News about Takanoshou and Meisei

[Moti Dichne]

Sanyaku candidate Takanoshou is seriously aiming for Ozeki. "I want to turn this new year into a springboard year.. I want to go a bit higher in the banzuke," he declared. Today, he lent his chest for some butsugari with lower rankers of his heya, getting all dusty and stuff. Last basho he won the fighting spirit prize by beating Abi on the final day. "I surprised myself  at the extent of my calmness in doing my own sumo all the way. Getting 11 wins in the final basho of the year made it a great basho, I guess..I found out right before my match that if I won on the final day I would get the prize. That gave me incentive and Abi being my 'classmate,' I faced that bout with the feeling that I cannot lose to him, so I just went all out.., " he said. Ozeki Takakeishou is a great presence at the heya for him. "I look at him and how he handles himself and his behavior and tell myself to do this and be like that and wonder if maybe it is my time to step up. I'm gearing up for next basho and getting in shape with a good feeling. I will be training to face the next year!" he summed.

Meisei was in a philosophical, reflective mood as he pondered his situation. "Lately I've been watching current dominant sports figures on TV and trying to glean from their interviews how to reach a certain mental state of mind.  I have been increasingly aware of that. I especially have been following Shohei Otani lately, watching the documentary about him a few days ago. He has a really great way of thinking. I am attempting to adopt that way as something that may help me better myself," he explained. After taking a week off to rest after last basho, Meisei restarted training on the sixth and during that weekend started doing actual sumo. Today he faced the Makushita and under guys from his heya and had 26 bouts. He was makekoshi last basho (7-8) but may still retain his Sanyaku status. He got that makekoshi on day 13, after which he won both of his remaining bouts. "I wasn't thinking that I had to win to try to remain in sanyaku. It's been a while since I got a makekoshi and I find it's actually a strong incentive  for me to turn things around next basho. I guess a heavy weight was lifted off my shoulders on the final two days, as i was able to mount the dohyo feeling good and did excellent, natural sumo. My aim is to go with that mental state from day one next basho, If I can do that, I will be able to do good sumo again!" he declared.