Oonosato trains

[Moti Dichne]

Oonosato began serious training today at home, facing Shirokuma for 20 bouts, winning 13. As a new Yokozuna, he missed out on the yusho with an 11-4 record in the previous basho, and expressed his determination, saying, "I don't want to repeat that bitter experience. I'll step up my training." Prior to the previous basho, he only had two days of training with sekitori, which was insufficient, and he lost momentum from the middle of the basho. On this day, he showed off not only his signature right-handed grip but also attacks using a right outside grip, finishing with a record of 13 wins and 7 losses. "If I don't increase the number of training bouts like I did before the Haru and May tournaments (where he got the yusho), I'll end up experiencing the same thing I did in Nagoya," he said, expressing a sense of crisis. This one will be his first as East Yokozuna, the highest ranking of the rankings. "My Oyakata (Nishonoseki Oyakata, former Yokozuna Kisenosato) told me, 'When you become an Ozeki, aim to become the East Ozeki, and when you become a Yokozuna, aim to become East Yokozuna.' I am determined to do my best," he said, motivating himself. When Oonosato did suriashi,  Nishonoseki Oyakata gave him detailed instructions on how to bend his hips. Keeping a close eye on his deshi's training, the Oyakata commented, "The number of bouts is probably higher these days. In Oonosato's case, I feel that quantity is becoming more important than quality."