Kirishima yusho parade
Moti Dichne
Kirishima had his victory car-parade while still wearing his mawashi . This was extremely unusual, as time was running behind and it was drizzling. However, there have been precedents. At the 1959 Summer Tournament, Yokozuna Wakanohana I rode in a car and paraded while still wearing his mawashi. The reason at the time was that he didn't think he would win, so he hadn't brought his formal kimono and hakama. Wakanohana got into an open car with the yusho trophy, with Wakachichibu beside him and Wakamisugi in the passenger seat. All three returned to the Hanakago beya still wearing their mawashi. Wakanohana was then given water by Hanakago Oyakata (former Makuuchi Onoumi) and they toasted with a large silver cup. At the end of the 14th day of the basho, Yokozuna Tochinishiki was in first place with a 14-0 record, while Yokozuna Wakanohana was trailing with a 13-1 record. On the final day, Wakanohana won their direct confrontation to tie the lead, and then won the yusho playoff to claim his sixth yusho title, his first in two bashos. He had a good chance of winning the yusho going into the final day, but perhaps no one could have imagined that he would win both the regular matches and the playoff. This is an anecdote from a time when sumo was more boisterous and carefree than it is today.
BTW, riding shotgun was Juryo Daiseizan from China, who used to be his tsukebito. The night before, through Fukunosato the wakaimonogashira, Kirishima approached him about being the flag bearer. Daiseizan:. "I was 7 wins and 7 losses (after the 14th day), so I felt that if I was going to do it, I had to get that kachikoshi. I was happy, and it actually gave me strength." On the final day, he defeated Meisei to secure the kachikoshi. He served as flag bearer with a smile and a dignified presence. He belongs to the same Tokitsukaze Ichimon as Kirishima and once served as his tsukebito for a year. "He won the yusho when I was his tsukebito as well.. I'm happy to be able to ride with him as a sekitori. Next time, I want to ride on my own" he said.
