So here’s the quick and dirty on Hakuho.
Remember that the sport of sumo goes back centuries and is rooted in the Shinto tradition.
As part of this tradition, those who attain the rank of Yokozuna are expected to maintain an impeccable level of dignity in their behavior, both in and out of the ring.
The previous great Mongolian Yokozuna Asashoryu was also a fierce wrestler, but he ultimately got expelled from the sport due to “behavior unbecoming a Yokozuna” outside the ring.
Just as Asashoryu was exiting the scene, Hakuho rose to the rank of Yokozuna. At first, he was viewed in Japan as the opposite of Asashoryu. Impeccable behavior and ethical fighting style. And he was popular.
However, as the years went by, he became so dominant that it had now become nearly 10 years since a Japanese-born rikishi even won a Grand Tourney, much less ascend to the rank of Yokozuna. Japanese fans began to get antsy.
The great hope to take down Hakuho was Ozeki Kisenosato, who would come close to winning a basho but never quite get over the hump. Eventually, Hakuho came to be viewed as a kind of heel, time and time again thwarting Kisenosato and the other Japanese rikishi.
What were formally cheers turned to jeers, and Hakuho was devastated at the reception, as he had thought he was was loved by Japanese sumo fans. Basically, he became a victim of his own dominance.
So he decided F it, if I’m going to be booed and viewed as the heel, I’ll give them what they want. He began to employ the dirty “nekodamashi” (frighten the cat) and Kachiage (elbow cold cock) moves which, while technically not illegal, were long considered beneath the dignity of a Yokozuna.
But by this time Hakuho didn’t care. For the remainder of his career he just did whatever the hell it took to win, win, and win some more, until he shattered the all time wins record and became the unquestioned GOAT.
