As Wakaichiro advances, he is bumping up against more rikishi who are long-term veterans, and come to the dohyo with many ways to win. On day one, Wakaichiro faced the truly enormous Higonoryu. At nearly twice Wakaichiro’s mass, Higonoryu proved to be unavailable by a frontal attack. Facing opponents like Higonoryu will force Wakaichiro to develop new variations of his sumo, to deal with such enormous rikishi.

Wakaichiro is now 0-1, but has plenty of matches left to secure his kachi-koshi.