Champion) is a rank of honor and dignity and its holders must strictly live up to it and all the binds and restrictions that entail once promoted to the rank. An instance or two might help you grasp the point.

On the 14th day of the Fall tourney, Kakuryu, the lone Yokozuna this tourney with Hakuho sidelined on injury, was pitted against Ozeki (Champion) Kisenosato, a formidable foe no doubt but a rank below himself. At the initial charge, Kakuryu sidestepped to void Kisenosato's head-on attack.

The Judge broke them apart as the charge was not properly synchronized. Both charged for the second time, and Kakuryu sidestepped again to take the lead in the bout and downed Kisenosato.

To average Sumo enthusiasts the bout might have appeared just another bout, but in the eyes of seasoned Sumo connoiseurs it was a piece of rotten meat dished out by Kakuryu.

A Yokozuna should counter any frontal charge on his chest; whatever reason, sidestepping is a taboo, an act of self-denial, so to speak. Once is bad enough; twice, unprecedented. Short in height, light in weight, Harumafuji, another Yokozuna from Mongolia, has done the sidestepping once - bad enough but never twice in a row in a single bout!.

Kakuryu won the championship for the second time. But whether or not he is worthy of the grand title Yokozuna is a serious question wide open for public debate. By tradition, a Yokozuna can not be dethroned.

Sumo may be in the vogue temporarily but, should this disgrace to the title of Yokozuna be left unscrutinized Sumo would see its last day in not so distant a future.