Texas sumotori Wakaichiro returns to the dohyo in Tokyo on day 4 for this second match of the Natsu basho. Today he is facing Jonidan 15 Ono from Isenoumi heya. Ono is a relative newcomer to sumo, and his fighting at his highest ever rank. Wakaichiro has about at 15kg weight advantage over him, so this may be simply a matter of mechanics.
As with prior matches, we will bring you results and video if we can find it as soon as news hits the internet.
Frequent readers of the site are aware that I have been keeping close tabs on an rikishi who hails recently from Texas, an outstanding young man who has taken the shikona Wakaichiro. When we last saw Wakaichiro, he was in Osaka, where he ended the tournament with a 3-4 make-koshi. While I am sure it was disapointing for him, his fans knew he would be able to rise again.
Heading into Natsu, he is ranked back in Jonidan, at 14 East. He has twice failed to maintain his posting into the Sandanme division, finding himself out-matched by larger, heavier and more experienced opponents. In addition, if the amount of taping and bandaging are any indication, Wakaichiro continues to accumulate petty or troubling injuries, which would seem to be constraining his performance on the dohyo.
Now we come to day 1, where the man from Texas will face off against fellow Jonidan 14 Tokimaru. One interesting little pattern that I have noticed – Wakaichiro fights much better when he is in Tokyo. I have no idea why that might be the case, perhaps like me he has trouble sleeping in new surroundings, and any resulting sleep deficit hinders his sumo. Either way we are keenly looking forward to his first match of Natsu, and wish him good fortune, a solid tachiai and powerful win.
Tachiai readers please forgive me, as I was so pre-occupied trying to get folks to Osaka so that I forgot to wrap-up a few loose-ends of our Ones to Watch coverage! So let’s dig into it.
As usual let’s start with some high level stats on how our picks performed. At Kyushu we managed 17 kachi-koshi against 3 make-koshi, but slipped to a 12-8 record at Hatsu. How did we do at Haru?
Texas rikishi Wakaichiro lost his final match of the Haru basho on day 13 to Fujitaisei. His final performance was 3 wins, 4 losses for a make-koshi. Chances are quite high that he will return to Jonidan for Natsu in May in Tokyo. I have noticed an interesting pattern to Wakaichiro’s performance: his Tokyo tournament performance is typically a step above what he turns in when he is on the road, so I am going to guess he will have a strong showing in May.
It’s also worth noting the rather sturdy bandage securing his right elbow, and the tape on his right knee, which may indicate an injury that limits his sumo. So we will wish him well, and eagerly wait his return to the dohyo in 6 weeks, hopefully renewed, healed up and ready to win.