Kakuryuu interview
Moti Dichne
ex- Yokozuna Kakuryuu's danpatsushiki will be held on June 3rd at the Kokugikan.
Interview:
Kakuryuu Oyakata, you are the last Yokozuna born in the Heisei era and will be having your danpatsushiki..
-The last one from Heisei, huh? I didn't notice that at all. I really think it's the end of an era. It's deeply moving.
- What kind of preparations have you made since the announcement of your retirement?
- A danpatsushiki is a big event. I am preparing everything by myself, making decisions, and proceeding with the cooperation of various people. As a member of society, l am learning things as I go along..
-What are you planning for the event?
- For example, between goods and souvenirs, I'm wondering what kind of things will make the fans happy. What are the fans expecting? What would make them the happiest?
- You handed Miyagino Oyakata a bouquet of flowers in front of the press during his retirement ceremony.
- I came because I wanted to thank him and say that he had come a long way.. It made me realize that my own retirement from sumo is getting closer and closer. 4 more months. It will arrive in no time. It would be really great if a lot of people would turn up. That's what it's all about. When that day arrives, I want to feel how many people supported me during my active career.
-What condition are you in?
- I have to build up my body.. I'm running out of time, so I've been exercising every day since around the end of last year donning a mawashi. It's been a while, so I'm doing shiko and stuff.. I want to be able to lend my chest as my body returns gradually to itself..
- Is shiko essential?
-My upper body will become stronger if I do it for a while, and I think I still have some muscle left. The muscles in my legs have weakened, but if I do shiko, I think their power will return. I want to train so it may seem I got pumped up and trained at the gym..
- How does your weight compare to your weight when you were active?
I lost about 11-12 kilos. It would be embarrassing if my body wobbled during my final dohyo-iri, so I want to properly do shiko..
－A word for the fans ahead of the general ticket sales that start on February 1st?
- It's a one-day event where I wear my last topknot, perform my last dohyo-iri , and wrestle for the last time.. I am preparing with a feeling of gratitude.