March 2021, Day 3: Life after Hakuho? 

500 years from now, they will still talk about Hakuho... and how he was never replaced or matched or even approached.

Its always his leg. But he doesn't need to prove anything anymore. He'll be remembered as the Greatest Sumo Wrestler ever lived(unless someone breaks his championship record in the future).

Terunofuji is the only one who looks like a Yokozuna material. None of the other rikishi exude confidence. Takakeisho looks like he can barely walk.

2020-2021 the legendary nokozuna era

No one call fill the hole after Hakuho. He's the GOAT for a reason. And I don't even see any generation talent, anyone with the floor of Akebono and the ceiling of Takanohana. If you almost close your eyes and the room is not too brightly lit, Terunofuji might look like someone with a floor of Kakuryu and a ceiling of Akebono. In a dim lit room, he looks more like someone with the ceiling of Kakuryu. There are meagre years ahead.

I still can't believe it. This last couple of years have been unnecessarily cruel.

Man im honestly not confident in our "current" generation of sumo to fill the gap. But i think the new bloods in the 3rd and 4th divisions show promise of a grand future for sumo.

My hopes this time lie with the former Ozeki, Takayasu and Terunofuji, who seem to fighting better than any of the 3 real Ozeki right now.

What more glorious than retiring when he can beat every single one of them and with ease, Hakuho has nothing to prove

Hakuho becomes the oldest Yokozuna in history. We should accept that his golden era is ended. The problem is now no rikishi has the capability to become a stable Yokozuna(One exception is If terunofuji keep healthy). All the ozeki now has their own weakness.......

So strange he's gonna be done in an era where clearly still beats all the other top guys when can fight

The only one I see possible of challenging for double digit titles is Terunofuji. He has the size and strength required, the only obstacle is of course his knees. If those don't betray him for a few years, I can see him pushing towards 10 Championships. And that demonstrates Hakuho's utter greatness. A sumo career with 10 titles makes you an all time great, what he's achieved goes past even legendary status and we've seen it all with our own eyes. You don't map a future after someone has basically thrown the rudder away because their sheer force of will steers the ship, we're going to have to wait for it to hit land and hope someone brave enough one day pushes it out to sea again.

I wish your videos had more views. You provide awesome insight into current sumo that I wouldn't be able to get otherwise. I appreciate the work you put into these videos.

The King is Done. Long live the King

The banner yobidashi had a bitter look in his eyes. The look of a man holding grim history in his hands.

I noticed the behavior when being handed the envelopes as well, and put it down to a slip of the mind; how silly of me The saddest part of all this is that he is still clearly superior and could keep winning, seemingly for years to come But the sumo schedule does not permit such recuperation times as would be necessary He would no doubt attend training too soon, and try compete before his knee is recovered If you can't recover quickly you are discarded Such a shame

As Echo & The Bunnymen so rightly said "Nothing Lasts Forever"

This is as painful as a death. I am depressed and void of hope. Mother always said, “no matter how difficult it is to find a good from bad, it must be done.” And so, I am elated that I was alive during the rein of Hokuho. I can tell my Grandchildren that I was able to watch the Yokozuna that set the Gold Standard. The one who demand as much from his body as his mind could dream. I was and always will be a devoted fan of the Greatest Yokozuna.!!!

Man I picked a weird time to become a sumo fan. January was the first basho I fully watched and kept track of scores. Sucks that I haven't seen a full Yokozuna performance yet 😔

I believe he hinted last yr, he was just aiming to do the Olympics. Then, retire. All I can say is Arigatou Hakuho. He gave us many years of great fighting Sumo. I also believe , on one can match his records. Thanks

I love enho's sumo, and the flick from his right hand after the take down was sick 😂

A rare beast is a Yokozuna and rarer still an entity like Hakuho! Sadly I do not believe our present society with it's internet and prying will ever be able to produce another even close. It is the aura of such as he and it is not one that can be created. When gone he will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

I love your narration Chris. It adds poetry to a power sport.

Takanosho and Wakatakakage keep surprising me. I should give them way more credit than I do.

Regardless of how he stands in July, Asanoyama, Shodai and Takakeisho would have some huge shoes to fill if any of them can complete a yokozuna push. It'll feel strange without him though

Man I had a feeling Hakuho was having some trouble...

Father Time is keeping his perfect record....

Well, people have been announcing Hakuho's demise for years now. I'll wait and see. But, even if this injury does push him to retire, he will not be 'gone.' As an oyakata, as founder of the Hakuho Cup, and as the holder of most records in sumo, his influence will endure. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see Hakuho perform Dohyo-Iri at the Olympics? Whether or not he is still competing, he has earned the right to do so. Rather than mourn as if he's dead, let's all clamour for Hakuho's Olympic Moment!

I hope Takakeisho can diversify and work around his natural disadvantages. Bright side is thrusters can slowly alternate to grapplers, such was the case of Musashimaru and Akebono.

1:35 Missed opportunity to call Hakuho’s absence a Hakuhole

Everyone has a limit and Hakuho has held his part and more, to give everyone how a champ should be. 2007 - present...That is 14 years. We should respect every decision he needs to make, and wish the best for his health always. If he can still upkeep the yokozuna standards,... we should be thankful to him. We also lost Harumafuji in the ring...and was hoping Kakuryu made more appearance... Audience are probably bitter that they could not watch both of them again...

He will be the mold breaker. A world full of sumo wrestlers more concerned with their social media status, less concern with basics, and their dedication lacking will leave us with a constant yearning for the days of old.

I wonder how many people will stop watching sumo after Hakuho and Tochinoshin retire.

I have been fortunate to watch sumo for 3 1/2 years and see Hakuho win and win again. The toll on his body is showing. And it is terrible that if he ends up retiring it wont be on his own terms. BUT Hakuho has an AMAZING career, not just as Yokuzuna but as a rikishi general.

Sumo desperately needs a rising star. I just don't see one. I really hope one emerges. Unfortunately whoever the next Yokozunas are they will be compared to the greatest ever. Not an easy act to follow.

Damn... I was having so much fun watching hakuho killing it ...😐

Another great video Chris! Thanks you for all your hard work

the gapping Hakuho hole!!! i love your imagery!!

Excellent report Chris. I think we all recognize the Hakuho era is coming to an end. We can only hope for one more good outing before he retires.

Both Yokozuna are Japanese now and no excuses if they cannot fight, they should retire, and start their own stables. Hakuho is the GOAT, the GOAT does not hide in the hospital.

Let's go Shishi!

There will never be another Hakuho. Not even close.. But the "right now" guy I think is def Terunofuji. The guy is just a beast! And so intimidating.

Great work on this episode. And it almost seemed with your prose, and the camera work, that the NHK announcer was wiping a tear from his eye at the very end. I would not blame Hakuho at all by going out with a win. I'm sure he would wish to go out with a tournament win, but just the same in my mind. He has already proven that countless times.

It sure would be great if Enho fought his way back up, and became the man to beat, but he'd need to be stronger, and he'd need to wrestle smarter.

The sumo retirement thing is just dumb. Let these dudes heal

Really feel that there will be no more Yokozunas by the end of this year.

Thanks Chris - excellent content as ever

Chris why does Sumo insist on being so..,well Sumo with itself..? Thanks for your passionate insights

Yokozunas come and go, that's the game. I doubt we'll see his like again, but honestly the future will likely be more interesting for his loss. I don't personally believe that level of dominance is good for sumo. I'd love to see either of Taiho's grandsons succeed, he's from the same place as my wife. Visited his museum out in East Hokkaido a few years ago, well worth a visit if you're in the area!

Thank You, Hakuho :)

There really isn't a wrestler alive right now that could fill Hakuho's gapping hole. He's unique

I feel privileged to have seen the Yokozuna Hakuho fight. Hopefully he will again in future

I will echo what I think a lot of people are feeling and saying here: No one is going to fill the gap from Hakuho. That said, I do think several wrestlers could. Today, when Hakuho is healthy he is the sole maintainer of power. But if you look back through the history of past yusho winners you can see that situations like that are rare. Through most of sumo history it has been a small handful of wrestlers continuously battling each other for most of the yushos. I have a feeling we will return to an era like that, where perhaps 3 or 4 wrestlers fill the singular power void Hakuho will leave. Who those will be, only time will tell.

the greatest ever.

He, Hakuho, is the real warrior and champion.

Do we need one guy winning all the time? I like the open field.

I'm afraid this sure feels like the end of Hakuho's amazing career... although I'm hoping he still has the will and drive to push forward for a little longer. Sumo is very hard on joints and ligaments and a young strong guy like Hakuho may already have his right knee past the point of recovery. Maybe.... let's all hope not. I think Teronofuji will win this one. Takayasu is looking good again. Let's see what tomorrow brings. Thanks Chris. Really appreciate your comments full with sumo knowledge. Cheers

TerunoFuji will be the next Yokozuna. It is very clear to see. Surprising you didn't have more to say about him. Why the glum faces?? Teruno will surprise everyone . Who cares if he's 30? He does seem to bother him much. His body has been in much better shape than Hakuho's for a long time now.

Let's hope Teru goes to Ozeki and we'll see what happens.

Hakuho needs time to properly heal. Like six months to a year of PT before fighting, as would any football player, MMA fighter, or pro-wrestler. The sumo association needs to accept this and stop punishing rikishi, especially their stars, for the inevitable injury.

I don't see anyone in the top division with true legitimate Yokozuna potential. There is simply no one with a complete skill set, mind set or any level of consistency.

Ishiura's match was amazing

Terunofuji is the next yokozuna.

I believe Hakuho is gonna be the last great Yokozuna from a legendary era. Sumo is not appealing to younger men as a profession and a way of life now. The life of a rikishi is hard and strict. While the audience grows outside Japan, it will soon dwindle in Japan. Funds will go and the people will too, and soon Sumo will just be a thing of the past. A small fraction of tradition will always be left compared to what it was. Enjoy it while its still here folks.

I'm going to Japan after covid restrictions are over and if Hakuho retires before that I will be very sad. Unfortunately its looking more likely.

if Terunofuji is the best candidate for Yokozuna, you just know the current top division is very lackluster

all thanks to the goat hakuho but on the bright side, power vacuums breed excitement as new blood tries to exert dominance on the rest of the competition. It is boring for hakuho to win so decisively for so long. I know everyone wanted the young talent to rise up to face him before he retired but it’s looking like that’s not the world we live in. Is it better for him to bow out now while still unchallenged or for him to force himself to fight injured and inevitably lose in a weakened state?

Man that sucks about Hakuho, and man it just seems that Enho is too skilled overall for juryo but just not big enough to really compete at Makuuchi. Takakeisho seems to be moving better this basho than previous as well.

If that was to be his last Match, at least he won!

How many wrestlers are left from the Hakuho era ? Thank you sir

With the yokozunas effectively "retired in place" and only middling performance from the ozekis, the immediate future of sumo does not look good.

2:52, been watching UFC. Didn't think calf kicks were in the sumo rule book

I knew something was wrong after that last match but I wouldn't have guessed he would be needing another surgery. I thought his knee was perhaps just sore.

I used to be a wrestler, but then i took a sumo in the knee. joke aside, go Terunofuji, the most probable highlight of these post Hakuho times.

Okay, if I ever become a rikishi, I already have my shikona. Wakahakutakakeisho - 若白貴景勝. Try and beat me, I can't lose with that shikona.

I mean I'm team Terenofuji, I love Tero. If he can stay healthy I think he can make Yoku. Big if though.

Grandfather Taio?! You're not joking either! Wow! That's Sumo royalty!

The anxiety of there not being a prime Japanese candidate for the highest rank, hrmm....

1:32 missed opportunity to say Haku-Hole

Well nothing last forever 😢

Yokozuna Terunofuji

Waka-taka for Yoko maybe

I believe Terunofuji & Asanoyama could became legit Yokozunas, even though they would never as dominant as Prime Hakuho...

Terunofuji imo will be the next Yokozuna if his knees hold up

where can I watch and follow sumo live?

I don't have much faith in the current sumo generation, Terunofuji is up there for me but his health can go at any moment and he's not getting younger...... The fact is if Hakuho, Kakuryu, or Terunofuji is in good health they will still beat pretty much anyone which is kind of sad to think about but speaks to their absolute talent and strength

Daieisho's had some very tough bouts in his first three days. I feel he will still do well this basho once he gets going

Yass Ishiura

i prefer an era with many victorious rikishi.

It's cuz I started watching isn't it smfh

What the heck happened to hakuho. I’m sad

No more great rivalries since Asashoryu's retirement. No more great wrestler after Hakuho's retirement?

'he shud know when to QUIT...' retire now.

Ichinojo is on FIRE right now! He picked up some speed!

Shame to see such a great Yokozuna not be able to go out on his own terms. What will they do with no Yokozuna in the ranks? I hope they don't promote just so they can say there is a Yokozuna.

Left field, but I'm still sad that you've never made a video about Ozeki Raiden.

Damn. Has the king finally fallen? 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Nah. Hakuho is the man. Still one last fight in him. I think he'll notch another win.

Sure, hope will come. But as always, from Mongol stock. Perhaps only lowered standards are to be expected from the three betazekis and Manzai Mitakeumi. In this bleak scenario, Terunofuji is a godsent.

if hakuho didn't leave all these guys so mashed up maybe there'd be someone left..,did he over-beat them?