Oonosato

[Moti Dichne]

Yokozuna Oonosato who has been absent for two consecutive tournaments due to a left shoulder injury, participated in a joint training session of the Nishonoseki Ichimon at Takadagawa beya in Tenpaku Ward, Nagoya City on the 6th. In moshi-ai against Ozeki Kotozakura he won all 11 bouts, showing great spirit. He also experienced his first complete absence since his professional debut at the Nagoya basho in May. He has shown that he is on an upward trend. This was his first training session sparring with a rikishi from another heya since before the Spring Tournament in March. He touched the "spirit of Nishonoseki" in the training hall where 10 previous Yokozuna have sweated. His body moves well. His techniques are sharp. The Yokozuna controlled the Ozeki, winning all 11 bouts. He dispelled any anxieties heading into the tournament, his first after being absent for two consecutive tournaments. "It felt good. My lower body and hip position were set. Not bad." A sharp de-ashi, winning consecutive matches with throws from both the upper and lower sides, and overwhelmed his opponent with a perfect yoris after attaining a morozashi. The temple and shrine "Butchiin," where Takadagawa beya has its training grounds, is also a sacred place for Nishonoseki Ichimon. The former Futagoyama beya, whose shisho was the first Yokozuna Wakanohana, known as the "demon of the dohyo," had its training grounds there for 30 years, from the Nagoya tournament in 1962 until his retirement. During this time, his disciples included the previous Naruto Oyakata (former Yokozuna Takanosato), who trained Oonosato's shisho Nishonoseki Oyakata (former Yokozuna Kisenosato), the second Yokozuna Wakanohana, and Ozeki Takanohana, among other prominent rikishi who trained there. The Nishonoseki Ichimon heyas, including disciples Hanakago Oyakata (former Sekiwake Taijuyama) and former Nishonoseki Oyakata (former Ozeki Wakashimazu), had their lodgings there. This rengo keiko at Butchiin was the first in seven years, since June 2019. Oonosato is the 11th rikishi, including those from outside his Ichimon, to have trained on this dohyo as a Yokozuna or  as someone who eventually became a Yokozuna. "I'm glad I was able to train on this historic and traditional dohyo." It gives him a sense of awe and determination. He's accelerating his final preparations. (Nobuya Okumura)