Training news

[Moti Dichne]

Kadoban Ozeki Kotozakura will be competing in Haru for the first time as a kadoban. Today, he had 21 matches against new Sekiwake Ouhou and Maegashira 1 Wakamotoharu, who came for degeiko.at the Sadogatake lodgings in Matsubara City, Osaka, and won 17 of them. "Even when I lost, I was on the offensive, and I fought well. There's one week left. I think I can do well." In the last tournament, when he was on a Yokozuna run, he had a 5 wins and 10 losses makekoshi, but he emphasized, "It's over now. I have no choice but to look at that experience as a necessary piece of the puzzle and take it in a positive way." Ouhou, who had 12 bouts, did not do as well as he had hoped. "My body was moving well, but I still lost because of my poor footwork at the tachiai. I need to improve from here," he said, tightening his resolve.

Maegashira 1 Wakamotoharu who was demoted from Sekiwake to Maegashira for Haru went for degeiko at Sadogatake beya in Matsubara, Osaka today. He faced Ozeki Kotozakura and new Sekiwake Ouhou, who also came for degeiko, and commented, "I won't know until the tournament starts, but I think I'm in good shape." Last basho where he aimed for three consecutive double-digit wins, he ended up with a 6-9 makekoshi, with a seven-bout losing streak in the first half. On this day, he also defeated both sekiwake Ouhou and Daieishou, and added, "Degeiko is important for getting stronger. I'll shall gambarizet again."

Nishikigi (East Maegashira 10)  worked up a sweat today at degeiko at Sadogatake beya as well. He faced Ozeki Kotozakura, Sekiwake Daieishou and Maegashira Tobizaru, and felt he had done a good job, saying, "I was able to work with a variety of people, changing my approach depending on the opponent." After finishing with 8 wins and 7 losses in the last tournament, Nishikigi is hoping to get a boost in his bid to return to the sanyaku ranks this tournament. "I'm not feeling bad. There are a lot of young rikishis in my heya, so it's important to go for degeiko like this," he said.