YDC Soken for Aki 2025

[Kintamayama 47,127]

The Yokozuna Deliberation Council held their special keiko session today at the Sumo Training Center. Yokozuna Oonosato  had 3 wins and 5 losses against Yokozuna Houshouryuu and 3 losses against Ozeki Kotozakura. The Q&A with Oonosato after keiko is as follows:

- Looking back on today's keiko..

"There is still time for me to do it properly, so I would like to put in some more effort."

-You had 11 matches and won 3. How do you feel about the results?

"Totally bad... I will do my best to be ready in time for shonichi." 

-So you're not feeling too great..

"It was all a bit disjointed, so I will work hard again."

- Now that the jungyo has finished and the basho is about to begin, what did you take away from this jungyo and the loud supporting cheers you received?

"I will do my best and prepare properly so that I can turn that experience into strength again."

- I imagine that this basho you will still be getting over the last basho, so how are you feeling about that?

"I want to do my best so that I don't make the same mistakes as I did last basho."

- By the same mistakes, what exactly do you mean?

 "I want to do my best as a Yokozuna so that I don't make the same mistakes as last tournament, so that I can stay in the yusho race until the end and liven up the atmosphere."

- For example, did you have any strategy that you decided on for yourself in keiko today?

"It wasn't good, so today was today and it is over for me, and I'll work hard and gambarize again tomorrow."

- Could you please tell us again about your resolve and thoughts for this tournament?

" Well, I shall do what I need to do properly and give it my all for the 15 days."

Edited September 5 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,127]

 Sekiwake Wakatakakage,  who is aiming for Ozeki, was absent due to a fever. His Oyakata Araiso (former sekiwake Soukokurai), explained that he was taking precautions, saying, "He had a slight fever, so he rested. He went to the hospital and they said it wasn't COVID or anything. He'll practice tomorrow once the fever goes down." It is not expected to affect his participation in the basho. After the keiko session, Chairman Hakkaku  expressed his expectations, saying, "(Wakatakakage) is over 30. He knows his own physical condition. I'm sure he'll enter the basho in good health."

Edited September 5 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,127]

Kotozakura was 6-8 facing both Yokozuna. Since his yusho in the Kyushu basho last year, he has been showing disappointing results. Since the January basho, he has barely managed to get kachikoshi, with 5 wins, 8 wins, 8 wins and 8 wins. Last tournament, his stablemate Kotoshouhou won his first yusho, so hopes are high for a comeback this tournament. However,  Hakkaku rijicho, who watched the general training session, was harsh, saying, "He lacks the spirit to beat the Yokozunae. His good nature is showing. His attacks are also slow."

[Octofuji 423]

1 minute ago, Kintamayama said:

However,  Hakkaku rijicho, who watched the general training session, was harsh, saying, "He lacks the spirit to beat the Yokozunae. His good nature is showing. His attacks are also slow."

After beating the Yokozuna 6 times??

[Kintamayama 47,127]

Houshouryuu was 13-6 against Kotozakura and Oonosato. He had a winning record of 5-3 against the other Yokozuna, and 8-3 (or 9-2, depends on which article you are reading..) against Kotozakura, and spoke positively, "I think it was a good practice session." Regarding the dislocated and fractured left big toe that caused him to miss the Nagoya tournament and the left shoulder injury he sustained during the jungyo, he said, "It's gotten much better," and there are no issues with his participation in the imminent basho. Regarding Kotoshouhou's yusho in Nagoya, Houshouryuu responded, "He's someone I've always considered a rival, so I'm happy that he won, but I wasn't a barrier for him." Houshouryuu has yet to win a yusho in the three tournaments since his promotion to Yokozuna. Looking ahead to Aki basho, he said, "If I focus each day, the results will follow."

Edited September 5 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,127]

Absent were Wakatakakage, Takayasu, Kusano, and Kinbouzan. No reason given for the last three.

[Kintamayama 47,127]

The YDC also gave Houshouryuu high praise. Council Chairman Oshima Tadamori (former Speaker of the House of Representatives) gave Houshouryuu high praise after his return from kyujo, saying, "I'm relieved to see him looking so healthy. We can have high hopes for him in the next basho."After the session, Houshouryuu talked about the Yokozuna-Ozeki matches. "It's rare to have a chance to practice with Yokozuna-Ozeki from another heya. We had talked lately about practicing together as a trio." He expressed satisfaction, saying, "I think we were able to practice well." He withdrew from the Nagoya Tournament in July due to an injury to his left big toe. During the summer jungyo in August, he injured his left shoulder and missed some keiko sessions. He emphasized his recovery, saying, "(My left big toe and left shoulder) are much better now." Looking ahead to Aki, where he is aiming for his first yusho as a Yokozuna, he said, "I want to show sumo that is true to myself. If I concentrate on each match each day, the results will follow."

[Kintamayama 47,127]

All Y/O bouts:

● Kotozakura (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

● Oonosato (uwatenage) Houshouryuu○

● Kotozakura (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

○ Oonosato (yorikiri) Houshouryuu●

● Oonosato (yorikiri) Kotozakura○

○ Houshouryuu (uwatenage) Kotozakura●

○Houshouryuu (hikiotoshi) Oonosato●

● Houshouryuu (yorikiri) Kotozakura○

● Oonosato (yorikiri) Kotozakura○

● Houshouryuu (hikiotoshi) Kotozakura○

○ Houshouryuu (tsukidashi) Kotozakura●

○ Houshouryuu (hikiotoshi) Kotozakura●

○ Houshouryuu (yorikiri) Oonosato●

● Houshouryuu (yorikiri) Oonosato○

● Houshouryuu (oshidashi) Oonosato○

○ Kotozakura (yorikiri) Oonosato●

● Kotozakura (oshidashi) Houshouryuu○

● Oonosato (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

● Kotozakura (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

● Oonosato (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

○ Kotozakura (uwatenage) Houshouryuu●

● Kotozakura (yorikiri) Houshouryuu○

Edited September 5 by Kintamayama

[Heather82Cs 10]

5 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

The YDC also gave Houshouryuu high praise. Council Chairman Oshima Tadamori (former Speaker of the House of Representatives) gave Houshouryuu high praise after his return from kyujo, saying, "I'm relieved to see him looking so healthy. We can have high hopes for him in the next basho."After the session, Houshouryuu talked about the Yokozuna-Ozeki matches. "It's rare to have a chance to practice with Yokozuna-Ozeki from another heya. We had talked lately about practicing together as a trio." He expressed satisfaction, saying, "I think we were able to practice well." He withdrew from the Nagoya Tournament in July due to an injury to his left big toe. During the summer jungyo in August, he injured his left shoulder and missed some keiko sessions. He emphasized his recovery, saying, "(My left big toe and left shoulder) are much better now." Looking ahead to Aki, where he is aiming for his first yusho as a Yokozuna, he said, "I want to show sumo that is true to myself. If I concentrate on each match each day, the results will follow."

Ah, don't do that. Don't give me hope. /walks away with fingers in her ears lalalalala

[Yamanashi 4,053]

That last phrase is one I've read many times (it may be just throwaway phrase like ganbare).

"If I can continue getting more fiber in my diet, wearing that lucky clover in my mawashi, and practicing my scary tachiai face, the results will follow."

[dingo 1,473]

Hmm, Hoshoryu needed to impress the YDC, so he put in an effort. I hope it doesn't affect him in the honbasho. Onosato didn't need to impress them that much so perhaps he did not bother too much. Slow and steady wins the race? 

[Akinomaki 41,708]

Hakkaku about Kotoshoho: "He did nothing remarkable" o

He thinks that regardless of a 3-8 today, Onosato is still the number one yusho hope - "He's strong at the basho. Hoshoryu is strong, but at the basho by losing his presence of mind, he's digging his grave (Japanese standard idiom)" o

Also YDC top Oshima said "Onosato is always like that (at the soken). Expect that he'll be adjusting and get win by win."  o

[Akinomaki 41,708]

o ooo

o

 

Onosato

oo o o

with Hoshoryu

oo  o o o   o oo   o o  o o

ooo

 

Kotozakura

o o o

o

 

Aonishiki

o o

 

Edited September 5 by Akinomaki

[dingo 1,473]

On 06/09/2025 at 00:07, Akinomaki said:

Hakkaku about Kotoshoho: "He did nothing remarkable" o

He thinks that regardless of a 3-8 today, Onosato is still the number one yusho hope - "He's strong at the basho. Hoshoryu is strong, but at the basho by losing his presence of mind, he's digging his grave (Japanese standard idiom)" o

Also YDC top Oshima said "Onosato is always like that (at the soken). Expect that he'll be adjusting and get win by win."  o

Very interesting, but not surprising. He's going the tried and true way of relying on results not promise. However Onosato is still a new yokozuna so he has to deliver in order to keep that goodwill. I wonder if those in the Kyokai who backed Hoshoryu's yokozuna promotion are now losing their standing a bit as an extension of Hoshoryu's lacking performance as a yokozuna. 

[Akinomaki 41,708]

The NSK posted videos - makuuchi:

makushita: butsukari with sekitori

 

[Akinomaki 41,708]

and at last Y/O - with butsukari for makuuchi

 

[Octofuji 423]

It seemed no-one wanted to pick Aonishiki, I was beginning to wonder if he'd get a shot at all.