Short version: The council that governs yokozuna in sumo, the highest rank achievable, issued a landmark warning in late November (after the last tournament) about the two yokozuna missing...
Short version: The council that governs yokozuna in sumo, the highest rank achievable, issued a landmark warning in late November (after the last tournament) about the two yokozuna missing tournaments. One yokozuna, Hakuho, is out due to COVID, the other Kakuryu is out saying he needs more time to heal from injuries. In December he gained his Japanese citizenship, so it's up in the air whether or not he voluntarily retires, is forced to retire, or is allowed one more chance and come back in March.
It's worth noting that there are several sumo stables that are out this tournament due to COVID outbreaks within them, Japan, and Tokyo specifically where the tournament is being held, is having record outbreaks as Christmas and New Years celebrations catch up with everyone. Opinions are divided on whether the tournament should have just been cancelled this month. It would be the third time since WWII that a sumo tournament was cancelled with the second being last year's July tournament.
Short version: The council that governs yokozuna in sumo, the highest rank achievable, issued a landmark warning in late November (after the last tournament) about the two yokozuna missing tournaments. One yokozuna, Hakuho, is out due to COVID, the other Kakuryu is out saying he needs more time to heal from injuries. In December he gained his Japanese citizenship, so it's up in the air whether or not he voluntarily retires, is forced to retire, or is allowed one more chance and come back in March.
Long version in comments here: https://tild.es/t3x
It's worth noting that there are several sumo stables that are out this tournament due to COVID outbreaks within them, Japan, and Tokyo specifically where the tournament is being held, is having record outbreaks as Christmas and New Years celebrations catch up with everyone. Opinions are divided on whether the tournament should have just been cancelled this month. It would be the third time since WWII that a sumo tournament was cancelled with the second being last year's July tournament.