This was the retirement ceremony of the former ozeki (the second-highest rank, below only yokozuna) Takakeisho, held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in October 2025. His master made the final cut, and he stood to speak of never having reached yokozuna.
The ceremony formally marked Takakeisho’s retirement and his succession to the Minatogawa elder name. Doors opened at 10:30 and the bouts began at 11:30. The day belonged to the man whose head, by late afternoon, would carry an ordinary haircut for the first time in his adult life. This is the reporting of Michihiro Taguchi, the site’s writer-photographer.
The queues and the scene
Long before the doors opened, a line had already formed. People kept arriving, and the queue U-turned on itself until it grew into a huge line, all of it funneling toward the south gate. By the time the gate let the crowd in, the scale of the turnout said plenty about the affection Takakeisho still commanded.
Takakeisho spent part of the morning greeting his supporters, though from much of the line he could not actually be seen. The program offered no especially novel items. He did not appear in mawashi (the wrestling belt) either — and given how much weight he had lost, that was just as well.
The topknot-cutting and who took part
Then came the moment everyone had queued for. Takakeisho appeared for the danpatsu-shiki (the topknot-cutting retirement ceremony), and the supporters’ association chairman gave a greeting. More than 300 people took a snip. Among them was the Tokyo governor, Koike. Among them, too, was the former Onosho, a rival who had competed with Takakeisho since their amateur days.
One detail set the tone. Takakeisho faced the front the entire time. He did not rotate to face east, the far side and west in turn, as the ritual often unfolds. The crowd in front got all of him, and he gave it to them squarely.
The women’s section cut at the west side below the ring. The family closed that part out: Takakeisho’s wife, a daughter of Hokutenyu; Takakeisho’s mother; and the stablemistress, the okamisan. Three generations of the people closest to him, each with a pair of scissors and a single careful snip.
After the male relatives, the association’s turn followed — elders first, then wrestlers. It centered on his ichimon (his stable group) and his Saitama Sakae high-school connections, the two communities that shaped his sumo. The former Terunofuji, now the Isegahama elder, also took a snip, as did Hoshoryu. The last wrestler to cut was his stablemate Takanosho. Then, unusually, Takakeisho’s father took a snip.
The master’s final cut and an emotional farewell
Finally his master, the former Takamisugi — the Tokiwayama elder — made the final cut, the tomebasami (the final, ceremonial cut). With that snip the topknot was gone for good, and a career closed.
The family presented flowers. Takakeisho stood to give his greetings. He spoke about not having reached yokozuna, and about his gratitude to those who had supported him along the way. The words were plain, and they landed.
He then reappeared with his hair groomed into an ordinary style, looking more like a private citizen than a former wrestler. The ceremony ended just before 4:30 p.m. The man who walked off was no longer an ozeki. He was Minatogawa, and he was someone’s husband, someone’s son, heading home.
Key Takeaways
- The retirement ceremony of the former ozeki Takakeisho was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in October 2025, marking his succession to the Minatogawa elder name.
- More than 300 people took a snip, including the Tokyo governor Koike and the former Onosho, a rival from Takakeisho’s amateur days.
- The former Terunofuji (the Isegahama elder) and Hoshoryu both took a snip; the last wrestler to cut was his stablemate Takanosho.
- His master, the former Takamisugi (the Tokiwayama elder), made the final cut, the tomebasami.
- In his greeting, Takakeisho spoke of not having reached yokozuna and of his gratitude to his supporters; the ceremony ended just before 4:30 p.m.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when was Takakeisho’s retirement ceremony held?
It was held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in October 2025. Doors opened at 10:30 and the bouts began at 11:30, with the ceremony ending just before 4:30 p.m.
Who made the final cut of Takakeisho’s topknot?
His master, the former Takamisugi — now the Tokiwayama elder — made the final, ceremonial cut, known as the tomebasami.
Who took part in the topknot-cutting?
More than 300 people took a snip. They included the Tokyo governor Koike, the former Onosho, Takakeisho’s wife (a daughter of Hokutenyu), his mother, the stablemistress, the former Terunofuji (the Isegahama elder), Hoshoryu, his stablemate Takanosho, and his father.
What did Takakeisho say in his farewell greeting?
He spoke about not having reached the rank of yokozuna and expressed his gratitude to those who supported him. He then appeared with his hair groomed into an ordinary style, looking more like a private citizen than a former wrestler.
