Questions have arisen over possible modifications to Hakuho’s elbow supporter, including its unusual hardness and unconventional use.
The supporter’s design and purpose raise concerns about its role in enhancing elbow strikes.
With his signature techniques restricted, observers suggest that unless he finds a new approach, his sumo career may be nearing its end.

It is said that during the modification process, Hakuho’s side requested that the supporter be made with a hardness equivalent to special gloves that cannot be torn even when bitten by animals.
2018-01-26
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The end of a sumo career.
As previously mentioned, Hakuho wears two supporters layered together.
Regarding this, a representative of the supporter manufacturer tilted his head and said, “The inner wool supporter is meant to warm the affected area and can be worn all day. The outer high-compression supporter is meant to support the affected area for short periods during competition. Frankly, I have never heard of these two being used together.”
“Whether this increases the power of the forearm strike is unclear. However, it can be expected to protect his own elbow when delivering such strikes,” he added.
There are other puzzling points.
“To begin with, using a knee compression supporter on the elbow already deviates from its intended use, and the direction of the supporter is also different from the proper way of wearing it. The part that should be on the inside of the elbow is worn on the outside. The section that should be inside is made with a looser weave so that the fabric does not bunch when the knee bends,” he said.
The high-compression supporter normally comes in two colors, white or black.
However, the one Hakuho wears is flesh-colored.
“I have heard from one of our employees that the product was dyed with tea,” he added.
In other words, at least regarding its color, modifications have been made to a ready-made product, but “there is also information that the product itself has been modified at the request of a contractor. During modification, Hakuho’s side reportedly asked that it be made with a hardness equivalent to special gloves that cannot be torn even if bitten by animals,” said a person related to the Sumo Association.
As mentioned earlier, stablemaster Takanohana also stated to patrons regarding Hakuho’s supporter, “It seems to have been specially made by a manufacturer and made harder than ordinary ones.”
Tamaki said, “If he is wearing a supporter, it means his elbow is bad. It is strange in itself that he can deliver such elbow strikes with a bad elbow. I can only think that the supporter is being used to make elbow strikes more effective. Triggered by the assault incident involving Harumafuji, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council has finally begun to criticize Hakuho’s slaps and forearm strikes, but it is far too late.”
In any case, with his weapons of slaps and forearm strikes sealed off, Hakuho “if he cannot find a new tachiai, his sumo career is over. There is no doubt that retirement has drawn much closer,” said the same sumo journalist.
Farewell to the most brutal yokozuna.