[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - Houshouryuu getting ready, Takayasu too

[Jeff A]

Moti

Best regards,
Me

For of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.
- John Greenleaf Whittier

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Jul 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - Houshouryuu getting ready, Takayasu too
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


Yokozuna Houshouryuu trained at his heya in Minami-ku, Nagoya on the 5th in
preparation for the Nagoya basho. He had 14 bouts against  East Makushita
19E, and Shunrai (21), Sandanme 10E, winning 13 and losing 1. He showed a
variety of techniques, including thrusting, underarm throws, and powerful
yorikiri with a right grip, and expressed his confidence, saying, "I think
I'm doing well." At the end of the keiko, he repeatedly did icho-oshi (一丁押し
- what's THAT? Never came across it before.. One push?), carefully checking
his tachiai. This is something he used to do when he was promoted to
Makuuchi, and he added otsuke while working up a sweat, explaining, "I used
to do this a lot. I was trying to remember the feeling." Last basho, he
injured his right hamstring and had to withdraw from the tournament from
the second day. There is one week until the start of the Nagoya basho. He
plans to start training at other heya from the 6th to finalize his
preparations. "I shouldn't overdo it," he says, as he prepares for the
crucial stage where he will make his comeback.

 Takayasu had 16 bouts against lower-division rikishi at his heya's lodging
in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, in preparation for the Nagoya tournament.
He had to withdraw from the last tournament due to a right adductor muscle
injury, but he has recovered smoothly, saying, "I can practice without
worrying about almost anything." Up until now, he has been steadily working
out at his heya, and he said, "I've been able to adjust without any
problems, so now I just hope my body moves properly." This tournament, with
41-year-old Tamawashi (Kataonami) being demoted to Juryo, for the first
time in history, all the top-division rikishi were born in the Heisei era.
36-year-old Takayasu will be competing as the oldest in Makuuchi for the
first time, and he chuckled, "I've become the oldest. That's not good."
Nevertheless, his fighting spirit remains undiminished, saying, "I'm a
competitor after all. I can't lose to younger guys, and if I stop feeling
frustrated when I lose, it's the end for me." This year, the Nagoya basho
lodgings of his heya have moved to Hachioji Shrine in Seto City. The
environment has become more friendly to observing keiko, and on this day,
many officials and fans came to watch. "It's a very comfortable place to
live, and with so many fans gathered here, I can practice with great
enthusiasm. I'm grateful for this wonderful environment," he said with a
smile. Although he was demoted from the top ranks due to his absence from
the previous basho, expectations remain high for his long-awaited first
yusho. The former Ozeki said with conviction, "I want to avoid injuries and
perform well until the final day. If I do that, I think the results will
come towards the end." (Naofumi Hayashi)

Ranked at the very bottom of Makuuchi Asakouryuu did keiko for the second
time since his right knee injury in the morning today. He had 15 bouts with
Asasuiryuu and Kyokukaiyuu, who came from Ooshima beya for keiko, and won
12-3. "I was worried, but now I'm fine. I wasn't scared either," he said,
expressing his confidence in competing. Similarly, Asanoyama, who withdrew
from the previous basho midway through due to a left leg injury and also
missed the Paris koen, worked up a sweat with basic exercises such as shiko
and suriashi, but revealed that he has already resumed sumo practice. "My
leg is much better. I took a break from Paris to go to Nagoya. It was my
own decision, and I have no regrets," he emphasized, stressing that there
would be no problem with him competing in the tournament.

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