\# Yoshinofuji reveals family home in Uto hit by Kumamoto Earthquake declared "totally destroyed": "The steel frame is ruined..."

Grand Sumo Komusubi Yoshinofuji (Isegahama stable) spoke to the press on August 27 following morning practice on the Summer Tour at Adastria Mito Arena in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, revealing that his family home in Uto City, Kumamoto Prefecture—struck by the "Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake"—was officially classified as totally destroyed (zenkai). Following an insurance inspection on August 25, he shared: "I received word (from my family) that the steel frame was ruined and it was deemed a total loss."

Yoshinofuji had returned home after the Nagoya Basho and was struck by the earthquake while out. At his family home, windows were dislodged, doors would not close, and the restrooms were broken. Electricity and running water remained cut off until he joined the opening day of the Summer Tour on August 2. Facing the total loss classification, he remarked with a somber expression: "I think it will have to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch."

August 28 marks one month since the earthquake struck. "It has felt so long. I'm constantly thinking about (the situation back home)," he reflected on his hometown. In the previous tournament, he posted a 6-9 record. While a demotion from the sanyaku ranks is all but certain for the Autumn Basho (opening September 13 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo), he rallied his spirits: "The tournament right after that is the Kyushu Basho. I think the absolute best thing I could do is return to sanyaku just in time for that."

[Sports Hochi](https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7bd614d86a84eb3e8e8ed1a402d8ab833802b537)