Atamifuji

[Moti Dichne]

He fell short again. West Maegashira 4 Atamifuji screamed "Ahh!" on the hanamichi after losing his second playoff match, following his defeat in Aki in 2023, his second tournament in the Makuuchi division. Returning to the shitakubeya, he muttered to himself three times in a faint voice, "Yusho..." Then he screamed "Ahh!" again. Unlike his previous playoff match, in which he was easily defeated by then-Ozeki Takakeishou, he managed to do his kind of sumo and began to take advantage of his strengths. It was precisely because he realized that victory was so close that he felt a surge of regret. In the regular day 15 bout, he overwhelmed Maegashira Oushouumi, using his signature migi-yotsu grip. "This is the first time I've won 12 matches. I thought, 'Today, something will change,' but... I'm a little stronger than in my last playoff match, but I wonder if the sumo gods are telling me, 'It's not time yet.'" For the 14 days leading up to the tournament, he had been answering questions from the press, he declined questions from the press, saying, "We're in the middle of the basho.."  However, at the end, he was overwhelmed with regret. Nevertheless, he won the Fighting Spirit Prize and is a strong candidate for promotion to Sanyaku  next tournament, demonstrating his presence as a leading figure. "Among the young sekitori, I am the most senior. I wanted to be the first to reach Sanyaku and I came here with the desire not to lose." Although he was unable to win the yusho, it looks like at least that dream could be realized. If he had won the yusho, he would have been the first rikishi to win a yusho having started with consecutive losses from day one, and the first to be from Shizuoka Prefecture. "I have people who cheer me on and support me and worry about me more than I do. If there is even one person like that, I will do my best - I think my favorite band would sing that." With a touch of embarrassment mixed in, he vowed to get revenge. [Takada Bunta]