Preparations of the masses- Haru 2023

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Asanoyama spoke to the press today. "I'm still in the early stages of preparations. I'll be upping the pace starting tomorrow (the 6th) by doing sumo with my heyamates. Degeiko? It's very important to face other sekitori in training. If the opportunity arises, I'll go," he explained.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,464]

"I had injured my right big toe in training in December and contemplated kyujo, but it was important for me to enter Hatsu. It's my 'kicking foot' and I felt quite uncomfortable during the tachiai. The pain was strong and I couldn't even do sumo in training. I started taking painkillers a day before the start of the basho, and found myself taking three different kinds of pills because of the pain. I taped three of my toes together. I couldn't get that first step in. Right after my sixth loss (and losing the chance to return to Ozeki) it felt better. I managed to go 6-6 but then re-injured the toe and lost all remaining bouts.. I'm good now. I think I will fall out of sanyaku but will gambarize and am aiming for double-digit wins!" he declared. This was Shoudai, of course.

Edited February 5, 2023 by Kintamayama

[hakutorizakura 697]

But his tachiai is basically just standing up and no foot movement involved....?

[Yamanashi 4,091]

2 hours ago, hakutorizakura said:

But his tachiai is basically just standing up and no foot movement involved....?

Well, sure, to the casual fan ...

[Calamityama 27]

On 05/02/2023 at 16:49, Kintamayama said:

"I had injured my right big toe in training in December and contemplated kyujo, but it was important for me to enter Hatsu. It's my 'kicking foot' and I felt quite uncomfortable during the tachiai. The pain was strong and I couldn't even do sumo in training. I started taking painkillers a day before the start of the basho, and found myself taking three different kinds of pills because of the pain. I taped three of my toes together. I couldn't get that first step in. Right after my sixth loss (and losing the chance to return to Ozeki) it felt better. I managed to go 6-6 but then re-injured the toe and lost all remaining bouts.. I'm good now. I think I will fall out of sanyaku but will gambarize and am aiming for double-digit wins!" he declared. This was Shoudai, of course.

That would party explain why he was looking so lethargic at times …

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Sadogatake beya is heating up as the boys have resumed training. Kotoshouhou took on Kotonowaka and Kotoekou (ekou, ekou) and was 20-4, continuing to show the form he showed last basho. He went head to head against his senpai Takakeishou last basho, losing to him on the last day and missing out on the yusho, but did get his first ever fighting spirit prize.  "I don't want to forget the feeling I had at that point so I think I have to improve my abilities," he said. His tachiai was  powerful and the follow-up was excellent as well. Even when his more experienced opponents managed to brave his attack he came at  them for a second and third time relentlessly. He was looking very assertive.  "Even if I have a good tachiai, the follow-up is important. I can't make do with one attempt, I need to keep going. I want to do that instinctively!" he enthused. As for last basho's musubi match for the Cup? "The atmosphere was totally different- I am glad I had that experience.." he summed. 

 

Edited February 9, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Asanoyama trained at home today, facing Juryo Oushouma who came for degeiko, and the lower rankers of his heya. 29 bouts in all.  13-8 against Oushouma. He even had 10 straight bouts without resting whilst breathing heavily. "I am moving properly. No weakness at all. I think that 'feeling' is slowly returning and I'd like to build on that," he said. Osaka has been good to him in the past - first Juryo basho, Ozeki promotion decided. "That's in the past. I don't want to think about my past. I want to find the new me. Even if I remember the good stuff, the bad stuff always follows.. I want to properly do sumo for 15 days and make the fans happy. In January my body was moving well and I was able to do good sumo. Hopefully, I cam continue with that next basho," he summed.

We don't know yet if he will be back in Makuuchi next basho, but he does.  Reading between the lines I have a feeling he knows he will be, although I still stubbornly don't think he will..

Edited February 10, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Yesterday, Kiribayama went for degeiko to Arashio beya and trained with his sanyaku rivals Wakatakakage and Wakamotoharu, and with Juryo Koutokuzan and went 16-3. He won his first 14 bouts showing stamina and great power on the belt. He also had a sharp tachiai, pushing back his opponents with ease. "My body is in good shape. I still have three ranks to climb to get to the top (he'll be Sekiwake next basho) so first things first- next stop- Ozeki.  It's going to be fun seeing who gets there first.." he said.

[Jakusotsu 6,431]

1 hour ago, Kintamayama said:

next stop- Ozeki.  It's going to be fun seeing who gets there first.." he said.

Ochiai

[Koorifuu 1,127]

You can tell how ambitious they are when the report puts out 16-3 vs sanyaku opposition. That's ozeki numbers. In a few days, we'll hear how he went 1829-0 against his lower division stablemates.

[Reonito 1,816]

7 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

We don't know yet if he will be back in Makuuchi next basho, but he does.

Is that right? They tell the wrestlers their ranks before the banzuke announcement? Would make it even more amazing that the rankings don't leak early.

[Gurowake 4,164]

1 hour ago, Reonito said:

Is that right? They tell the wrestlers their ranks before the banzuke announcement? Would make it even more amazing that the rankings don't leak early.

There was a previous occurrence where John Gunning heard from Osunaarashi that he'd be demoted in a case where it wasn't clear he was going to be; that particular time was later determined to be partially a punishment.  I figure that they do tell the rikishi who are moving between sekitori divisions, but they generally have no incentive to tell anyone else. 

[Kintamayama 47,464]

2 hours ago, Reonito said:

Is that right? They tell the wrestlers their ranks before the banzuke announcement? Would make it even more amazing that the rankings don't leak early.

Yes it is, at least to some extent. Too many people know it to keep it a secret, it has to leak. I'm pretty sure inter-division changes are known. We saw names on  a certain heya's signboard way before the banzuke was officially released, helping some players with their GTB entries. Two bashos ago, I think, can't remember the details.

[Yarimotsu 645]

5 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Yes it is, at least to some extent. Too many people know it to keep it a secret, it has to leak. I'm pretty sure inter-division changes are known. We saw names on  a certain heya's signboard way before the banzuke was officially released, helping some players with their GTB entries. Two bashos ago, I think, can't remember the details.

Yeah, that was Isegahama when Nishikifuji got promoted, assuming my memory isn't 100% jumbled.

[Reonito 1,816]

Definitely Isegahama, though last basho their board wasn't a good guide

[Akinomaki 41,907]

Daily titles with "Asanoyama very likely in makuuchi" - using noukou 濃厚

o

[Kintamayama 47,464]

18 minutes ago, Akinomaki said:

Daily titles with "Asanoyama very likely in makuuchi" - using noukou 濃厚

o

Noukou usually means yes. 99%.

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Juryo 5 east Kinbouzan is looking to become the first Makuuchi rikishi from Kazakhstan (Borat did not make it). "That makes me very happy.," he said. He trained with Makushita and under from his heya and won all 9 bouts.  "Today I was conscious of moving forward. My body is moving well. I am a bit frustrated from last basho (lost his last three bouts, but still managed 11 wins) but i was able to go the distance without injury and I guess that's good.. I am aiming for kachikoshi!" he added.

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Ura got a lot of chocolate for Valentine's day. 50 bars or more. The most he ever got. "I love sweets but I fear I won't be able to eat all of that," he said. He got a lot of letters with the chocolate from fans showing their love. "That makes me very happy. Last basho I was 7-8 but I'm happy because that was way over my real abilities.. I will be gambarizing as per usual" he added humbly.

Tokushouryuu is back in the paid ranks after dropping to Makushita last basho after 11 years as a sekitori. He was seen lending his chest to the lower rankers, back in his white mawashi. "It was a struggle. My Oyakata told me not to give up and to bounce right back, which I did. I did have thoughts of retiring, but I'm glad it turned out this way. I will take the bouts a day at a time and give it my all. I just want to have fun," he said.

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Asanoyama had 26 bouts today at home. He hosted Wakatakakage, Wakamotoharu, Kiribayama, Ryuuden, Hiradoumi, Mitoryuu  and Juryo Oushouma for a massive training session. He went 20-6, beating both Wakas and Kiribayama for 8 straight bouts at some point, 14-4 in all (4-0 against Wakatakakage, 2-0 against Wakamotoharu). "I'm glad I got to train with guys I don't usually train with. It was great fun and I think I was able to do some good sumo there. Truth be told, before the training started I was scared.. I feared I would be pushed around easily. I faced it all telling myself to do forward moving sumo," he said. He was 8-4 against Kiribayama, who became a sanyaku stalwart while Asanoyama was away. "He has gotten larger and stronger.. He does well close up and from a distance..I'm happy i was able to face him today," he added. He faced Kiribayama 5 times as an Ozeki and was 3-2 (one win was a fusensho) so he didn't have it easy back then either.  "My body was moving well and I was able to respond so that was good. I want to return to my old banzuke rank for a second try.." he summed.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Kiribayama was 4-8 against Asanoyama today. "He was stronger than I expected. I need to gambarize in order to beat him. Well, he is an (ex) Ozeki, after all, and myself being an Ozeki aspirant, I wanted to face him." he said. "He was overpowered. With this kind of training it's going to be difficult," said his mentor Kakuryuu oyakata who was there. "I felt at my current strength it seems impossible (to become Ozeki). A person attaining the Ozeki rank is a different kind of strong," Kakuryuu added. Still, he did beat Asanoyama 4 times. "When you face a strong opponent, the win/loss thing is not important- it's good training and adds to your confidence. All in all it was a good session, although I felt dejected at times. It's from here on.." he summed.

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Wakatakakage injured a rib on his left side during his 4th match against Asanoyama. He was seen wincing, and left the session. According to his Oyakata, he has been suffering from lower back pains lately as well. 

 

The second it happened?

[Athenayama 1,214]

Plenty of information lately, thanks Moti !

[Kintamayama 47,464]

1 hour ago, Athenayama said:

Plenty of information lately, thanks Moti !

And really early too- usually it all starts after the banzuke is announced.

Edited February 14, 2023 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,464]

Kiribayama and Ryuuden came for degeiko today again to face Asanoyama. He was 8-5 against them. 4-1 against Kiribayama and seemed to struggle against Ryuuden. Makushita Ishizaki was also in the mix.