More YDC soken and some Enhou

[Moti Dichne]

Ozeki Kotozakura  faced Yokozuna Houshouryuu, Ozeki Aonishiki, and Kirishima, winning 3 matches and losing 7. He was also seen pushing out the Yokozuna, and said, "I was able to find out my current condition. It's Golden Week for most people, but it's important to practice hard and see how far I can go in the remaining week." At the Sadogatake stable to which he belongs, Kotoshouhou was promoted to  Sekiwake for the first time. At the promotion press conference on April 27th, Sadogatake Oyakata  expressed his hope that "Kotozakura and Kotoshouhou could become Yokozuna together," but the Ozeki calmly said, "I want us to improve each other as members of the heya." At Haru Basho, he achieved double-digit wins for the first time in eight tournaments. "I want to aim for the yusho," he said, expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming summer tournament. [Ryotaro Yamada]

Ozeki Kirishima had a record of 10 wins and 4 losses against the Yokozuna and Ozekis Kotozakura, and Aonishiki. This suggests that his preparation is going smoothly. He had a record of 6 wins and 3 losses against Houshouryuu in a total of 9 bouts. He attacked bravely even against the Yokozuna, and looked pleased with himself, saying, "We both gave it our all, and I think it was a good practice session." He appeared to hurt his left elbow at one point, but dismissed it as "no problem." Regarding the 14 bouts he took, he showed enthusiasm, saying, "My body moved better than I expected. I want to do more bouts in the future." The day before, on April 30th, he went for degeiko at  Arashio beya. He will continue to go for degeiko and adjust his training while monitoring his physical condition. He won the Haru basho with a record of 12-3 and was reinstated as an Ozeki for the first time in 12 tournaments. While expectations are high for him to win the yusho again, he emphasized his usual approach, saying, "More than that, I want to focus on what I need to do." [Ryotaro Yamada]

Enhou, who has returned to sekitorihood  after three years, was 1-1  in keiko with the Juryo rikishi. "I wasn't able to have many bouts, but I was able to get a feel for the tournament from the atmosphere," he reflected. The event was open to the public, and about 5,500 people packed the venue despite the rain. When "Enhou" was called out, a huge round of applause erupted from the crowd. "Even more people will come to the basho. Just imagining it makes me excited," he smiled. He had fallen to the lowest rank of Jonokuchi after suffering a serious spinal cord injury. The last time he stood on the dohyo as a sekitori was at the Natsu basho in 2023. He discarded his black training mawashi and stepped onto the dohyo wearing a white mawashi for the first time in a long time. "It makes me feel more focused. It's a symbol of being a sekitori. I'm doing it with a sense of joy," he revealed. During butsugari keiko, he took on Mitakeumi who is ranked M14E. He initially asked Yoshinofuji, who is in the same heya as he is, but confessed that he felt Mitakeumi's gaze. "He asked me, 'Shall we celebrate?' and I said, 'Please don't.' My legs are aching," he revealed. In the last tournament, he went 5-2 in Makushita.. Looking ahead to the Natsu basho, he declared, "I want to go undefeated for all 15 days," adding, "This will be my first 15-day tournament since my injury. I hope to use my experience to prepare well." [Ioka Daiki]