Wakamotoharu

[Moti Dichne]

Komusubi Wakamotoharu (32, Arashio), who is returning to the sanyaku ranks for the first time in six basho, had nine matches on the 4th at Arashio beya in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, against new Ozeki Aonishiki and others who came for degeiko. This was his first full-scale keiko session since the banzuke announcement, and he commented, "I feel like I'm moving better than I thought. I'll be doing what I can." While he is expected to face the Yokozuna and Ozeki from the start of Hatsu Basho, the 32-year-old veteran is unaffected by the pressure, saying, "The opponents I'll be facing will remain the same. I'm not too worried about the order." He spent the New Year's holiday enjoying his favorite pastime of watching professional wrestling, and was fired up, saying, "I'll practice hard and get myself in shape for day 1."