Musashimaru	Retirement Ceremony
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What's this? Mini photo essay of Yokozuna Musashimaru retirement ceremony held on Oct. 4, 2004.
A larger photo essay is forthcoming on this page.
Last modified: October 3, 2004

Story and photos by Philbert Ono

Overshadowed by Akebono and low-key by nature, Musashimaru never ever stole the limelight. Even the news of his retirement ceremony was overshadowed by Ichiro's record-breaking hit on the same day. The Japan Times didn't even show a picture of Musashimaru's retirement ceremony. The story was relegated as a small tidbit.

But guess what? It was a great retirement ceremony, with a strong Hawaiian touch. I loved it. After receiving a program and a gohawaii.jp cardboard fan, the first thing we saw when we entered the Kokugikan were a Hawaiian band and hula dancers from Hawaii. Funtastic, but their performance was too short.

Entrance hall at the Kokugikan sumo arena. When we entered the building, we were treated to real Hawaiian music and dance. They were followed by Konishiki (below).

Konishiki also sang for the ogling crowd. The unexpected sideshows clogged the entrance hall and it took a while before people could get through.

Now this was another first. A hula dancer from Hawaii performing on the sumo ring flanked by a male dancer at each corner. He chanted and beat a gourd drum called an ipu heke. I recognized him as Sonny Ching, a well-known kumu hula (recognized hula teacher) from Hawaii.

Now I know why I saw quite a few Japanese hula dancers (wearing muu-muus) in attendance. However, I did not hear any announcement introducing Mr. Ching and his all-male hula troupe. (Yes, there are male hula dancers.) First I thought it was Kealii Reichel (another famous hula teacher and singer) because Maru never fails to attend his concerts every summer in Tokyo.

Another nice Hawaiian touch: Wrestlers from Musashimaru's sumo stable don Aloha-print yukata. Not only them, other staff like this yobidashi (caller) on the right wear the same Aloha print . The pattern consisted of hibiscus flowers (Hawaii's state flower) and Musashimaru's name.

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