Kotomitsuki to skip Nagoya- Juuryou in Aki

[Kintamayama 47,130]

Kotomitsuki has announced he will be kyujo in Nagoya. This means he will be in Juuryou in Aki, since he has no Kosho status, as his injury was considered an "old" one. He had surgery on January 29th on his left elbow, then on May 19th on his right elbow and had some cartilage removed. (I have no idea what this means, but someone will surely elaborate extensively..). He has now started rehabilitation on both elbows.

At first, Sadogatake Oyakata wanted Kotomitsuki to enter Nagoya, but now, at the advice of doctors, it has been decided he will skip it, and suffer the Juuryou demotion consequence.

Edited June 6, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Dejimasama 0]

I certainly hope this will get him back in shape. It was painful to see him last basho. Its gonna be fun to see how he destroys Juryo though.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I certainly hope this will get him back in shape. It was painful to see him last basho. Its gonna be fun to see how he destroys Juryo though.

We can only hope. Does anyone even remember that Hayateumi was Sekiwake and considered a potential Ozeki or at least potential perennial Sekiwake at one point of his career? I don't want to see Mickey go the same way... Lingering in Juryo simply isn't where he belongs >(Applauding...)

Edited June 6, 2003 by Yubiquitoyama

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I don't want to see Mickey go the same way... Lingering in Juryo simply isn't where he belongs

I agree -- but I'm looking forward to see him prove it. A Juryo yusho is certainly better than a makuuchi MK, no?

[Manekineko 200]

We can only hope. Does anyone even remember that Hayateumi was Sekiwake and considered a potential Ozeki or at least potential perennial Sekiwake at one point of his career?

Ah, Haya, man I thought would be second Kotonishiki. :'-(

I also thought Tochiazuma would be the second Wakanohana. >(Applauding...)

And Aminishiki to be second Terao, which doesn't seem so far-fetched - yet. (fingers crossed)

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

I also thought Tochiazuma would be the second Wakanohana. >:-)

It ain't over till it's over :-S

Tochiazuma shalt rise again!!! (Applauding...)

[Zentoryu 154]

It may take him a while to return to where he was.

He'll need to recover the strength he has so clearly lost. He has not been wrestling "Kotomitsuki style" for several basho now due to the elbow problem, so he will likely have to regain his skills in those areas. This won't happen overnight. I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle for a couple of basho while he gets back into the groove.

Everything will depend on the true extent of his elbow injuries. If the problems were serious enough to be operated on, there's a slight chance that we may never see the same old Kotomitsuki again, instead we could end up with another Hayateumi.

But that's the negative way of looking at it. Hopefully things will turn out much more positively for him.

Either way, this operation was the best choice he could have made for his career. At least now he has a chance of salvaging it.

[Fujisan 533]

A fall from the giddy heights of sanyaku to Juryo in such a short time wont do his self belief much good either.

Heres to as quick a return.

Edited June 8, 2003 by Fujisan

[Zenjimoto 40]

Seems to me like this is a little (albeit unintended) preview of what we will get to see more often once the kosho status is abolished... rikishi falling by a division due to injuries...

It sure will make for one interesting Aki Basho in Juryo with Takanowaka and Kotomitsuki, ne? :)

Cheers from Calcutta, India

Zenjimoto

[Asashosakari 20,200]

Seems to me like this is a little (albeit unintended) preview of what we will get to see more often once the kosho status is abolished... rikishi falling by a division due to injuries...

Sure looks like it. Maybe Kitanoumi thinks there's just too darn much talent in Makuuchi these days and he wants to spread some of it to Juryo with those new kosho rules... (In love...)

It sure will make for one interesting Aki Basho in Juryo with Takanowaka and Kotomitsuki, ne? :)

I can see the banzuke topics entry already: "This is the first time for two rikishi to compete in the Juryo Division only 3 tournaments after they had both been ranked at sekiwake or sumo's third highest rank simultaneously since former sekiwake [some rikishi] and [some other rikishi] were ranked in Juryo for the [some basho several decades ago] tournament."

[Tokimori 0]

I can see the banzuke topics entry already: "This is the first time for two rikishi to compete in the Juryo Division only 3 tournaments after they had both been ranked at sekiwake or sumo's third highest rank simultaneously since former sekiwake [some rikishi] and [some other rikishi] were ranked in Juryo for the [some basho several decades ago] tournament."

I don't think that it has happened before, but the statisticians of this website are probably more sure than I am... (Heart) (In love...) (Being unsure...)

I love statistics...

[Dejimasama 0]

So it is already a given that Takanowaka will be out this next basho? I was hopeing to atleast she him back for Nagoya. How is India Zenjimoto? How long are you going to be there?

[Zentoryu 154]

So it is already a given that Takanowaka will be out this next basho? I was hopeing to atleast she him back for Nagoya.

Given the condition he's in, I'd be very surprised to see him in July.

Of the two (Kotomitsuki and Takanowaka) I'm more worried about Taka than Koto at this point. His body appears rather fragile right now and he clearly shouldn't have tried to compete last basho. I just hope his leg wasn't even more damaged the second time he injured it than it was the first.

Just when he was starting to show some serious potential, these injuries had to strike him. (In love...)

[Zenjimoto 40]

So it is already a given that Takanowaka will be out this next basho? I was hopeing to atleast she him back for Nagoya. How is India Zenjimoto? How long are you going to be there?

I would say, yes, it is a given, after seeing his condition last basho, and due to the fact that he has kosho status this time (which was a GREAT luck, since I think he mostly pulled out due to the same knee injury, but got kosho for a "new" rib injury...) Since rikishi never compete when they are kosho (historians? surely there must be an exception, though) :) I doubt seriously we'll see him in Nagoya (also especially since it's a basho-on-the-road)

India is great as always - visiting family and friends - but the humidity is at record levels (In love...) so we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the monsoon rains, which should be here in a couple days...

Cheers from Calcutta,

Zenjimoto

[Fujisan 533]

Best wishes to both Kotomitsuki and Takanowaka-Im sure we wont be writing them off totally yet.

Off topic-Hey Tokimori,I didnt know Toki had converted to Islam-Hows that gonna affect his Sumo?

[Tokimori 0]

I think it will affect his sumo powerfully. I have heard an inside rumour that he will change his name to Muhammad Toki. Of course, Takasago oyakata hasn't said anything about this matter, but I'm sure he will stand behind his No 1 (or maybe 2) wrestler. (In love...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Dashinage moves always burden elbows and elbows are very essential in Kotomitsuki's sumo. The operation was most likely inevitable in order to restore the movement and frictionless state of elbow joints. Damages cartilage is like stone in a shoe and bothers more or less, with or without breaks and doesn't easily get anywhere without active procedures.

Takanowaka followed Wakanosato's struggle for couple of years when Waka had severe knee problems and the subsequent surgery so hopefully he remains optimistic and persistent rehabilitating his injury (which does not sound detrimental to his career in the long run) and gets the support from his heya-mate.

Koto and Taka in juryo will certainly bring the whole division more into spotlight and can even make the veterans of juryo show their best stuff and shift to maximum gear! We shall see! Maybe in Aki basho there will be some new shin-juryo youngsters and then interesting sanyaku vs makushita oven evictees! (positive eviction, like fresh buns out of the oven you know! 200C oven is makushita and when they are ready to outer world, further makushita ie. oven stay does not good anymore and buns ie shin-juryo must be taken out to juryo and served to sekitori)