Yokozunae to train with each other

[Moti Dichne]

Today at the Morioka jungyo, Yokozuna Houshouryuu and Oonosato  expressed their intention to have a sanban-geiko practice session together at the Kitanofuji Memorial Jungyo to be held in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, on the 16th, where Kyokai rijicho Hakkaku will be present and observing. After asageiko, the two sat facing each other in the dressing room. In front of the press, Houshouryuu asked Oonosato, "Are you going to do it (a keiko session)?" to which he replied, "Maybe we'll do it in Asahikawa?" The senior Yokozuna smiled, saying, "He knew I'd have to agree."  Prior to Nagoya , both Yokozuna trained together at Sakaigawa beya, where they had four consecutive matches.  This was the first sanban-keiko session between Yokozunae since the COVID-19 pandemic, and Houshouryuu dominated with a 3-1 record. On this day, Houshouryuu won all nine of his matches, including beating Ryuuden by tsuriotoshi. Regarding the condition of his injured left big toe, he said, "It's gotten a lot better. I feel like I've almost there. I'm not at my best yet." Oonosato had eight matches against Makuuchi  Ounokatsu and Ryuuden, with a record of six wins and two losses. Even when Ryuuden  grabbed him by the throat with a strong nodowa, he did not back down and there were times when Oonosato pushed him out powerfully. "I need to train hard. I want to gradually improve my condition," said Oonosato, as he increased the pace of his training.