Lower-division wrestler Kotokantetsu caused a stir on Jan. 9 by announcing his retirement from sumo over fears of catching COVID-19.
The Sadogatake stable wrestler broke the news himself on Twitter — avoiding a Japan Sumo Association imposed social media ban by handing in his retirement papers before heading online.
Within 48 hours of that tweet Kotokantetsu was appearing on former stablemaster Takatoriki’s controversial YouTube channel where the pair had a candid discussion about the circumstances surrounding the retirement that — while disheartening — was hardly surprising.