Preparations of the masses-November 2015

[Kintamayama]

Mitakeumi, who will be entering Makuuchi after only 4 bashos as a pro, has injured his right hip joint while training against Yokozuna Harumafuji. The pain was so bad that he couldn't get back on his feet. This was after he had 9 bouts against Homarefuji. "It's been a while since I did sumo at length and my feet just couldn't generate any power," he said later. He did participate in the bouts later after receiving treatment but was not 100%.

[CT3*]

I've been watching him in Juryo and have been impressed with his poise. Interested in his Makuuchi debut.

[Katooshu]

Seeing this thread makes me excited :-D

Bring on Kyushu!

[Kintamayama]

Zambara Mitakeumi, the newer Japanese hope and newest Makuuchi addition, trained at Dewanoumi beya yesterday, facing Tochiouzan for 21 bouts, winning 4. "These sanyaku cats are like crazy strong, dude..," he said. He was seen getting blasted out of the dohyo time and again. It was his first time facing Tochiouzan. "I was overwhelmed by the pressure.. I felt the difference in power and experienced the difference in level.. Me? All I have is my speed," he said, unable to hide his astonishment at the power of it all.

Tochiouzan: "I'm aiming for double-digit wins. I started off with 5 straight wins last basho and I would like to double that. Mitakeumi? He is talented and is quick to react. I think he will do well this basho.."

Edited October 31, 2015 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Endou trained at home today against heyamates Daieishou and Daishoumaru-15 bouts in all. "I'm doing the best I can. My heyamates are getting stronger and the keiko is super. I will be concentrating on advancing in the ranks!" he declared.

[Akinomaki]

Takanohana-beya's ms7 Sato will try to make the fastest juryo debut of a rikishi direct from high-school sumo: 8 basho with start from maezumo. While at Saitama Sakae high he was open weight division junior world champion.
Jokoryu, Tosayutaka from university sumo, the infamous Itai from corporate sumo and after the war also yokozuna Wakanohana 1 (also with a start at age 18) did it in 6 with start from maezumo, the fastest from high school sumo so far was ozeki Tochiazuma with 9 basho.
http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/11/02/kiji/K20151102011433630.html

[Kintamayama]

Komusubi Yoshikaze is training like a man obsessed. He trained against a Yokozuna for the second day running-Yesterday it was Harumafuji, today it was Hakuhou, and Ozeki Terunofuji. He lost all 18 bouts against Hakuhou today. "I have no stamina.." he confessed. The content was not bad. "The keiko is tiring but I'm getting really hyped up and that's good!" he declared.

[Yubinhaad]

Takasago-beya can proudly boast the longest continuous sekitori presence in ozumo, having had at least one sekitori on every banzuke since 1878. That is followed at increasing distances by seven heya with ongoing streaks beginning in the 20th century:

Kasugano - 1935 Natsu

Sadogatake - 1955 Aki

Kataonami - 1985 Hatsu

Tokitsukaze - 1990 Aki

Tomozuna - 1991 Nagoya

Naruto (now Tagonoura) - 1994 Natsu

Hakkaku - 1997 Natsu

The latest in that 137-year line of Takasago-beya sekitori is Asabenkei, who makes his Juryo debut this basho. He appears in some of these asageiko pictures, some very small unfortunately.

Since 1961, Takasago-beya has based itself at a temple called Jodoji in Kumamoto prefecture for the Kyushu basho.

Keiko underway.

Asabenkei is the first new sekitori from the heya for over nine years. Here he warms up with some suriashi, now in the white keiko mawashi of a sekitori.

Now doing some keiko with fellow sekitori Asasekiryu outside the ring.

The two sekitori now do some tachi-ai practice in the ring. [2]

Following the end of keiko, Asamorimoto has the sand washed away by the heya's senior yobidashi, Rikinojo.

Meanwhile, veteran Shinzan has his chonmage repaired by the heya's tokoyama, Tokoyumi.

Finally, Asabenkei poses for a picture with the Kyushu basho poster.

And a handul of shots from Dewanoumi-beya, home of Makuuchi debutant Mitakeumi.

Mitakeumi warms up with the help of stablemate Kairyu.

Now in the ring for some practice bouts with the same man.

Light exercises as a group.

The heya's three highest-ranking rikishi pose for a picture following the end of keiko - Dewahayate, Mitakeumi and Kairyu.

Edited November 4, 2015 by Yubinhaad

[inhashi]

Fukuoka native Shohozan returns back to makuuchi after winning his first yusho in juryo last honbasho (13-2).

A broadcast of his encouragement party was aired yesterday. It can be viewed on YT at this link. Looking good during practice with Myogiryu and Tamawashi he was able to overwhelm with his speed. Could the superstition of his success at aki basho be based on the color of his mawashi? He was wearing the blue one then as opposed to his usual yellow/gold mawashi. Anyway, I'm excited to see him back in the upper division.

Edited November 13, 2015 by inhashi

[Akinomaki]

Mitakeumi did leapfrog training on the 6th to finish his basho preparations
http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1562946.html

[kuroimori]

Mitakeumi did leapfrog training on the 6th to finish his basho preparations

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1562946.html

may come in handy for leapfrogging the banzuke ;-)