Wakanosato news

[Kintamayama 45,119]

The usually quiet shy man was all smiles as he went up the hanamichi after beating Miyabiyama on Senshuraku and assuring himself his 11th win. After an initial sukuinage, it ended in yorikiri, giving Wakanosato his highest career basho wins, 11. He got the shukun-sho as well, after toppling Asashouryuu. Now, he's aiming for that Ozeki promotion. The emotion could be seen on this 27 year old Ozeki candidate's face.

"I'm glad I finished the Basho in top form. Today, a win and a loss were worlds apart for me. My Oyakata told me so, and I understood it myself. I had my usual fighting spirit", he said.

Together with the ten wins in Nagoya, that makes 21. The criteria for Ozeki promotion is 33 wins over a period of three bashos. He will meet this criteria if he gets 12 wins next basho. These last two years he was thought to be a good Ozeki candidate. This will be his first actual "run" for Ozeki. Futagoyama Oyakata: "If he goes for the yusho, and does Sumo with a substance, voices for his promotion will be heard". Kitanoumi Rijicho presented his conditions very clearly: "His target is 12 wins in Nagoya."

The opportunity is here. In Kyushu, he will be in Sanyaku for the 12th straight time. He will be tied for second place for the record. The record is held by KaioU, and second place is held by Musouyama and Kitabayama. All three eventually made Ozeki.

With the shukunsho, he now has 9 special prizes, fifth among active rikishi.

"I'd like to put an end to the sanshos and sanyaku and all this trivia (by becoming Ozeki..). I'm gearing myself to be in perfect condition for Day 1 of the next basho." He is quietly getting ready for battle, warming up for that important next Basho.

Edited September 23, 2003 by Kintamayama

[Fujisan 533]

Go,go,go Wakanosato-

You can do it-

[Zenjimoto 40]

It'll be interesting to see whether or not Wakanosato is a choker. So far, he doesn't strike me as one. I don't think he'll manage 12 wins, though. It's a bit funny they'd be talking about it, too. He's NEVER gotten 12 in his whole career. With all the top-rankers present next time, it will not be possible.

Cheers

Zenjimoto

[Asashosakari 19,320]

It'll be interesting to see whether or not Wakanosato is a choker. So far, he doesn't strike me as one. I don't think he'll manage 12 wins, though. It's a bit funny they'd be talking about it, too. He's NEVER gotten 12 in his whole career. With all the top-rankers present next time, it will not be possible.

Nitpick: He did have 12 wins in Natsu 2000, and 13 in Nagoya 2000. Yeah, both in Juryo, but a win's a win. (Laughing...)

Anyway, I must admit I'm not really buying into the "he's never had 12 wins before" logic...he also never had consecutive double-digit results in Makuuchi before Aki, and now he does. With sumo bouts being so closely contested at the top, there's certainly no huge difference between 11 and 12 wins as far as actual performance goes...just takes a little luck. By the same token, he might as well go 9-6, of course. But I don't think it's a matter of skills at this point anymore, but rather of opportunity and chance.

[Fujisan 533]

Any way the other thing is maybe he can make 11 wins for the next two bashos and be promoted-I think he can do it.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I'd like to put an end to the sanshos and sanyaku and all this trivia

THE TRIVIA WILL NEVER END! (Laughing...)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

Wakanosato needs to concetrate on the beginning of the basho. He has ruined his chances for yusho or spotlight by stumbling like a drunken jonidan during the first few days of the basho. In this basho he opened with 1-2 against foes he should have beaten easily considering his form at the second half of the basho.

[Zuikakuyama 1]

Wakanosato needs to concetrate on the beginning of the basho. He has ruined his chances for yusho or spotlight by stumbling like a drunken jonidan during the first few days of the basho. In this basho he opened with 1-2 against foes he should have beaten easily considering his form at the second half of the basho.

Very True.

Losses against opponents such as Asasekriyu, Toki (plus understandable later losses against Kyokutenho and Chiyo) in the first 3 days of the tournament really hampered his last run, and showed a lack of concentration.

He has all the right physical tools and skills to be a good sumo. Basically, he is built like a brick like his oyakate Takanosato.

He did improve later on in the tournament with some very good wins. His win over Asashoryu was particulaly impressive. (In a state of confusion...)

[Naifuzan 1]

We can always hope for 11 wins in Kyushu and then another 11 in Hatsu (In a state of confusion...)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Wakanosato needs to concetrate on the beginning of the basho. He has ruined his chances for yusho or spotlight by stumbling like a drunken jonidan during the first few days of the basho. In this basho he opened with 1-2 against foes he should have beaten easily considering his form at the second half of the basho.

Kyusho 2001 still resonates with me as the ultimate example of that: 0-4 start, later 9 wins in a row...

Wakanosato has been Komusubi/Sekiwake so long, the past couple of years he's always had to deal with ozeki/yokozuna the first couple of days, only then getting into the maegashira ranks, before going back into ozeki/yokozuna for the final couple of days.