Preparations of the Y/O - Haru 2017

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Injured Yokozuna Harumafuji who dropped out of last basho has resumed training today. 19 bouts against heyamate Takarafuji, winning 18. "I didn't have many bouts but I'm doing one step short of too much.." he explained. There are 4 Yokozunae now for the first time in 17 years. "Well, all I can do is give it my all. I'm looking forward to it.." he said.

[rhyen 1,846]

2nd rengo-keiko for Kisenosato, 8 matches against Tamawashi, 3 losses before 5 win streak.

PS: should we just rename this as the Kisenosato preparation thread (and other Y/O)

[rhyen 1,846]

On 3/2/2017 at 19:39, Kintamayama said:

Injured Yokozuna Harumafuji who dropped out of last basho has resumed training today. 19 bouts against heyamate Takarafuji, winning 18. "I didn't have many bouts but I'm doing one step short of too much.." he explained. There are 4 Yokozunae now for the first time in 17 years. "Well, all I can do is give it my all. I'm looking forward to it.." he said.

Did the article also mention Terunofuji cutting short training to go to the hospital to check both his knees?

[Kintamayama 45,516]

5 hours ago, rhyen said:

Did the article also mention Terunofuji cutting short training to go to the hospital to check both his knees?

No, but if you have  news we don't, why not share it, and not with a question? You seem to have excellent first hand sources-  you should be doing this thread instead of me as I have only the online papers to rely on, being half way around the world and all. And to answer your question- no.

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Hakuhou trained at home today with Ishiura, newcomer Nakamura and others and was 18-2 and looked good. He showed powerful yoris and hearty uwatenages and was seen smiling a lot. "I feel I did better than yesterday. I'm just getting started. Not there yet. Still, I feel I'm starting off my preparations well.." he said. He hadn't seen the new banzuke till some reporters showed it to him today. Asked if he is taking notice of anyone in particular, he answered. "Not really.."

 

New disciple steals an admiring glance at his idol:

[Benevolance 2,511]

Quote

(Goeidou) intends to do real sumo by the weekend.

I'm glad he's finally set a deadline, but it's odd that he'd want to change anything at this point. 

Edited March 3, 2017 by Benevolance

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Yokozuna Kisenosato went for the Nishonoseki Ichimon rengo keiko for the second day running. He faced Kotoshougiku 14 times and Tamawashi 8 times, and was 16-8. He especially focused on having matches with Kotoshougiku. "I lost to him last basho and I think that in keiko we are equals. I think he is still very strong." said Kisenosato, referring to the sudden two rank difference between them.  Still, banzuke status has its own rules, and Kotoshougiku, as a Sekiwake, is obliged to greet the Yokozuna and hand him water, and this he did. "I'm concentrating on myself. All I can do is gambarize and crawl back up," said Kotoshougiku

Edited March 3, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Kadoban Ozeki Terunofuji seems to be ready to go. He went for degeiko to Tokitsukaze beya today, facing Juryo hope Oyanagi (9 bouts), and Komusubi Shoudai (11 bouts), 20 in all, winning 19, losing only to Shoudai once. He showed powerful oshi and throws.  "As you can see.." he answered to the question regarding his condition, smiling. 

 

Shoudai: "Hey, is that Elvis??"

Terunofuji: "Wow, that's scary-it sure looks like Elvis.."

Edited March 4, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Katooshu 3,332]

It would be great to see him back in form.

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Yokozuna Hakuhou plans to go for degeiko starting tomorrow. Today he trained at home with Juryo Yamaguchi and others  and had 19 bouts, showing a sharp first step and hearty throws. "My sumo is gradually getting better," he declared. The degeiko will start at Tomozuna beya tomorrow. Hakuhou is slowly looking better. "Last year after Kyushu the big toe that was operated on was giving me problems.  Hatsu basho came soon after the New Year. I want to achieve a good record this basho," he explained.

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Yokozuna Kisenosato (still strange..) trained at home with his heyamates and Sekiwake Tamawashi who came for degeiko. 18 bouts, 16-2. He was seen being attacked by Tamawashi and holding his ground,  finally going 14-2 against him. "He's currently my most feared opponent.. My body feels like it's almost ready.." said Kisenosato. Many fans showed up at the training camp today to see him and the atmosphere was quite loud. "It's always like this on Sunday no?", asked Kisenosato.

 

Edited March 6, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Kisenosato alarm!! During training at home today, he received a cut above his left eyebrow. Kotoshougiku came for degeiko and Kisenosato beat him 7-3. Then, he faced Yoshikaze. Say no more. During their second bout, Yoshikaze head-butted Kisenosato over his left eyebrow. After winning by okuridashi and returning to the center of the dohyo, blood started spurting. He put some tissue on it repeatedly till the bleeding finally stopped.He then shaved the eyebrow and covered the wound with a plaster, after which he walked to a nearby hospital where he was treated for exaggeration the injury, got it sewn, and returned to the heya after an hour and a half. "It was sewn at length. The pain is zero. It isn't considered an injury.." he explained later. Judging by the size of the bandage, it was quite a serious cut. The same thing happened four years ago before the Haru basho. "I was told at the hospital that  4 years ago I went there too..It was on March 3rd.." he added. This will not affect his participation in the coming basho.

 

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Hakuhou went for degeiko today as promised to Tomozuna beya, facing Kaisei and others for 14 bouts, winning them all and is improving all the time. Kaisei injured his knee at some point and that accounts for the relatively small number of bouts for Hakuhou. Still, he showed powerful yoris and excellent movement. "I perspired well. It's good to change the atmosphere-makes me feel good and gave me the feeling of a refreshed start.." he said. Lately he has been faltering at the second half of the basho. "I'll overcome that. I'm taking it into consideration and preparing myself," he said.

[Harry 67]

So... who's more injured at this point, Goeido or Terunofuji? LOL, they're making it tough to make picks right now...

[PawnSums 59]

8 minutes ago, Harry said:

So... who's more injured at this point, Goeido or Terunofuji? LOL, they're making it tough to make picks right now...

If anybody in makuuchi knows what they're doing, we'll have Both Ozeki and Two of the Yokozuna Calling it Kyujo.

Edited March 6, 2017 by PawnSums

[inhashi 2,363]

5 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Kisenosato alarm!! During training at home today, he received a cut above his left eyebrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZzVhujCse8
Probably annoyed to have blood dripping all over the place, into his eye.

[Harry 67]

18 minutes ago, PawnSums said:

If anybody in makuuchi knows what they're doing, we'll have 2 Ozeki and 2 Yokozuna Calling it Kyujo.

I'm pretty sure they will soldier on as always as long as they can but... I'm wanting to pick Goeido, I guess I will. Sounds like a better chance than Teru but of course once I pick Goeido it will be all over for him. Anyone know how Teru is coming along? 

[Kintamayama 45,516]

29 minutes ago, Harry said:

Anyone know how Teru is coming along? 

You can see a few posts up.

Edited March 6, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Harry 67]

1 minute ago, Kintamayama said:

You can see a few posts up.

How did I miss that? Thanks. Slinking away for a bit...

[PawnSums 59]

On ‎3‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 17:59, Kintamayama said:

He faced Kotoshougiku 14 times and Tamawashi 8 times, and was 16-8.

Kotoshogiku is so bad now that two of his losses were counted as double-losses.

[Kintamayama 45,516]

2 hours ago, PawnSums said:

Kotoshogiku is so bad now that two of his losses were counted as double-losses.

10 against Tamawashi, not 8.   10-4 against Kotoshougiku, 6-4 against Tamawashi, which is more important.

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Ozeki Goueidou who withdrew last basho midway due to a right ankle injury has been doing sumo for the last two days. Today he faced Myougiryuu and others for 20 bouts, winning 18. "I feel much better than yesterday.." he said. His intention is to enter Haru. "Entering is fine but the results are equally important. I don't want him entering half-ready.." boomed his Oyakata Sakaigawa.

"Did you eat the tofu in the refrigerator? It was marked 'GOUEIDOU' very clearly!!"

 

Edited March 7, 2017 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,516]

Kisenosato got  "back on the horse" today after yesterday's  "accident" and stitches. He had 23 consecutive matches against Takayasu and was looking good. No signs of pain or anxiety over the injury. It did seem to the reporters, however, that he was being extra careful with the affected area. "No, I wasn't.." he retorted.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Just a quick thanks again to Moti, Akinomaki and all the other brilliant people who translate and post these reports.  :)

Edited March 7, 2017 by Pandaazuma

[K. Sear 27]

5 hours ago, Pandaazuma said:

Just a quick thanks again to Moti, Akinomaki and all the other brilliant people who translate and post these reports.  :)

Yeah, this is definitely my most anticipated/favourite pre-basho thread.