Takayasu aiming for ozeki promotion in Natsu Basho.

[Swami]

Takayasu to fight for ozeki promotion in summer tourney

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Created on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 18:23
Written by Kyodo

Sekiwake Takayasu will be bidding to secure promotion to ozeki when he takes to the ring at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May, the Japan Sumo Association said Monday.

Takayasu, whose mother is from the Philippines, won 11 bouts in January before posting a 12-3 mark at the spring tourney that ended Sunday. He is set to reach the second-highest rank with 10 wins in Tokyo, with 33 wins in the previous three meets seen as the requirement.

"He's acquiring that raw power. He's getting stronger," said sumo elder Nishonoseki, director of the JSA's judges, while chairman Hakkaku said, "Winning 12 is admirable, and he had the substance too."

Takayasu failed with his first ozeki-promotion bid in November last year -- he had 11 and 10 wins in the previous two tournaments but fell to a 7-8 losing record. But the 27-year-old's fine form since the turn of the year got him another chance at the earliest opportunity.

Takayasu secured 10 straight wins this month to share the lead with his Tagonoura stablemate and eventual champion yokozuna Kisenosato. He then suffered three straight defeats to drop out of the title race, but ended the tourney in Osaka with two wins.

Nishonoseki, meanwhile, didn't discuss the potential promotion bid for Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji. He led Kisenosato by a win heading into the final day but lost to the yokozuna when they went head to head on Sunday, and was beaten again by Kisenosato in the championship playoff.

Two straight championships, or records as good, are seen as the condition to win promotion to yokozuna, the sport's highest rank.

Swami

 

[Swami]

Takayasu eyes 2nd push for ozeki rank

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Created on Wednesday, 10 May 2017 20:38
Written by The Yomiuri Shimbun

© The Yomiuri Shimbun

Hoping to capitalize on the experience he gained from missing his first chance at promotion to ozeki at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament last year, sekiwake Takayasu is again aiming for sumo’s second highest rank at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament starting Sunday at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Takayasu, who posted a losing record of 7-8 at the Kyushu tournament, is putting forth an unusual amount of effort in practices before the summer competition.

The sekiwake was put through his paces by yokozuna Hakuho at a joint practice session of Nishonoseki-related stables conducted at the Oguruma stable on Tuesday. Takayasu battled fiercely with Hakuho, pushing the yokozuna at the jump-off and tossing him around with a powerful throwing technique.

Stablemaster Oguruma (former ozeki Kotokaze) said: “Takayasu turned in an impressive practice with Hakuho. I think there’s a possibility [the sekiwake] will be promoted.”

Takayasu’s physique and shoving technique, acquired through hard training with senior stable mate Kisenosato, have further strengthened. Takayasu earned 11 wins as a komusubi at the New Year tournament and 12 wins as a sekiwake at the spring tournament, turning in performances on par with yokozuna and ozeki. Earning a total of 33 wins over three straight tournaments — a requirement for promotion to ozeki — is within his reach.

The biggest challenge Takayasu faces is overcoming his inconsistency in bouts. Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku, the former yokozuna Hokutoumi, said, “The sekiwake is competitive when he follows his winning formula, but he still has many weak points.”

Takayasu said his role as flag bearer in Kisenosato’s victory parade in the previous tournament sparked his desire to become the next champion. The sekiwake, who once attracted publicity for becoming the first ranked wrestler born in the Heisei era, is now 27.

“The two weeks before tournaments are very important for me,” he said. He will enter the sumo ring at the summer tournament thoroughly prepared.

Swami