SUMO IS BACK!

Your Japanese word of the day is “Oi.” (甥) That means, “nephew.” Keep that in mind, there will be a quiz.

A battalion of sumo wrestlers has congregated in Osaka and will soon mount the newly reconstructed, freshly consecrated dohyo. Our new tategyoji was on the ball last go round. Let’s keep it going.

Last year, Terunofuji lost his opener to Nishikigi and was kyujo by the end of week one. This time around, Terunofuji has stepped aside and joined Hakuho as an elder in Isegahama stable. A new era is upon us and all eyes will be on Hoshoryu as shin-Yokozuna. Nephew of Asashoryu, we all wonder what direction his career will take from here. Fans in the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium will be treated to a dohyo-iri and a likely fire-cracker bout as Hoshoryu faces Abi.

Hoshoryu is not the only story here. Hatsu basho was an unmitigated disaster for Ozeki Kotozakura. Going into the tournament, he was the favorite for the rope. He finished the tournament kadoban and will need to win eight here to save his rank. Kotozakura will take on Wakamotoharu in his first bout of this critical spring campaign. Meanwhile, Onosato is obviously still here. Though the hype machine has quieted a bit and he was a non-factor in the Hatsu yusho contest, he still managed to put together a respectable 10-win basho. He will face Wakatakakage.

Oho leapfrogged his way into a Sekiwake slot and will face Chiyoshoma, a wrestler whom I think gained more fans and respect in January. He is likely out of his depth at Maegashira 2, however. We would not be surprised if he unleashes one or two henka along the way. Kinbozan will open his basho against grizzled former Ozeki, Takayasu. (Edit. No, he won’t. Kinbozan will face Hiradoumi. I have no idea what I was looking at.)

Ichiyamamoto is actually at his highest rank and will fight Ura. But as our eyes skim down the banzuke, the returns of young-guns Shishi and Asakoryu (who are both at their highest rank) are overshadowed a bit by the top division debut of Aonishiki.

Aminishiki’s top recruit has flown up the banzuke since claiming two consecutive lower division titles. Makushita was not even a speed bump as he sailed through with three consecutive 6-1 results. Double-digit wins in Juryo at Kyushu and Hatsu have propelled the young lad into prime time. His first fight will be Churanoumi. That’s going to be a brawl. Churanoumi is at a lower rank than he should be after a pair of disasterous tournaments. If he is healthy, he could end up fighting joi-ranked wrestlers in Week Two. Expect sparks, that’s for sure.

OK, do you remember your Japanese word of the day? No? Come on, this one was EASY. OI! (甥) For those of you who get to tune in early on Abema for the lower-division bouts, Hikarumusashi will make his debut. He is the second nephew of Musashimaru to enter the sumo world. His brother, Musashikuni, retired just before the pandemic. Hikarumusashi’s career starts tonight aganst Kaitoma! Another second nephew, Tenrose, will likely start his career tomorrow. Tenrose is the cousin of Hoshoryu and another nephew of Asashoryu. Good luck guys!