Preparation of the masses-Kyushu 2014

[Yubinhaad]

Some further pictures from Kise-beya. Again, rikishi from several other heya came for degeiko.

Sasanoyama warms up with suriashi.

And so does Shikihide-beya visitor Baraki.

Isenoumi-beya's Itadaki held a 20kg weight bag for his suriashi.

Sasayama has a practice bout with an unnamed opponent.

Chiganoura-beya's Masunoumi gets some advice from Inagawa-oyakata (former Komusubi Futeno).

Hamaguchi and Koba in action in this all-collegiate practice bout.

Chiganoura-beya's Masunoyama, now down in Makushita, ready to start a bout.

Chatting with Tamanoi-beya's Fujiazuma.

Jokoryu and Akiseyama.

Ikioi.

Higonojo (second in line) and Nishikigi (fourth) are the only ones I recognise from this suriashi train.

Fujiazuma adds a little extra weight to Koba's push-ups.

Rendaiyama, Kitanoumi-beya's Kitaharima, and Kisenoyama.

Tokushoryu pumps some iron.

The Chiganoura-beya delegation: Masunoyama, Masunoumi, Masutoo and Masunosho.

Shiba, new Juryo Hidenoumi and Hamaguchi.

Ikioi, Irie and Fujiazuma get on their bike.

And a few from Tagonoura-beya.

The colourful nobori of the heya's three sekitori outside their Kyushu lodgings.

Wakanosato lends his chest to Tagonofuji.

Takayasu warming up with matawari.

Now in the ring for a bout against Ozeki Kisenosato.

Wakanosato pumps some iron.

Takayasu gets some words of advice from the shisho, former Maegashira Takanotsuru.

Lending his chest to Tagonofuji.

Kisenosato doing some suriashi along the edge of the keikoba.

In a relaxed mood as he chats to reporters afterwards.

[Yubinhaad]

And finally, some pictures from Oitekaze-beya.

The heya ranking board is a simple paper job for the Kyushu lodgings.

Daishowaka and Abiko have a practice bout. Abiko won the Makushita yusho last basho and is the highest ranked of the heya's six Makushita rikishi.

Endo warms up on the teppo pole.

Daishoho and Kawabata.

Daishowaka now pumping some iron.

Daishoiwa sends Abiko out of the ring with a neat dashinage.

Abiko back in the ring for another bout.

Endo now warming up with suriashi.

Daieisho watching the keiko.

Daishoryu gets some advice from Nakagawa-oyakata (former Maegashira Asahisato).

Four shots of the heya's two sekitori, Endo and Daieisho, taking each other on.

Daieisho about to start some butsugari-keiko with the heya's non-Kyokai coach Nishino, former Juryo Daishodai.

Daishoryu and Kawabata chatting.

The session concludes with sonkyo.

Endo checks out the sumo guides which are available at every basho.

Daieisho shown after the end of keiko. He will celebrate his 21st birthday on the second day of this basho.

Stretching his legs while chatting with Daishokaku.

Daishoho and Abiko.

[Senkoho]

off-topic:

Do we know anything about Itadaki's ancestry? He definitely doesn't look 100% Japanese (or maybe not Japanese at all?) Any info?

[Umigame]

off-topic:

Do we know anything about Itadaki's ancestry? He definitely doesn't look 100% Japanese (or maybe not Japanese at all?) Any info?

Found this via Google-sensei:

Itadaki's father is Canadian and mother is Japanese. His hometown is Musashino, Tokyo. He did wanpaku sumo from 3rd grade of elementary school.

http://www.city.musashino.lg.jp/dbps_data/_material_/_files/000/000/018/302/107_022_challenge.pdf

[Raishu]

Higonojo (second in line) and Nishikigi (fourth) are the only ones I recognise from this suriashi train.

from right to left: Kizenryu, Higonojo, Rendaiyama, Nishikigi, Hamaguchi

[Yubinhaad]

Our final set of pre-basho asageiko pictures from the Kyokai comes from Onomatsu-beya.

Heya ranking board.

Yamatofuji and Amatsu have a practice bout. Waiting for their turn are Ikeru, Fujimoto, Onosho and new Makuuchi Amuru.

Yamatofuji is one of eight Onomatsu-beya rikishi in the Makushita ranks, and at Makushita 4w he has a great chance to earn promotion to Juryo.

Shinohara and Onosho have a practice bout. Onosho is the highest-ranked of the heya's Makushita gang, at Makushita 3e. Watching on the right is Shiranui-oyakata, the recently-retired former Komusubi Wakakoyu.

Shiranui now gives some tips to Shinohara.

Amuru warming up with push-ups.

Tetsuyuzan in action against an unnamed opponent.

Former Juryo Keitenkai practices along the edge of the keikoba.

Daido and Yamatofuji have a practice bout.

Another look at Daido.

Amatsu waits to receive Amuru's tachi-ai practice.

Amuru, Shiranui-oyakata and Daido pay their respects to Onosho.

Hiyonoyama makes his first appearance.

The rikishi of the heya pose for a group shot. On the wall are some paintings created by people suffering with autism.

Onomatsu-oyakata (former Sekiwake Masurao) with another picture - this one is the work of graphic designer Shin Matsunaga, and is the image on Amuru's kesho-mawashi.