Oonosato preparations
Moti Dichne
Yokozuna Oonosato hopes to enter Hatsu Basho after going kyujo last basho. On the 24th, he worked up a sweat for over two and a half hours at his heya in Ami-machi, Ibaraki, doing basic exercises like shiko, suriashi, and teppo . He was tied for first place in the race for the yusho when he missed the final day of the Kyushu Basho in November due to a dislocated left acromioclavicular joint, his first absence since his debut in 16 tournaments. He subsequently missed the entire winter tour, but calmly said, "I think I'm fully recovered. I'm gradually coming back. The banzuke has been released (on the 22nd), and I want to prepare for the first day." When asked if he planned to compete in Hatsu, he responded firmly, "That's definitely what I'm thinking." During practice this day, he held his left shoulder with his right hand and pulled a rubber tube wrapped around a teppo-bashira (a wooden post) to strengthen the muscles around the injured area. He also called in his tsukebito to pull on his arms and shoulder blades from behind, repeatedly loosening up his body. Regarding the pain, he said, "I haven't started full-scale training yet, so I don't know, but I don't think it's bad. I'll keep working hard from tomorrow onwards." While he admitted that he doesn't know how bad the pain is after doing only the fundamentals exercises, he seems to be on the mend. Looking back on this year, he said, "I've had double-digit wins in every tournament since January, won three championships, and I'm satisfied with my promotion to Yokozuna." However, he also expressed regret for his absence, which affected his chances of winning the yusho, saying, "Well, it all ended up like that at the very end.."
After the Kyushu tournament, like the other rikishi in his heya, he took a week off before resuming training at his heya in Ibaraki Prefecture. He has been working hard on his physique, and his muscles are bulging in his back, arms, and buttocks, so his body is already in great shape. "The January tournament is also a tournament I have never won before, so I want to work hard to make it a good year." There is no sign of him getting off to a slow start, and he looks set to remain the favorite to win the New Year basho.