The former Myogiryu held his retirement topknot-cutting ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 5, 2025, marking his succession to the Furiwake elder name. It fell the day after the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho, and it closed with a final bout staged against his two young sons, who he let win.
This account comes from the ringside reporting of Michihiro Taguchi, the site’s writer-photographer, who lined up an hour before the doors opened and photographed the day from inside the venue.
The day after Takakeisho
The ceremony came one day after the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho. That previous day’s event had drawn about 90% attendance; the turnout for the former Myogiryu looked to be around 77%.
The day before had been near rain, but this day turned hot and sunny, and parasols went up along the queue. Taguchi lined up an hour before the doors, and the heat was punishing. Word along the line was that some people were attending on consecutive days for the back-to-back ceremonies, and that the Hyogo prefectural association was there on both days.
A last bout with his sons
The drum-call, the furedaiko, began at 11:30. The program’s listed final bout was the former Myogiryu’s last match, set against his small eldest and second sons. He let his sons win to close it out.
The topknot-cutting
Before the danpatsu-shiki, Matsunami Kenshiro, the chairman of the Nippon Sport Science University, gave greetings alongside the former Myogiryu. About 400 people took a snip. Among the early cutters were the former Onosho and the former Shohozan. Myogiryu faced the front the entire time. There was no separate women’s section and no separate relatives’ section in the main procession.
The cutting ran in Japanese alphabetical order, after which wrestler OBs took their turn. From there, centered on his stable group and his Saitama Sakae high-school and Nippon Sport Science University connections, a procession of elders and then wrestlers cut in turn.
The final cut
Just before the master’s final cut, the former Myogiryu’s father-in-law and his two sons took a snip. Last, his master — Sakaigawa, the former Ryogoku — made the final ceremonial cut, the tomebasami, and bowed to the four directions.
Myogiryu then gave his address, speaking of a sumo life supported by many people. He offered flowers to his mother and received flowers from his young eldest daughter. So ended the ceremony marking his retirement and his Furiwake succession.
Key Takeaways
- The former Myogiryu held his retirement topknot-cutting ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 5, 2025.
- The ceremony marked his succession to the Furiwake elder name.
- It fell the day after the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho, which had drawn about 90% attendance against roughly 77% here.
- His listed final bout was against his eldest and second sons, and he let them win.
- His master, Sakaigawa, the former Ryogoku, made the final ceremonial cut and bowed to the four directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the ceremony held?
It took place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan on October 5, 2025, the day after the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho.
What elder name did Myogiryu take?
The ceremony marked his succession to the Furiwake elder name.
Who made the final cut?
His master, Sakaigawa — the former Ryogoku — made the final ceremonial cut, the tomebasami, and then bowed to the four directions.
What was notable about his final bout?
The program’s listed final bout was set against his small eldest and second sons, and he let his sons win to close it out.
