Natsu jungyo 2025

[Kintamayama 46,753]

Kotozakura..what shall we do with the boy.. He finally resumed full-scale training ahead of Aki.  During asageiko at the summer jungyo held in Sendai on the 12th, he selected local Miyagi Prefecture Maegashira Tokihayate for a session - seven consecutive bouts and finishing with a record of 6 wins and 1 loss. His applied pressure from the tachiai was still strong, and his sumo was noticeably done on the safe side.. In his first bout, which he lost, he tried to tire his opponent out while remaining at the edge of the dohyo, but his opponent did not give up and Kotozakura fell. "Since I had the opportunity, I thought I'd take on a local rikishi (Tokihayate)" he said, hyping up the crowd while continuing to work on his own preparations. This tour, which will cover a wide area of Hokkaido and Honshu, will primarily be done by bus. He also pays close attention to his physical condition outside the dohyo, including tackling accumulated fatigue and poor blood circulation caused by maintaining the same position for long periods of time. "I'm being careful not to strain my lower back while traveling. I'm trying to find a balance between that and training." Kotozakura also took great care to avoid sudden, stressful training while his body was still recovering from the fatigue of travel, which could cause problems for his body. He resumed full-scale training on the second consecutive day in Sendai. Since the start of this year, Kotozakura only managed five wins in the first tournament of the year, when he was aiming for the title of Yokozuna, but has since recorded 8 wins and 7 losses in three tournaments in a row. He has taken the first step towards rejoining the championship race. 

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 9, 2nd day in Sendai

torikumi - pref. local Tokihayate a bit higher up than usual, but only Kinbozan this day

o

he got named by Kotozakura

oo o o oo

was in the talk event, but not one day a mage making model

o

Wakatakakage, 6 bouts with Kusano and others

ooo o o

oo o o

Atamifuji, Oho

o o
 

Kotozakura

o

Day 1 training, talk show, jinku, taiko, shokkiri

 

day 2 videos https://www.youtube.com/@nu_utan/search?query="2025⧸08⧸12 大相撲仙台巡業"

[Kintamayama 46,753]

Kirishima out of the jungyo with a wrist injury. He is in Tokyo for further check-ups.  Sakaigawa Oyakata commented, "I think he'll be back later," and said he plans to rejoin the team on a tour around the Kanto region.

Edited August 13 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,753]

In his 20th year as a rikishi, 34-year-old veteran Juryo rikishi Ryuuden showed his spirit in his best friend's hometown. On the 13th, during asageiko at the Morioka City Tour, held for the first time in nine years, he had 13 matches, the most of any sekitori. In bouts  with the other sekitori, he had two wins and three losses. He was then called out by both Yokozuna, Oonosato and Houshouryuu, in that order. He won one match against Oonosato and lost all four matches against Houshouryuu, for a total of three wins and ten losses. Upon being called out by both Yokozuna, Ryuuden commented, "I was surprised, but I'm also happy, so I was determined to do everything I could."

Being named by two Yokozuna on the same day is a rare occurrence. "I had trained with Oonosato before (during a tour in Sendai) and he asked me if it was okay to do it today, but Houshouryuu  calling me out came out of nowhere.. When I finished (training) with Oonosato, I felt like our eyes met for a moment, and he gestured towards me, so I mounted the dohyo again. Atamifuji was diagonally in front of me (when he made the gesture), so I thought he might be calling him. I didn't know who he meant, so I just went up. And sure enough, he chose me.. (laughs)." While he lost all his matches against Houshouryuu due to fatigue, he showed off his signature head placement against Oonosato, carefully attacking and grabbing the mawashi and pulling, earning one win. "I think I fought tenaciously. I felt like I could achieve something if I could grab the mawashi. I felt like if I could manage the flow leading up to the mawashi, things might change," he said, confident of his chances of returning to Makuuchi next basho.

Morioka City is the hometown of his friend  Nishikigi, a fellow Juryo rikishi who also graduated from junior high school and entered sumo at the same time  as Ryuuden. A traditional part of previous jungyos was that Ryuuden and Nishikigi would be the first to step onto the dohyo during the sekitori match-ups. Until another close friend, former Komusubi Shouhouzan retired, two of the three served in that role. The three of them would go out to eat almost every day on tour, accompanying Nishikigi, who declared, "I drink sweet potato shochu 365 days a year." With one of them now retired, Nishikigi, who was looking forward to a triumphant return to his hometown after securing a return to Makuuchi, also withdrew from this jungyo midway. "I was just called out as usual, but I was also carrying Nishikigi's hopes of 'livening things up' (laughs). I was working hard because it was a local tour for him. My current condition isn't that great, but what can you do.. It's regrettable," he joked, stating that he fought harder than anyone else in his best friend's hometown. And being in his best friend's hometown gave him renewed motivation. "I'd be happy if a Yokozuna chose me again." The three close friends, including former Shouhouzan, all reached the highest rank of Komusubi. He had regained the hunger of a young rikishi, wanting to stand out among the others and reach a new high.

Edited August 13 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,753]

Yokozuna Oonosato showed excellent form during asageiko today at the Morioka City jungyo, winning six and losing two of his eight consecutive bouts. He called out Juryo Ryuuden, who is likely to return to Makuuchi  next tournament, and his fellow Maegashira Ounokatsu, his classmate at Nippon Sport Science University, finishing with three wins and one loss against each. In the winning bouts, he overwhelmed his opponents with his signature pressure and pushing technique from the tachiai. But in his two losses, he was defeated by Ryuuden, who kept a low stance and took his time before pulling his mawashi and pushing him out. Ounokatsu overwhelmed him with a strong oshidashi after a quick tachiai.

Oonosato resumed sumo practice on the 10th, and this was his third sumo session, following  one on the 11th. "It wasn't that great.. I'll try to work on it gradually," he said, suggesting that he's still not in top form, with Aki just one month away. However, during the eight matches, he never once backed down. In Nagoya, he showed a strong will to correct his bad habit of backing down, which was the reason he distributed four kinboshi, the worst record for a new Yokozuna in history. When asked why he called out Ryuuden, he said, "He's difficult to deal with. He does stuff I have difficulty countering... I'm working on it with him in mind. He's also strong," revealing that he is trying to overcome the challenges he faces against a type of rikishi who shows his strength when he grabs the mawashi.

"It's hot, so I want to make sure I take good care of my health," he said, as if persuading himself.

Edited August 13 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,753]

Today at the Morioka jungyo, Yokozuna Houshouryuu and Oonosato  expressed their intention to have a sanban geiko practice session together at the Kitanofuji Memorial Jungyo to be held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, on the 16th, where Kyokai rijicho Hakkaku will be present and observing. After asageiko, the two sat facing each other in the dressing room. In front of the press, Houshouryuu asked Oonosato, "Are you going to do it (a keiko session)?" to which he replied, "Maybe we'll do it in Asahikawa?" The senior Yokozuna smiled, saying, "He knew I'd have to agree."  Prior to Nagoya , both Yokozuna trained together at Sakaigawa beya, where they had four consecutive matches.  This was the first sanban-keiko session between Yokozunae since the COVID-19 pandemic, and Houshouryuu dominated with a 3-1 record. On this day, Houshouryuu won all nine of his matches, including beating Ryuuden by tsuriotoshi. Regarding the condition of his injured left big toe, he said, "It's gotten a lot better. I feel like I'm almost there. I'm not at my best yet." Oonosato had eight matches against Makuuchi  Ounokatsu and Ryuuden, with a record of six wins and two losses. Even when Ryuuden  grabbed him by the throat with a strong nodowa, he did not back down and there were times when Oonosato pushed him out powerfully. "I need to train hard. I want to gradually improve my condition," said Oonosato, as he increased the pace of his training.
 

Edited August 13 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 10 Morioka, Iwate, with about 5500 spectators, but without injured hometown boy Nishikigi - the drop to juryo had spoiled the triumphant return anyway

on one level with the ozeki on the poster

torikumi - with only one sekiwake and one komusubi left, Aonishiki is in the kore yori sanyaku

o

Onosato with Ryuden

o o o

and Onokatsu

o o o o o

 

Hoshoryu

oo

with Ryyuden

o o o

and Shonannoumi

o o o o

and in the end butsukari with Kotozakura

o

the y-bout with the usual east win

o

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 11 Obihiro, Hokkaido, about 5000 spectators

why the hell is Saitama's Abi that big on the poster? This is a one mountain based mistake

torikumi

o

o o 

 

before the Kitanofuji memorial jungyo in his hometown Asahikawa tomorrow, Kitanofuji memorabilia were put on display in the arena

o o o o o

 

Morioka

o o

more pics in the local paper http://www.iwate-np.co.jp/article/2025/8/14/185888

[Jakusotsu 6,321]

4 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

why the hell is Saitama's Abi that big on the poster? This is a one mountain based mistake

see shusshin: https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=12362

[Yamanashi 4,040]

Yes, once again the classic problem: mistaking the Viceroy Butterfly (Ichiyamamoto) for the Monarch Butterfly (Abi).

[I am the Yokozuna 218]

Any idea how they moved from Morioka to Obihiro to make for the second exhibition event? It is quite a long trip 

[Kintamayama 46,753]

The Jungyo arrived in Asahikawa, Hokkaido today, with a floral tribute and other events held in memory of Kitanofuji,  the 52nd Yokozuna and famous TV commentator, a native of Asahikawa who passed away last November. The day was organized as a "Kitanofuji Memorial Tour," attracting a large number of fans. A floral tribute was held between bouts, with a floral tribute stand set up under the dohyo next to a portrait of Kitanofuji. Other attendees included Hakkaku rijicho, Kitanofuji's protégé, Yokozunae Houshouryuu, Oonosato, and Ozeki Kotozakura. In his speech, Hakkaku paid tribute to the late rikishi, saying, "He was an irreplaceable and important presence (for the Sumo Association and for me)." During asageiko, with Hakkaku watching, the two Yokozuna and Kotozakura had some matches between them. Each Yokozuna fought 12 to 13 bouts, giving their all in each, and they were 3-3 between them after six bouts. 

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 12 the Kitanofuji memorial jungyo Asahikawa basho, Hokkaido

torikumi - the 2 bouts before the kore yori sanyaku had first Abi (-Oho) and in the next bout his impersonator (-Aonishiki) - I had expected something like this rather for Obihiro

o

during the torikumi a flower dedication ceremony

o

Kitanofuji related items on display

oo

the one person vs. kids

o

 

Obihiro

the one's bout

oo

video from a local paper o

oooo

oo o

o

Edited August 17 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 13, Sapporo day 1, about 5000 spectators

torikumi - the one (Ichi is his nickname) at last as mage making model

o

and as always on the long Hokkaido tour, bouts with kids

o

Onosato won this time

 

Sendai had about 3000 spectators on day 1 - promoter Kahoku shimbun released the initially paywall hidden article

o  o

Edited August 18 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 14 Sapporo day 2, again about 5000 spectators

torikumi

o

Hoshoruyu won again this time, 1 had 2 torikumi, another as replacement for a kyujo: a win against Shodai, who was scheduled today to meet never kyujo Tamawashi (never for injury at a hon-basho)

both days One is mage model - day 1: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1W5YxzyEo9/

else

o

 

Shirokuma joins the jungyo for the next location, Aomori on the 20th

[Akinomaki 41,570]

All about Ichi these 4 days in Hokkaido

o

Special news clips about him from the local TV stations

On 16/08/2025 at 23:44, Akinomaki said:

Obihiro

the one's bout

oo

It was visible, but I waited till I saw it in a video: this fake guy is obviously really from Saitama, else he couldn't have lost a jungyo bout in the home prefecture - Hakuoho seemed to apologise to the crowd, but they were delighted to see a tsutaezori - apparently the same performance both in Obihiro and day 1 of Sapporo (that's in the videos)

 

the yokozuna bout today

o

[Akinomaki 41,570]

A rare view: the 2 Abis together, doing training with kids

 

[Akinomaki 41,570]

One thing these days went mostly unnoticed, the usual attendants for the yokozuna are in large numbers kyujo, so who was attendant in their place? For Hoshoryu, Roga replaced Meisei, for Takayasu, Onosato got the One of the Abis

On 11/08/2025 at 10:07, Akinomaki said:

Koga - with the pic from Hoshoryu's dohyo-iri

o o

 

[RabidJohn 2,010]

11 hours ago, Akinomaki said:

A rare view: the 2 Abis together, doing training with kids

You absolutely sure about that?

Could just as easily be two Ichiyamamotos...

[Akinomaki 41,570]

4 hours ago, RabidJohn said:

You absolutely sure about that?

Could just as easily be two Ichiyamamotos...

Abisolutely - A comes first, A is the original

[Kintamayama 46,753]

Tamawashi out with an injury-lower back. That's right, you read right- Tamawashi kyujo. Lumbar spondylosis and acute lower back pain.

Edited August 20 by Kintamayama

[Akinomaki 41,570]

On 18/08/2025 at 11:01, Akinomaki said:

1 had 2 torikumi, another as replacement for a kyujo: a win against Shodai, who was scheduled today to meet never kyujo Tamawashi (never for injury at a hon-basho)

Yes, Tamawashi is kyujo as of today (Sapporo was a fusenpai loss). The medical certificate this time is for acute back pain o - so far for different reasons:

He's frequently kyujo at jungyo recently, it doesn't harm his unblemished consecutive appearance  record

On 29/03/2024 at 10:38, Akinomaki said:

Tamawashi (right knee arthritis from a meniscus damage, partial rupture of the right gastrocnemius muscle)

On 01/10/2024 at 13:02, Akinomaki said:

the never kyujo iron man Tamawashi joint the kyujo group, already as of the 28th - with an epidermoid cyst at the back of the left thigh. After having it removed, he needs medical checks for the next 4 weeks.

maybe there was more before that, the reports were not that detailed in the past

Edited August 20 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 15 Aomori, about 3800 spectators

using a bit older poster pic, with Hoshoryu in front (the page with it is gone by now)

torikumi - none of the Aomori sekitori was there, Kotoshoho was mage making model

o

o

Shirokuma as announced joined the jungyo - Onosato lent his chest to him, else the yokozuna only trained with kids

o

ooo o

o

proper training by Wakatakakage

o o
 

shokkiri, jinku

o o

Jd Yamada is from Aomori city, win against sd Agora

o

ozeki-sekiwake bout

o

the yokozuna bout

o

 

Reports from Sapporo

 

[Kintamayama 46,753]

The jungyo arrived in Fukushima City today, and Sekiwake Wakatakakage, a native of Fukushima, received thunderous cheers. Aiming for promotion to Ozeki, he expressed his excitement for the coming Aki basho, saying, "I want to continue to demonstrate my strength, which is attacking from below." Though he did not do any sumo, he appeared relaxed as he entered the dohyo with his 5-year-old son for the dohyo-iri. Fukushima City Mayor Hiroshi Kohata, who spoke from the dohyo, expressed his hopes for Wakatakakage's promotion to Ozeki, and the 30-year-old prodigy commented, "I want to continue to train hard so I can live up to the cheers." A special bout was set up between him and his older brother Wakamotoharu,  and the arena went crazy. Wakamotoharu expressed his gratitude for the brothers being the most popular rikishi among the joi today , "It gives me strength to have the local people cheering for me."

The Yokozuna and Ozeki  did not practice sumo during asageiko.

[Akinomaki 41,570]

Day 16 Yurihonjo, Akita, about 4500 spectators

torikumi

o

semi local Oho - his grandmother is from Akita and they adopted him - with an older kid while the 2 Abis are watching

o

winning his bout

o

Y/O

oo

Akita pref. local Shohoryu (Tokitsukaze) did the yumitori after Hoshoryu had his bout

o

 

preparations for Kanazawa - Kimura Sakuranosuke writes the ita-banzuke

o

local Onaruto (Dejima) does PR at the promoters offices - Hokuriku shimbun

o

and on local TV - news clip: o

 o

 

report from Yamanobe

longer feature on Ichi in Hokkaido - bilingual and subtitles