Preparations of the masses- Kyushu 2025

[Kintamayama 47,262]

Nishikifuji, who returned to Makuuchi after four basho and thus continues the 142-year history of Aomori Prefecture-born wrestlers in Makuuchi , was in top form, winning 15 and losing only one of his 16 bouts against  Hakuouhou and Atamifuji. In Juryo, he won 10 matches in July and 11 in Aki. "Next time, I want to win 12 matches and be in the running for the yusho. I'm putting my life on the line and focusing solely on sumo," he said with determination. Until the previous tournament, Takerufuji had been continuing Aomori Prefecture's history, but he missed the entire tournament in July with an injury to his right upper arm, dropping  to Juryo. Nishikifuji worked up a sweat with the fundamentals. "I'm in good shape. I'll be ready in time for the basho," he said, eager to compete.

Edited Friday at 15:19 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,262]

Facing the Kyushu basho, Maegashira Yoshinofuji (24, Isegahama), who changed his name from Kusano to Yoshinofuji a few days ago, demonstrated his steady recovery from the right foot injury that forced him to miss this month's London Koen. On the 31st, he worked up a sweat with basic exercises and weight training at his heya in Dazaifu, Fukuoka. Though he was wearing a support on the injured area, he showed no signs of discomfort, performing shiko and speeding up his suriashi. During training at his heya just before leaving for the UK, he injured his calf and ankle, leaving him unable to walk. He reluctantly canceled the London trip, which he had "wanted to attend," and has been undergoing acupuncture treatment. He is expected to resume sumo training as soon as next week. He stated, "If I do it, I'll do it against Sekitori ," and is not considering resuming matches against younger/lower ranked rikishi while monitoring his condition. He plans to resume training after receiving painkiller injections. However, if he feels any severe pain, he said, "I will take a break without pushing myself too hard. But for now, I plan to enter Kyushu," and he wants to avoid missing the tournament as it will be his first tournament since changing his name. His Oyakata, Isegahama , said he will "see how it goes" and will carefully decide whether or not he will participate. Regarding Juryo Takerufuji, who missed the previous tournament due to an injury to his right upper arm and, like Yoshinofuji, did not do any sumo today, he said, "We won't know his situation until we see how it goes. They are doing their best to get back in time," expressing his hope for a speedy recovery.

In short, we'll see how it goes.

[Kintamayama 47,262]

The rikishi said to be the strongest ever rookie to grace the land Ochir trained today at home (Isegahama) against the likes of Hakuouhou and Atamifuji and was 6-4. However, he suffered a gash above his right eye during training at his heya in Dazaifu, Fukuoka on the 31st, and required six stitches. He worked up a sweat through weight training and participated in bouts against other sekitori of his heya. During the tachiai of the 10th match, he collided with Atamifuji's head, causing him to bleed above his right eye. Ochirsaihan immediately left the heya and went to a nearby hospital, where he promptly received six stitches. Returning from the hospital, Ochirsaihan said, "I got six stitches," but was smiling and said that the injury was not serious. It is unclear whether he will be able to recover to the point where he can do any sumo in training.. After a training session with his heya in Yokohama on the 25th of this month, he said, "I hope I can make it to the tournament without any injuries," and with a wry smile, he said, "I tried not to get injured, but I got injured.." He has already participated in matches with sekitori rikishi at his heya, often overwhelming them, and many sumo insiders consider him to be at the level of a Yokozuna or Ozeki. His confidence is building, so he didn't seem shaken by his injury today. As he did during his training trip on the 25th, he spoke calmly, saying, "I'm not particularly excited or nervous."

In case you missed this, an in-depth look at Ochir.

Edited Friday at 22:59 by Kintamayama

[Bunbukuchagama 977]

8 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

He plans to resume training after receiving painkiller injections.

This doesn't sound promising.

[Kintamayama 47,262]

Wakatakakage, Maegashira for the first time in four bashos, limited himself to light training at Arashio beya on the 1st, and did not do any actual sumo keiko. According to his Oyakata , he injured his neck in his match against Takayasu on the fourth day of the previous tournament, where he was challenging for promotion to Ozeki. He felt pain again during keiko on October 31st, and decided to take it easy. The 30-year-old Wakatakakage finished with a makekoshi of 6 wins and 9 losses in the previous basho, and will be looking to start from scratch this time. Arashio Oyakata emphasized that his injury is minor, saying, "He just rested today because his neck hurt. He will enter Kyushu."

[Kintamayama 47,262]

On the 1st, new Sekiwake Aonishiki came to Arashio beya for his first pre-basho degeiko. He had eight bouts against  Kirishima and Wakamotoharu, finishing with a record of 6 wins and 2 losses. The 21-year-old Ukraine-born Ozeki candidate commented with satisfaction, "It's been a while, and it was fun. I want to prepare well and avoid injury." His motto was, "Regardless of whether I win or lose, I just want to move forward." He maintained a forward-leaning posture, and the offensive technique that was behind his 11 consecutive kachikoshi since his debut in Makuuchi remains intact. He held his own against former Ozeki Kirishima, keeping his upper body steady and finishing with a record of 4 wins and 2 losses. Following the guidance of his Oyakata,  Ajigawa (former sekiwake Aminishiki), Aonishiki has focused on strengthening his physique since arriving in Fukuoka. He is poised to gradually increase his pace, saying, "I've been doing exactly what my Oyakata has been telling me to do. I've trusted him and never made a mistake so far." This basho is considered to be a stepping stone for his promotion to Ozeki, and if he wins his first yusho, it could certainly boost his chances of that promotion. "I feel like everything is as usual. I won't know until I try.." he summed.

[Kintamayama 47,262]

Kirishima, dropping out of Sanyaku after being ranked there for four bashos,  went to Arashio beya for degeiko today where he energetically fought 20 bouts against another rikishi who came for degeiko  Sekiwake Aonishiki and others. On October 30th and 31st, he went to Tokitsukaze beya so this was his third  consecutive degeiko. "I've just started, so my body is in good shape. I'll train until I'm tired, then take a break and adjust," he said enthusiastically. He struggled against Aonishiki, (he is 0-2 against him in hon-basho), finishing with a record of 2-4. The 29-year-old former Ozeki, who won the yusho in Kyushu two years ago, was full of energy, saying, "Aonishiki is an opponent I don't want to lose to. I want to keep giving it my all until I'm 35.."

Edited Saturday at 10:11 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,262]

Maegashira 2 Kirishima  who was demoted from san'yaku  after five tournaments, showed his strong desire to return to sanyaku with a vigorous keiko session. On the 3rd, he participated in the Tokitsukaze beya rengo keiko in Shimemachi, Fukuoka. He went 14 -7 in 21 bouts, the most among all sekitori, showing off his excellent condition. After the keiko, he declared with confidence, "I'm only thinking about returning to Sanyaku in one basho." Five bashos ago, he was the West Maegashira 1. The last time Kirishima was ranked as low as Maegashira 2 was three and a half years ago in the 2022 Natsu basho, when he was also East Maegashira 2, before starting his Ozeki run and being promoted to Ozeki. Even after being demoted from Ozeki, he consistently maintained a record that warranted re-promotion. Above all, his strong desire to be promoted again led him to fight six consecutive matches today against Maegashira Wakamotoharu and Daieishou. Even after losing and being forced to give up his spot to another rikishi, he stayed behind, saying "just one more time," and continued to train hard in pursuit of his goal.

When asked why he put in so much training, he said, "There was something I wasn't satisfied with. I got angry at myself for the first time in a while," and he continued training until his body forgot the movements that he was dissatisfied with. He said that his chronically injured neck "has been fine since the last tournament," and that his wrist, which he injured in the last tournament, "is no problem," emphasizing that even before he started training, his physical condition was improving.