With the dust barely settled after newly promoted yokozuna Harumafuji”s debacle in Kyushu, sumo”s top council is already calling for his head.

The Japan Sumo Association”s Yokozuna Deliberation Council held a meeting at Tokyo”s Ryogoku Kokugikan on Monday, and their verdict was unanimous: Harumafuji is not cutting the mustard at sumo”s highest rank, which could be grounds for forced early retirement. “As a yokozuna, you at least have to be able to get double digits wins, or you don”t qualify,” said Takuhiko Tsuruta, who heads the JSA”s advisory panel.
Harumafuji suffered his first defeat on the second day of the 15-day Kyushu meet, and lost his last five bouts to finish with a subpar 9-6 record. The consecutive string of losses, in fact, was the worst ever by a new yokozuna since grand champions have been reflected in the sumo rankings, dating back to May 1890.

Tsuruta even went as far as to say that the deliberation council might have jumped the gun on recommending him for promotion. “His poor performance leaves us with the feeling that we might have promoted him too quickly,” Tsuruta said. “We are probably responsible, but it is disappointing that he was unable to respond to expectations.”

Harumafuji, who relies heavily on his speed due to his relatively small stature compared with other wrestlers in sumo”s top division, came into the Kyushu meet on cloud nine following his promotion after winning the two previous meets with perfect 15-0 marks.

Kabuki actor Sawamura Tanosuke, who is a member of the deliberation panel, hinted that Harumafuji could be forced to retire, if he is unable to get at least 10 wins at the New Year meet in January. “That would mean retirement,” Sawamura said bluntly.

Tsuruta said the council, so far, has not decided to take any measures based on traditional rules in sumo against the embattled yokozuna, such as warnings and recommendations for early retirement.

Hakuho, who won his first title in four meets with a 14-1 mark, is not helping Harumafuji”s cause. “Unless a strong wrestler steps up, things only get easier for Hakuho. There is no sense of urgency,” Tsuruta said.

Aside from Hakuho, seven wrestlers, including ozeki Kisenosato sekiwake Goeido and five rank-and-filers, had better marks than Harumafuji in Kyushu.