2017 Nagoya Basho banzuke released.

[Swami]

All eyes on new ozeki Takayasu at Nagoya tourney

The Japan Sumo Association released the "banzuke" rankings list for the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday, with the spotlight set to be cast on newly promoted ozeki Takayasu at the July 9-23 meet.

Takayasu's promotion to sumo's second-highest rank last month completes a respectable banzuke for the basho at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, with four grand champions and three ozeki set to face off for the first time since the spring meet in 2000.

The 27-year-old Takayasu, whose father is Japanese and whose mother is from the Philippines, is the first new ozeki since Mongolian Terunofuji was promoted for the Nagoya meet in 2015.

"It's a happy feeling, the weight of responsibility," he told reporters at his stable's training base in Aichi Prefecture. "I'm locked in."

"I want to show how much I've improved, even if it's just in one area or two. I'm aspiring to show dignified sumo, where I take opponents head on and leave a powerful impression on spectators."

His promotion comes six months after his Tagonoura stablemate Kisenosato reached the sport's highest rank of yokozuna.

Former amateur yokozuna Mitakeumi has also moved up a rank, with the 24-year-old set to make his debut at sumo's third-highest rank of sekiwake.

At the top of the sumo ladder, yokozuna Hakuho will be looking to win his second straight title and extend his all-time championship record to 39 in the process after winning the summer meet in May with a spotless 15-0 record.

Hakuho will be fighting in his 60th tournament, surpassing late yokozuna Chiyonofuji for second place on the all time list.

He starts the tournament just 11 shy of the all-time record for match victories.

Kisenosato is poised to return to action after pulling out midway through the summer basho due to injury, as will fellow grand champion Kakuryu, who also withdrew hurt.

"I've been sparring and training for more than a week now," Kisenosato said. "Now it's up to me to increase my precision. My focus is on preparing for the first day."

Tamawashi will be making his fourth straight appearance at sekiwake.

Sadanoumi, Nishikigi, Chiyomaru and Gagamaru will all be back in the top makuuchi division for the Nagoya basho, but there will be no upper-division debutants for the first time since the 2015 Summer meet.

Swami

 

[Swami]

2017 July Grand Sumo Tournament Banzuke Topics
Newly Promoted OzekiTakayasu

• Takayasu has been promoted to Ozeki, the previous was Terunofuji who was promoted in 2015. He is the 24th newly promoted Ozeki in the Heisei Era.
• He is the fourth Rikishi from Ibaraki reaching this rank. The previous one had been Kisenosato who was promoted in January 2012.
• Taking 73 tournaments to reach this promotion is the 9th slowest in history.

SekiwakeTamawashi

• Tamawashi stays Sekiwake for the 4th, and in the Sanyaku Ranks for the 5th consecutive tournament.

Newly Promoted SekiwakeMitakeumi

• Mitakeumi is the first Rikishi from Dewanoumi Beya to reach the Sekiwake rank since Dewanohana in March 1982.
• He is the also the first Rikishi from Nagano Prefecture in a long time, the previous one hand been Takanobori in the Spring Tournament (January) of 1933.
• Of Rikishi who were successful in Amateur Sumo as students, Mitakeumi is the 25th to achieve this after Shodai in January this year. He is the second former student of Toyo University after Tamanoshima in January 2004.

KomusubiKotoshogiku

• Kotoshogiku has been demoted to Komusubi, the rank he previously held in May 2010. He is in Sanyaku for 3 consecutive tournaments.

Makuuchi ReturnSadanoumi

• Sadanoumi is back in Makuuchi after 2 tournaments.

Makuuchi ReturnNishikigi

• Nishikigi has returned to in Makuuchi after 2 tournaments.

Makuuchi ReturnChiyomaru

• Chiyomaru has returned to Makuuchi after 13 tournaments since May 2015.

Makuuchi ReturnGagamaru

• Gagamaru has returned to Makuuchi after 3 tournaments since January.

＊ For the first time since May 2015 there had been no Rikishi newly promoted to Makuuchi.

Juryo DebutTobizaru

• Tobizaru is the 12th Rikishi from Oitekaze Beya to make his Komusubi debut since the present Shisho founded it on the 10th of October 1998. The previous one was Daiamami in this year's January Grand Sumo Tournament.
• He is the 48 Rikishi post WWII from Tokyo Prefecture following Tsurugisho, who had been promoted in January of last year.
• Of Rikishi who were successful in Amateur Sumo as students, Tobizaru is the 122nd to achieve this after Asanoyama in March of this year. He is the 49th former student of Nihon University after Daiamami.
• He is following into the footsteps of his elder brother Hidenoumi, who also reached Juryo. This is the birth of the 18th sibling duo being active Sekitori. The previous one had been Chiyomaru and Chiyootori in September 2013.

Juryo ReturnAbi

• Abi returns to Juryo after 9 tournaments since September 2015.

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[Swami]

Recovering Kisenosato coy over Nagoya tourney

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Created on Wednesday, 28 June 2017 12:31
Written by Kyodo

Kisenosato © Kyodo

Yokozuna Kisenosato was content with the progress of his rehabilitation but minced words on Tuesday over his participation at the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

The 30-year-old, who missed the last five days of May's Summer tourney due to left chest and arm muscle injuries, went 9-6 against new ozeki Takayasu on Tuesday during the first training session at their Tagonoura stable in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. The 15-day Nagoya tourney opens for business on July 9.

"Things are gradually getting better. I just have to do what I have to," said Kisenosato, who recently has been training without that part of his body taped. "If my sharpness and feel return, it will be interesting."

Kisenosato won his first Emperor's Cup at January's New Year tourney to earn promotion to sumo's highest rank. He then secured his second championship at March's Spring meet. But the nagging injuries suffered on the final days in March resulted in sub-par performances and eventual withdrawal two months later.

"What's important is to keep training every day," he said. "If rest would allow my injuries to heal, I'd like to skip the tournament. I'm doing the best I can at this moment in time."

New ozeki Takayasu, meanwhile, found positives out of his 15 bouts against his senior stablemate as he shapes up for his first tourney at the second highest rank.

"I'm starting again with a refreshed mindset. I'll up my pace from tomorrow," said the 27-year-old, who displayed his trademark vigorous thrusts along with thrusts and decisive throws.

"My only thought was to press forward. My form was good."

Takayasu, whose mother is from the Philippines, is planning to visit other stables ahead of the tourney as he aims to become the first wrestler since Mongolian grand champ Hakuho in 2006 to win a tournament on his ozeki debut.

"I'll have stamina-building practices, ones that will make me sweat from the heart," he said. "I want to find out as many things as I can before the (tournament's) first day."

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[Swami]

Yokozuna Kisenosato to take part in Nagoya tournament

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Created on Thursday, 06 July 2017 13:03
Written by Kyodo

Yokozuna Kisenosato, who missed the last five days of the summer tournament in May due to chest and arm muscle injuries, will compete in the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, his stablemaster Tagonoura said Thursday.

The 31-year-old grand champion's participation in the July 9-23 tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium had been in question after he lost to lower-ranked wrestlers and skipped a few training sessions since arriving in Nagoya late last month.

Though still in rehab phase, his stablemaster said he confirmed with Kisenosato on Thursday morning that his fitness level is up to par and believes the yokozuna knows best the weight of his responsibilities.

"He said he will compete for sure," said Tagonoura. "He has to wrestle like a yokozuna. He knows it's not good enough for him to just appear in the meet. He is in a lot better condition than the last basho," he said.

Kisenosato won his first Emperor's Cup at January's New Year tournament to earn promotion to sumo's highest rank. He fought through injury on the last two days of the spring meet in March and came from behind to win his second championship in dramatic fashion.

But he is said to have rushed his rehab ahead of his three-peat bid at the summer tournament, eventually having to withdraw after being diagnosed with damage to the muscles in his left chest muscle and left upper arm.

Before the summer basho, Kisenosato had only missed one day of tournament in his 15-year-career.

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