Day One in the historic Hakata district of Fukuoka. Fresh off his victory in September, Yokozuna Onosato will look to win a title in Kyushu for the first time. It is fitting that his first bout this tournament will be against Yoshinofuji, whom he finally managed to beat on his path to that title. Prior to Aki, Yoshinofuji appeared to have access to Onosato’s kryptonite, winning their first three bouts. So, this will be a very tough challenge but with that first win, Onosato might feel like he’s broken the curse, gotten the monkey off his back. It won’t be an easy fight but he can go into it with a clear mind.

On the other hand, Hoshoryu has the weight of his rank on his back. He returns from knee surgery and has been working it out on tour and in practice. But this is a hon-basho. Is he “production ready?” The pressure to perform is not just coming from the press, who constantly reminds fans that he has yet to win a title as Yokozuna; his shisho is looking for nothing less than a yusho. Churanoumi will be a difficult opponent but one to whom Hoshoryu has never lost. Churanoumi will be motivated to represent Okinawans as he is now the highest ranked Okinawan sumo wrestler, ever. These are the most dangerous matchups, in my mind. It’s probably good, then, that I will not be up on that dohyo.

Aonishiki will fight Asanoyama in a first-time meeting (初顔合わせ). It’s rather astonishing to me that these guys haven’t fought yet. But here we are. Asanoyama, the former Ozeki still has hopes of returning to his former rank. There are many new fans will not recall the drama of his sudden fall from grace or even his first comeback. Asanoyama has clawed his way back, again, to the top of the rank and file. Can he make it back into sanyaku? Before the scandal, there had been murmurs of Yokozuna, as there are now for his opponent, Aonishiki. Frankly, I just want to see these guys stay healthy for a while. They will undoubtedly give it all they have. It should be a highlight bout.

Rounding out the Ozeki ranks, Kotozakura will fight Fujiryoga and Kirishima will take on Ura. At Sekiwake, we have Fujinokawa fighting Fujiseiun and Atamifuji battling Takayasu. There are some great rank-and-file matchups, too, like Daieisho versus Hakunofuji, Takerufuji against Hiradoumi and Kotoshoho versus Gonoyama. Wakamotoharu will fight Kotoeiho as he works his way back toward the joi.

I’m also watching Takanosho versus Oho. These guys could easily be fighting each other in the joi or sanyaku. In fact, that’s usually where they face each other. Their performances here toward the lower third of the banzuke could tell us a lot about their condition and prospects for moving back up…or sliding down into Juryo. Similarly, Ichiyamamoto will fight Asahakuryu and Abi will take on Toshinofuji.

American readers in particular, though, will be firing up the VPNs tonight to catch early action Sunamusashi will kick off the action tonight. He completed maezumo in September. He was raised in Hawaii and is the son of former Juryo wrestler, Sunahama. Sunahama was fighting in Juryo back when music was good. (Western Civilization peaked in the 1990s. Autotune ruined everything. I will not accept debate on this issue. But feel free to debate anything else in the comments section.)