Preparations for Haru 2026- Aonishiki

[Moti Dichne]

Tsunatori basho Ozeki Aonishiki has officially started training today. He held an open training session at his heya in Tokyo working up a sweat with the fundamentals  like shiko and suriashi, as well as some butsugari. Having won two consecutive yusho, first at the Kyushu basho in November last year as a Sekiwake and then at the January basho in Tokyo as a new Ozeki, he commented, "I think the attitude is different depending on the venue. I want to experience it all." He expressed his ambitious dream of winning his first yusho in Osaka and then conquering all four venues including Nagoya. He plans to begin sumo training after arriving in Osaka on the 24th of this month, after the banzuke announcement. "There's no jungyo (in February), so I'll do it at my own pace," he said, adding that in addition to morning keiko, he has been training at the gym two to three days a week. Today, he repeatedly squatted with a 40 kg weight, but he said, "At the gym, there are 50 kg weights," so he is imposing a serious regimen on himself.