Preparations of the masses- Aki 2025

[Kintamayama]

Sekiwake Wakatakakage had six matches (5-1) against  Ouhou, Kusano and others in a keiko session between sekitori. Although he suffered an ankle injury during this tour, he showed nimble movements and commented, "I hope to stay in good health, work up a sweat, and practice hard for the rest of the way." As a Komusubi, he had 12  wins in May and 10 wins last tournament, marking his second consecutive tournament with double-digit wins. The benchmark for promotion to Ozeki is "33 wins in the last three tournaments as a sanyaku wrestler," so he will be aiming for Ozeki in Aki. The long jungyo which began on the 3rd of this month, has now come to an end, with only three days remaining in the Kanto region. Although he did miss some matches along the way, "I was careful not to lose weight. I like fish and sushi more than meat, so I ate quite a lot," he said, feasting on seafood during this tour in Hokkaido, the Tohoku region, Kanazawa City, and other areas, refreshing his mind and body. "Food, rest, sleep. I want to pay attention to my lifestyle," he said, taking a deep look at himself as he approaches the basho.

Edited August 28, 2025 by Kintamayama

[Andreas21]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

... on the 12th due to an injury to his right wrist. Although an examination revealed a cracked bone, he rejoined the jungyo on the 25th and began doing sumo on the 27th.

Something is seriously wrong here. I'm puzzled - these Rikishi belong to the species Homo sapiens, don't they?

[Kintamayama]

Takayasu, who rejoined the jungyo on the 25th, showed some energetic sumo today.. In asageiko, he put on an intense performance against young rikishi such as  Hakuouhou and Fujinokawa. The 35-year-old veteran was enthusiastic, saying, "I'll do what I can every day." Early in the tour, he developed chronic back pain and was sidelined on the 7th. He was initially bedridden for around five days. "I started by getting up. I rested a bit and felt much better," he said with a smile. He won 10 matches as a sanyaku rikishi in Nagoya  and is aiming to solidify his position to return to Ozeki in Aki. "I am taking extreme care of my body, and I'm I'm not putting any strain on my back, so much so that you can say I'm putting my life on the line for sumo.. " he said.

[Kintamayama]

Asanoyama update:

Since the war, no former Makuuchi rikishi has ever re-entered Makuuchi after falling twice to Sandanme or lower. Although he managed to return to Juryo now, he suffered one and two losses in two Makushita tournaments, for a total of three losses. Wakamatsu Oyakata (former sekiwake Asanowaka), who is attached to Takasago stable to which Asanoyama belongs, said, "It's not going to be easy for him to just keep going like this and climb back up the rankings. His power at the tachiai hasn't returned, and he often falls forward in keiko. It's time to reconsider how we should train."

[Reonito]

6 minutes ago, Kintamayama said:

His power at the tachiai hasn't returned, and he often falls forward in keiko.

Seems like the kind of information a coach shouldn't broadcast to his potential opponents.

[Bunbukuchagama]

9 hours ago, Andreas21 said:

Something is seriously wrong here. I'm puzzled - these Rikishi belong to the species Homo sapiens, don't they?

In ozumo, a severed head would be healed after 3 weeks of rest. 

Edited August 28, 2025 by Bunbukuchagama

[Kintamayama]

7 hours ago, Reonito said:

Seems like the kind of information a coach shouldn't broadcast to his potential opponents.

Or as often happens, it's a red herring.

[Kintamayama]

The jungyo was held in Ushiku, Ibaraki today. Sekiwake Kirishima had a total of 14 matches against the previous tournament's winner, Kotoshouhou and others, and won 9 matches with a variety of attacking techniques. The former Ozeki reflected, "It's business as usual." He withdrew from the jungyo on the 12th after injuring his right wrist. He rejoined the tour on the 25th and resumed sumo training on the 27th, but remained calm, saying, "Everyone's bodies hurt all over." Kirishima's style is to train a lot before a basho to prepare for the first day. "If I don't train a lot, it becomes an excuse (for him doing badly)," he revealed. With only 8 wins in the previous tournament, his campaign to return to  Ozeki is back to square one, but he will continue to train steadily.

[Kintamayama]

Komusubi Takayasu made a triumphant return to his hometown today.. He is from Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture. In keiko, he lent his chest to Juryo rikishi Shirokuma for some intense butsugari, rolling him over multiple times, leaving him covered in sand. He missed the Koga tour on the 7th due to "lumbar disc disease and acute lower back pain." "I'm glad I made it this time," he said. He received cheers from the 2,350 spectators who gathered for his first Ushiku tour, and smiled, saying, "It was a warm welcome, and I'm glad I came back to my hometown." He finished with 10 wins and 5 losses in the Nagoya tournament, his first double-digit win total as a sanyaku wrestler since the Natsu basho of 2021, marking the start to his attempt to return to Ozeki. Looking ahead to the Aki basho  he showed his fighting spirit, saying, "I want to produce some results. I want to somehow get 13 wins. First of all, I'll do my best and give it my all."

[Bunbukuchagama]

6 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Komusubi Takayasu made a triumphant return to his hometown today.

Wait, he finally won the yusho? How did I miss it?

[Kintamayama]

1 hour ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

Wait, he finally won the yusho? How did I miss it?

Yes, it's the usual narrative when a rikishi returns to his home town. Equal to "I shall gambarize", "I shall do my own sumo" and "I shall face things on a day to day basis" and "I'm in excellent condition."

[Kintamayama]

Nishikigi, who returned to Makuuchi for the first time in two bashos for the Aki basho, declared himself to be in "good health." He underwent a medical check-up at the Kokugikan on the 2nd and responded to interviews. He was forced to withdraw from the summer jungyo midway through due to cellulitis and was hospitalized for 12 days. The area around his left calf, where the symptoms appeared, still appears painful, with red, swollen scars. "It's happened before, and it healed quickly, so I thought it would heal quickly this time too, but I underestimated it (wry smile). After I was hospitalized, it got (even) worse," he said, revealing that the pain was more severe than he expected. He lost 13kg and is now down to 173kg. He said he had abstained from alcohol while in hospital. "It's been about a month now. It's been a few years since I abstained.. I thought it looked delicious, but I didn't think to drink it myself." He said he was worried about gaining weight back because he eats a little, but smiled and said, "I think today's numbers are really good." Regarding resuming drinking: "I thought I'd start drinking from today. I also drank on my birthday (August 25th)." revealing that he had already lifted the ban a little.

[Kintamayama]

Sekiwake Wakatakakage, who is aiming for promotion to Ozeki at the Aki Basho, spoke to reporters on the 2nd at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo's Sumida Ward. After completing the summer jungyo which included his hometown of Fukushima City, he said, "I've heard people say, 'We have high expectations of you,' and I want to do my best to live up to their expectations." He underwent surgery for a serious right knee injury in March 2023 and was forced to sit out three consecutive tournaments. He returned to Makushita  at the Kyushu  basho of the same year, returned to Juryo in March of last year, and made a comeback by re-entering Makuuchi at the Nagoya basho. "Looking at the results alone, I think I've made a smooth comeback, but it felt like a very long time since I was able to wrestle. I also feel the joy of being able to wrestle. I've always loved sumo, so I step onto the dohyo with the desire to become even stronger," he said. As a Komusubi, he recorded 12 wins in May and 10 wins in the last tournament, marking two consecutive tournaments with double-digit wins. He is 11 wins away from the promotion target of "33 wins in the last three tournaments as a sanyaku rikishi." With less than two weeks until the first day of the basho, he said enthusiastically, "I want to do what I need to do and prepare my mind and body for the basho."

Edited September 3, 2025 by Kintamayama

[I am the Yokozuna]

Wakatakage's injury was in March 2023 and the operation next month, no? Or my memory is not Ok once again

[Kintamayama]

5 hours ago, I am the Yokozuna said:

Wakatakage's injury was in March 2023 and the operation next month, no? Or my memory is not Ok once again

Indeed, fixed. 

[Gurowake]

On 29/08/2025 at 08:40, Kintamayama said:

With only 8 wins in the previous tournament, his campaign to return to  Ozeki is back to square one

Eh, if he gets the Yusho with at least 13 wins (or somehow doesn't win the Yusho with 14), that should be enough.  It's a tough task, but it's been done by Ozeki hopefuls before.

[Reonito]

3 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

Eh, if he gets the Yusho with at least 13 wins (or somehow doesn't win the Yusho with 14), that should be enough.  It's a tough task, but it's been done by Ozeki hopefuls before.

Not often though, and never with an 11+8 start (not saying you're wrong).

[Kintamayama]

Yesterday,  Isegahama beya held an open training session at its heya in Sumida Ward, Tokyo. East Maegashira 2 Hakuouhou resumed training ahead of the Aki basho). At the new training grounds, he fought a total of 10 bouts against Makuuchi Atamifuji. After the jungyo he limited the number of training bouts, but commented, "I don't think my movements were too bad. I wasn't able to train that hard during the jungyo, so I'll gradually work on it starting today." Last tournament, he finished with an 8-7 kachikoshi, including his first kinboshi, and will enter Aki at his highest career rank of M2E. "I've always set my goal to be promoted to Sanyaku by the end of the year, and I've been getting closer little by little, and finally I'm at a rank where I can see Sanyaku. I think that if I can continue to use the aggressive sumo I've been practicing in training, I'll see results. I want to give it my all," expressing his desire to become a Sanyaku rikishi by the end of the year.
 

[Kintamayama]

Following his first yusho last basho, Kotoshouhou, who is ranked at Maegashira 5E, began his training in earnest on the 4th for the Aki basho. where he intends to do even better. He had 10 bouts at his home Sadogatake beya in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, against Ozeki Kotozakura and his younger brother, Juryo Kotoeihou. "I want to keep this momentum going and go as far as I can. I want to be promoted to sanyaku," he said, enthusiastically. His 191 cm, 171 kg frame thrives on attacking. Rather than focusing on the left and right, he pushes forward, saying, "I'm still a challenger. I'll improve my condition from here and head to the basho." With his first yusho, he has risen to East Maegashira 5 and is motivated, saying, "I'm now ranked in a position where I'll be facing many higher-ranked rikishi. I want to show my strengths." He received thunderous cheers during the summer jungyo and a celebratory parade is scheduled in his hometown of Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, on the 7th. While still basking in the afterglow of his yusho, he donned a serious expression and said, "It's time to switch gears now." The 26-year-old talent also has the knack of remaining calm. Considering his potential, it wouldn't be surprising if he quickly put his name forward as a candidate for Ozeki*. "I'll move up step by step with my flowing sumo," he said. Expectations are high for his continued success in the fall, following his summer success.

*Am I the only one that doesn't see this serious potential in him? I see a 4-11 this basho and never Ozeki.

[Fashiritētā]

Moti, i agree, until he can give us back to back kk in the joi, he will just be an elevator Rikishi.

[Reonito]

4 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

*Am I the only one that doesn't see this serious potential in him? I see a 4-11 this basho and never Ozeki.

His record while ranked above M12 strongly supports your view.

[Kintamayama]

Meisei ( (Maegashira 13E, his lowest rank since May 2022) expressed his intention to carefully prepare for Aki.  Yesterday, he worked out at his heya in Taito Ward, Tokyo, winning all six of his matches against three makushita wrestlers, but losing all eight of his consecutive matches against Yokozuna Houshouryuu. After a total of 15 matches, he revealed his current condition, saying, "My body is back to normal, but my sumo instincts haven't returned." At the Nagoya Tournament, he struggled with a record of 3 wins and 12 losses, due in part to a back injury sustained before the tournament. After the tournament, he reportedly experienced severe pain and numbness in both legs, to the point where he was unable to even do shiko. He submitted a medical certificate for a "lumbar disc herniation" and missed the entire summer jungyo. "I wanted to join the jungyo midway through, but my condition wasn't good enough. I decided to get treatment so I could compete in the honbasho," he reflected. He still has lingering pain and has not fully recovered. Although he feels frustrated, he said, "It's difficult not being able to fight like I did in my better days, but I'm taking care of my body. I'm doing what I can day by day." Based on his experience of going into the previous tournament with some anxiety, he plans to gradually improve his condition for the Aki basho.

Edited September 5, 2025 by Kintamayama

[dingo]

I agree as well re: Kotoshoho. Though he's gotten 8-7 at M7 and 7-8 at M4 I expect him to get thoroughly trounced this basho. The sanyaku and joi are loaded with capable rikishi who all have a goal so he'll have his work cut out for him. 

[Kintamayama]

Kotoshouhou,  East Maegashira 5, who won his first yusho last basho participated in the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko today at  Sadogatake beya. He went 5-4 in 9 matches, including four consecutive wins. Even against a skilled opponent, he displayed a style of sumo that combined speed and power, such as quickly thrusting Maegashira Ouhou out from the tachiai by tsukidashi. After keiko, he commented, "There were some matches where I was able to do forward-moving sumo, but there were also times when I was pushed up and attacked, so I want to improve my sumo so that I can fight better. I want this to be a stepping stone towards getting into Sanyaku. I think I need one more breakthrough. I want to go all out." he said enthusiastically.

[Kintamayama]

Sekiwake Wakatakakage, who is aiming for promotion to  Ozeki next basho , did not show up for keiko at his heya in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, today, marking his second consecutive day of absence from keiko following the YDC soken yesterday.  His Oyakata, explained, "He had a fever yesterday, so we had him rest. He's fine now." He revealed that Wakatakakage plans to resume training at the Tokitsukaze Ichimon rengo keiko scheduled for the 8th, saying, "He will be absent from heya keiko tomorrow, but he will participate in the rengo keiko the day after tomorrow." He is 11 wins away from the promotion to Ozeki target of "33 wins in the last three tournaments at sanyaku." He continued to train energetically, even at the end of the summer jungyo in August, training for four consecutive days. Araiso Oyakata also said, "He had a fever so we just had him rest, but he had been training hard until the 4th, so there's no problem."