As 2009 draws to a close, the sport of sumo can look back on a year largely free from scandal. Pleasing perhaps for many of the conservative elements in and around the sport, but 2010, could well prove the year in which relative young bloods in the ruling stablemaster elite take steps towards advancing a more progressive agenda.
For the Sumo Association, former yokozuna Takanohana is one looking increasingly towards the future, and might well look to make a move up the rankings of the inner-sanctum next year. Known as a forward thinker, Takanohana Oyakata as is today could well be the future of the sport, at least on the public relations side — a position currently occupied by another former yokozuna — Chiyonofuji.
When Chiyonofuji took over the role of PR head from Takasago Oyakata, the man often ridiculed as being unable to control his own stable's senior man, Asashoryu, one of the first things to happen was the replacement of clear glass in his office door with the smoked variety! An action joked about at the time, it has since proven indicative of the lack of clarity in which way the association is heading as far as fan relations go.