Sakaizawa Out For At Least 6 Weeks

[madorosumaru 7]

Newly promoted juryo Sakaizawa is going to be presented with a new kesho mawashi from his alma mater, Tottori Johoku High School. Various groups, such as the faculty, PTA and alumuni, have chipped in for a mawashi to commemorate the auspicious occasion. The mawashi, which weighs a whopping 15 kilos, has the design of a golden kirin (a mythological creature familiar to beer drinkers), before a background of the Tottori shores and the Sea of Japan. Also, embroidered on the mawashi is a verse from the school song, exhorting the young to have goals and dreams.

This is the second kesho mawashi that the school has presented--the other one was for none other than local favorite, Kotomitsuki. "We plan to give one to every one of our alums that make juryo," said the principal optimistically. The coach of the sumo club was equally caught up in the moment, "It would be great if he could rise high enough so that he would face Mitsuki-zeki by the end of the year." Sakaizawa was properly moved by the gesture. "I am truly happy that my alma mater is supporting me this way," he gushed. "I'll use this as an inducement to do well and spread the good name of the school."

Coach and principal with the resplendent mawashi.

Note the white gloves . . . in tribute of Mickey.

Edited July 15, 2007 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru 7]

Icarus fell to his demise when he soared too high towards the sun. The "kirin" that would be Sakaizawa had barely gotten off the ground when its wing was nearly snapped on Day 7 of Nagoya Basho. This was to be the young rikishi's grand sekitori debut and his alma mater had presented him with an elaborate kesho mawashi on which a mythical creature flies high over the Land of the Rising Sun, symbolizing Sakaizawa's rapid rise up the banzuke.

Instead, the Onoe Beya hope may plummet right back down to the lower ranks as he injured his elbow in a bout against Masatsukasa yesterday. The fast-rising rikishi was already having difficulties in juryo with three unexpected early losses, but no one anticipated this disaster. When Masatsukasa threw him down with that diabolical arm cruncher called kote-nage, Sakaizawa's elbow was twisted as he fell. Later, at the clinic, his left arm couldn't be staightened and the talk was that "There is no way he can continue tomorrow."

Edited July 14, 2007 by madorosumaru

[Kotonosato 1]

I'm just curious....

This thread began before the basho started. Was there really something "inauspicious" about the mawashi then? Or can you edit the thread name after it's already started?

[Fukurou 534]

Instead, the Onoe Beya hope may plummet right back down to the lower ranks as he injured his elbow in a bout against Masatsukasa yesterday. The fast-rising rikishi was already having difficulties in juryo with three unexpected early losses, but no one anticipated this disaster. When Masatsukasa threw him down with that diabolical arm cruncher called kote-nage, Sakaizawa's elbow was twisted as he fell. Later, at the clinic, his left arm couldn't be staightened and the talk was that "There is no way he can continue tomorrow."

I'd have loved to know what he was thinking, even before this injury. What a wake-up call - he started this tournament 0-2, and now stands 3-4 (his career record before this basho was 45-6). I was honestly wondering when we'd see a new topic started - "Sakaizawa and the Wall"

As for going kyujo, there's nothing on the NSK site as I type this. I expect if it's going to happen it'll be on the website in the next 2-3 hours (that was how it worked when Baruto, Roho and Tamarikido withdrew)

[madorosumaru 7]

It's official. Sakaizawa is kyujo as of Day 8. He went to a hospital in Nagoya and got the following diagnosis:

"Damage to ligament in left elbow with possible bone fracture. Six weeks recovery time." That will make even Aki Basho questionable.

Chiyohakuho will get a walk-over victory today.

And, yes, the thread title can be edited at anytime by the thread starter or a moderator. The original title was "A new kesho mawashi for Sakaizawa."

[Kotonosato 1]

And, yes, the thread title can be edited at anytime by the thread starter or a moderator. The original title was "A new kesho mawashi for Sakaizawa."

Ah, that makes sense. I was beginning to think you had some kind of evil powers!

[madorosumaru 7]

It's official. Sakaizawa is kyujo as of Day 8. He went to a hospital in Nagoya and got the following diagnosis:

"Damage to ligament in left elbow with possible bone fracture. Six weeks recovery time." That will make even Aki Basho questionable.

The possible fracture is in the radius [bone of the forearm].

[Sasanishiki 57]

I'd have loved to know what he was thinking, even before this injury. What a wake-up call - he started this tournament 0-2, and now stands 3-4 (his career record before this basho was 45-6). I was honestly wondering when we'd see a new topic started - "Sakaizawa and the Wall"

I've always thought that the step up from makushita to juryo must be a huge one, not least of all because of having to compete every day rather than every other day. It gives the body much less time to recover, and the mental fatigue must also start to hit towards the end of a basho. I expect that Sakaizawa (as long as this injury is treated properly) will fulfill his promise but he might take a little longer to find his feet as a sekitori rather than blitzing through the lower ranks as he has done.

[Sasanishiki 57]

I've always thought that the step up from makushita to juryo must be a huge one, not least of all because of having to compete every day rather than every other day.

I dunno. Having one or two days off makes it harder to retain focus I think.

Maybe for sekitori who drop down to Makushita because they are used to going at it each day. However, if you have risen through the ranks and are only used to having to fight every second day of the basho then that would be the rhythm that you are in. yes, I know that they train everyday in keiko but they still only fight every second day in the basho and thus the step up to being a sekitori and fighting everyday has the potential to throw them off-balance.

[madorosumaru 7]

Either the elbow injury is less serious than originally reported or Sakaizawa is one tough hombre. In any case, the shin-juryo is returning to the basho on Day 11. His opponent will be another new juryo, Hoshihikari, who has surprised everyone by being at the threshold of kachi-koshi already.

[Tikozan 4]

Six weeks recovery time." That will make even Aki Basho questionable.

(I am not worthy...) And now he's back? What a wonder!

[Asashosakari 19,693]

Either the elbow injury is less serious than originally reported or Sakaizawa is one tough hombre. In any case, the shin-juryo is returning to the basho on Day 11.

Or they're all nuts at Onoe-beya.

[Yuriyama Ren 1]

Well, Onoe is having a pretty disastrous basho, at two thirds in the beya score is 23-27. Perhaps Sakaizawa is intending to knock the opponents cold with his arm cast to even the score a bit.

[Tikozan 4]

...or, they want to do all to hold Sakaizawa in Juryo.

Today he won and has now 4 wins and the chance for KK.

I think also a MK with 6 wins should be enough to stay in Juryo.