Anticipation for Asanoyama’s Return Despite Championship Setback

On January 28, the last day of the Grand Sumo Tournament, Yokozuna Terunofuji won the deciding match against Sekiwake Kotonowaka, who had won 13 matches and lost two, to win the tournament for the ninth time in four tournaments, the first time since last summer.

“Terunofuji won the championship amidst concerns about possible retirement due to knee injuries and lower back pain, which had caused him to miss the previous three tournaments. Moreover, his opponent in the playoff was Kotonowaka, who was considered a contender for promotion to Ozeki. Although Terunofuji dominated Kotonowaka with a decisive victory by force-out on the 13th day, he demonstrated overwhelming strength once again by defeating him in the playoff without giving him any chance, using the same technique.

Kotonowaka is six years younger and in excellent condition. He is not lacking in technical ability either. However, the difference in power is indeed due to experience and status gap. If Asanoyama had been in the playoff, the outcome might have been different, but that’s something to look forward to in the next tournament.” (Sports newspaper sumo correspondent)

Asanoyama, the seventh-ranked wrestler from the west maegashira, was 7-1 until the eighth day of the tournament, and was leading the championship contenders along with Abusaki, the 17th-ranked wrestler from the west maegashira. However, he injured his right ankle on the 8th day when he lost a scooping throw against Tamawashi, and was forced to sit out the tournament from the 9th day.

Actually, on the fifth day of the Hatsu Basho, there was a statement from the former Yokozuna, Hakuho (currently Miyagino Oyakata), which almost seemed like a prediction of Terunofuji’s withdrawal. On that day, there was a talk event featuring Hakuho at the Kokugikan (sumo arena), and he was talking about Asanoyama in this manner.T

“He had been saying ‘Asanoyama’ all along. I already thought, ‘He’s done for’ (laughs). He’s done.”

He expressed words with a nuance implying that winning the championship in this tournament would be difficult,

“He’s the one who has the most shape in the sumo world, Asanoyama. His form, I mean, is the best among the sumo wrestlers. But,I won’t say more here.”

He jokingly ended the conversation in mid-sentence.

“Hakuho has repeatedly mentioned Asanoyama as a candidate for the championship, only to be disappointed each time. As Asanoyama can win the tournament just by wrestling normally, I think it’s a ‘whip of love,’ urging him to show more fighting spirit and to train diligently. He might have deliberately said ‘He’s done’ to avoid jinxing Asanoyama, as saying ‘championship’ might have caused him to collapse midway. Hakuho probably didn’t expect such a turn of events just four days later (laughs).” (Sumo stable insider)

Since Hakuho had been called the “yokozuna of the future” since he first entered the tournament, and Hakuho had said in his own words that “Asanoyama will lead sumo” after him, it is certain that he feels ashamed of what he has done. However, it is also true that there are some factors that make sumo fans feel that Asanoyama may no longer be good enough, although he is not Hakuho.

“Injuries have caused him to withdraw for the second consecutive tournament, following the previous one. Last year, he suffered a partial tear in his left biceps during the Nagoya tournament, and before the Kyushu tournament, he had a calf muscle strain, making this his third injury within the past year alone. It’s indeed too many injuries. If he doesn’t heal properly now, returning to the rank of Sekiwake will become even more challenging.” (Quoted sumo stable insider)

However, Asanoyama seemed a bit different this tournament. He submitted a medical certificate diagnosing a sprained right ankle, requiring two weeks of rest, and withdrew from the tournament starting from the 9th day. Yet, his stablemaster, Takasago-oyakata (former Sekiwake Asashoryu), stated that,

“In yesterday’s (Day 8) sumo match, his ankle got caught, and it was swollen. Let’s see how it goes after one or two days of rest. If it improves, he wants to compete. He himself also wants to compete.”

He also wants to compete again. On the 12th day, the decision was made for him to return to the tournament starting on the 13th day. He survived the remaining three days with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, resulting in a good record of 9 wins, 3 losses, and 3 rests.

Yakumitsu Takahashi, a manga artist and former external committee member of the Japan Sumo Association, had this to say about Asanoyama:

“This tournament, Asanoyama showed a lot of fighting spirit. That’s why he was naturally strong when wrestling. Age-wise, this is the time when his strength is at its peak. There’s no sense of being past his prime, and if he had engaged, he would have been as strong as Terunofuji, if not stronger. In the next Haru Basho, he’ll likely be around the top Maegashira rank. To become a Ozeki, he needs three consecutive tournaments in the Sanyaku ranks with double-digit wins. He has a shot at it in the Natsu, Aki, and Kyushu tournaments.

I think he’ll undoubtedly be considered the top contender for Ozeki in the latter half of this year. Or rather, his presence in the upper ranks is crucial, so he needs to make a comeback. It’s endless to talk about injuries, but considering he has experience as a Ozeki, I believe he’s grown significantly emotionally as well. In terms of expectations, Asanoyama is next in line after Terunofuji.”

Will we see Asanoyama’s fighting spirit on display in the next tournament?