Chancellor Yasumi Hakkaku is “disappointed” … “serious reason” why Ozeki Takaketsugu’s “rope-taking” at the Kyushu Tournament is not being talked about.

Hurdles are high for Takaketsugi’s “ropework

There are several reasons why there have been no calls from the refereeing committee for Takaketsugi to be named the winner of the ropes. One is that his record at the autumn tournament, where he won the championship, was 11 wins.

Since the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in 1958, when the six-day tournament system was introduced, there have been only four championships won with 11 victories, including the autumn tournament. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the lowest level of victory, with the fewest number of wins.

Another negative factor was the “change” that Takaketsugu showed in the deciding match in the fall tournament against Atami-fuji, who was in his second year as a maegashira. Former yokozuna Kitakatsumi Hakkaku complained that he was “a little disappointed” in the ozeki’s change against his flat-table opponent, and criticism of Takakaketsugu swirled on social networking sites.

If Takakagesatsu were to win two consecutive tournaments, he might be considered for the “ozeki-ranked” title only if he wins all of his matches or achieves a high level of victory, such as 14-1, and if he performs like an ozeki-ranked wrestler.

For Kikagatsu, winning a high-level championship is no easy task. Of his four previous victories, the most wins came in the Kyushu tournament in 2006 and 2008, when he won 13 matches.

He also has an old neck injury. The Nisshonoseki clan’s combined training began on November 5, but Kikagatsu showed signs of being concerned about his neck during training on November 5, and the next day he missed training because he felt discomfort in his neck. Even before the “ropework,” there is a lot of uncertainty about whether or not Takaketsugu will win the Kyushu Tournament.

Even if he were to win two consecutive tournaments, what would the judging committee and the Yokozuna Judging Committee make of a 12- or 13-win season? It must be said that the hurdles to becoming yokozuna are high.