The two bad boys of sumo, Mongolians Harumafuji and Takanoiwa, have figuratively kissed and made up after being forced into retirement for separate acts of violence.
Harumafuji abruptly retired as yokozuna in November 2017 after he assaulted Takanoiwa.
But on Feb. 2, the former Harumafuji was at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo to attend an emotionally charged ceremony marking the retirement of Takanoiwa.
Takanoiwa, 28, retired prior to the start of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament after he admitted to assaulting and injuring a younger attendant.
The former Harumafuji was one of those called on to cut a strand of Takanoiwa's topknot, a symbolic gesture signifying the end of his sumo career.
The former yokozuna was asked if his past differences with Takanoiwa had been patched up and he said he would not have attended if that wasn't so.
"While this is what turned out for him, I hold a feeling of wanting to support him in my own way," the former Harumafuji said.
He also had words of advice for his younger compatriot, saying: "He must look forward and go straight ahead. His life from now will be much longer so I hope he does his best."
The two Mongolian yokozuna still active, Hakuho and Kakuryu, both cut strands from Takanoiwa's topknot, but the stablemaster who recruited him into the sumo world was not at the Kokugikan.
Takanohana, one of the most popular yokozuna, himself effectively retired from sumo in September after a falling out with the Japan Sumo Association, in part due to the beating of Takanoiwa by Harumafuji.
Takanoiwa's topknot was cut off by Chiganoura, the stablemaster who took on all of Takanohana's wrestlers after his stable was closed.
Source:http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201902020051.html
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