Tochinoshin continues to show up even with absence-level injuries & Asanoyama is demoted for going to cabaret clubs.

There are two former ozeki who have won championships in the makuuchi division, but have struggled in the juryo division due to problems and injuries. In the March tournament, both rikishi had their differences. We followed up on their respective situations.

Asanoyama won his first match on the ninth day, and his return to the makunouchi ranks after a nine-stroke absence is looking more and more realistic.

Asanoyama’s scandal broke in May of 2009. The Shukan Bunshun (weekly magazine) reported that Asanoyama went to cabaret clubs every day. The new coronavirus had spread, and the Sumo Association had banned Asanoyama from eating out, but he was out of compliance.

The Sumo Association imposed a suspension of six tournaments and a 50% reduction in compensation for six months. He was demoted to the third rank in the ranking chart. He was not considered a sekitori, but a rikishi trainer, so he joined the younger wrestlers in sweeping the training hall with a broom, washing toilets, and even serving meals,” said a sumo association official.

The spirit of “I’ll definitely come back!

The man who won the May ’19 tournament and was even promoted to ozeki tasted humiliation …….’ After the deaths of his grandfather in June 2009 and his respected father in August of the same year, Asanoyama decided to make up his mind. At one point he considered retiring, but “for the sake of my parents, who raised me,” he devoted himself to training, rarely going out to restaurants, let alone to cabaret clubs.

He was determined to make it back to the makuuchi division again,” he said. His sumo has also changed. He used to push sumo from the right side of the ring, trying to catch the mawashi. This way, a rikishi like yokozuna Terunofuji, who excelled at the left upper hand, could easily take his mawashi.

Recently, however, he has changed to yotsuzumo, where he goes for the left upper hand. This is probably due to the change from his predecessor (former ozeki Asashio), who excelled at pushing sumo, to his current master (former sekiwake Asa Akaryu), who is a four-handed wrestler. The sense of stability has increased.

On the other hand, Tochinoshin has not been able to catch a break, with 4 wins and 10 losses through the 14th day of the March tournament. He won the makuuchi championship in the January 2006 tournament, but is currently languishing in the second juryo rank.

In a bout on the 10th day against Oukesoma (14th juryo), Tochinoshin was in agony when he was grabbed by his mae-mawashi (front mawashi). He held his left shoulder with his right hand and broke the ring on his own. He was unable to use his left hand at all, and his injury appears to be serious enough to warrant a leave of absence.

There are two reasons why he continues to participate in the tournament, one of which is that he may be demoted to the makushita rank if he continues to miss all of the matches. He may be trying to earn as many stars as possible to slow down his relegation. The other is business in his native Georgia. He is trying to establish a wine-producing grape farm for his father. In order to earn the money for the establishment, he probably still has to work hard at his current job.

Both former ozeki-ranked rikishi were pushed to the edge of the ring. Both former ozeki, who were forced to the brink of the ring, are expected to have a mixed fortunes …… in their respective ranking lists for the upcoming tournament.