🌐 Location: Koriyama, Fukushima

Before we go on with the description of the day, here is an update on the state of injuries and returns.

First, on this, day 12, Tochiozan got a nasty cut above his eye and was off the listings for four days, with Aoiyama filling in for him day 12 (it’s customary to have a rikishi do two bouts when something like that happens in Jungyo – there is no fusensho). He was back Day 16.

Other than that, we have two men returning from kyujo. One is Ozeki Tochinoshin, back since day 14, whose state is not really clear. His oyakata says his shoulder is fine, but his knee is still bad, but he is participating in the bouts and even winning them convincingly.

The other is Takagenji – a bit lower profile, admittedly – who joined the Jungyo day 16. That is, just as his big brother Takanofuji-yoshitoshi left it, together with the rest of Juryo.

Indeed, for the Juryo rikishi (and their tsukebito), the Jungyo is over after just 15 days of activity. That is, with the exception of Kyokutaisei and Ichiyamamoto, who are sticking around, because there is an odd number of Makuuchi rikishi at the moment. And of course, the two are Hokkaido men, and the Jungyo is heading up north.

So at least for the Juryo men, the Jungyo workload has been eased considerably. Those of us who wished the Jungyo to be shortened may want to follow up and see if this has any beneficial health effects compared to Makuuchi rikishi.

So now, let’s get down to the business of day 12.

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