[sumo] Fwd: [Sumo news] - YDC Soken- May 2026

[Jeff A]

Moti

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Moti Dichne <niramiai at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, May 1, 2026 at 1:17 AM
Subject: [Sumo news] - YDC Soken- May 2026
To: Sumo Newsletter2 <sumo-newsletter2 at googlegroups.com>


The Yokozuna Deliberation Council's soken (special training session) was
held on the 1st at the Ryogoku Kokugikan and was open to the public.
Yokozuna Houshouryuu faced Ozekis Kotozakura, Aonishiki, and Kirishima,
winning 9 out of 17 bouts. When asked by reporters about his wins and
losses, he expressed his frustration, saying, "I thought I had done 20
bouts. I lost quite a few." However, he added, "My condition isn't bad, and
I'm having good keiko sessions. I want to prepare by checking my physical
condition and going for degeiko." Many fans gathered from early in the
morning, and he spoke of his awareness as a Yokozuna, saying, "It only
happens once a year. It would be disrespectful to the fans if we didn't
show them that we are all doing sumo properly." Regarding his first yusho
as a Yokozuna, he said, "I shouldn't think about it too much. I want to
face each bout seriously and make it a good May tournament." [Ryotaro
Yamada]
Kotozakura had 3 wins and 7 losses, Aonishiki had 3 wins and 6 losses, and
Kirishima had 10 wins and 4 losses. Yokozuna Oonosato did not participate
in sumo bouts, only working up a sweat with leg exercises. Komusubi
Takayasu was absent.

Chairman Hakkaku Oyakata criticized the keiko of the Makuuchi rikishi. When
asked for his impressions of the training session, Chairman Hakkaku, who
watched the training, pointed out, "There is a lack of intensity. I suppose
it can't be helped for the Makuuchi rikishi, but it was evident that they
were not giving it their all. They did well in butsugari, but it's no good
if they don't have the desire to go for it themselves. They are just being
forced to do it. I'm starting to get worried. Is this what top-division
training is like? There is no intensity." Towards the end of the session,
some bouts were held between Yokozuna Houshouryuu and Ozekis Kotozakura,
Aonishiki, and Kirishima. However, Yokozuna Oonosato, who is suffering from
a left shoulder injury, did not mount the dohyo and only did leg exercises
to warm up. Chairman Hakkaku said, "I couldn't get any impression of how he
is doing. In the end, he did not enter.." Regarding Houshouryuu: "He wins
and loses, and takes breaks. Once a Yokozuna steps onto the dohyo, he can't
step back. He needs to be more self-aware." While acknowledging that the
rikishi are working hard, Chairman Hakkaku said, "I have to be strict with
them, because there is no one else to do it.." he said, looking worried.

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-- 
Best regards,
Gaijingai

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