Four consecutive losses from the first day…Masashiro in danger of falling to Ozeki: “Golden words from a disgraced retired master”.

In his first online interview of the season, he unintentionally let his true feelings leak out.

I’m relieved for now,” he said.

On March 17, the fifth day of the March tournament, Ozeki Masashiro, 30, finally got his first white star and seemed to be taking a breather after dispatching Maegashira Abusaki, the third highest ranked ozeki, with a uke-nage.

However, the difficult situation remained the same. He has lost four straight matches since the first day of the tournament. Four consecutive losses by a kadoban ozeki is a disgraceful record, tied for the worst since Kirishima in the November 1992 tournament. There is no doubt that Shodai is in danger of being demoted to ozeki (Kirishima was absent from the 8th day of the tournament and demoted to the following tournament).

) “I get the impression that his upper and lower body are moving apart. He contracted a new type of coronavirus after the first tournament and was unable to do anything for a period of about 10 days, which is probably one reason for the loss of his strength. In an online interview, he said I couldn’t find a kick-start, and my motivation was low. （My body and mind are not in sync. I don’t know what is visibly wrong with me. I’m just trying to figure it out,'” said a sumo association official.

The presence of the previous master was significant.

There are other causes. The change in mentors also seems to have affected Masayo’s state of mind.

The man who scouted Shoyo was Tokitsukaze, a former maegashira and former head of the Tokitsukaze family. Originally, Masayo was thinking of quitting sumo at university (Tokyo University of Agriculture). However, his predecessor, a senior at the University of Agriculture, fell in love with Shodai’s strong horsepower and enthusiastically recruited him. After joining the stable, he gave her sound advice both publicly and privately.

However, last January, a report in the Weekly Bunshun revealed that Shodai had been indulging in mahjong and going to a brothel while enjoying the Corona disaster. He was punished and left the Sumo Association. And then. Shodai’s condition clearly dropped. Perhaps he lost motivation due to the loss of a trusted mentor. Masayo is a serious person, and he can become negative over the slightest thing,” said a reporter for a sports newspaper.

Masashiro is in his 9th ozeki ranking. How can he revive his career?

The former yokozuna Rarezasato and NHK commentator Mai no Kai say that the current sumo style should be changed. He said, “You can’t hit from the chest. Today’s rikishi are bigger and stronger. If you hit them squarely, they will stop your momentum,” he said.

So how does Masashiro’s trusted predecessor see it? Former Tokitsukaze Oyakata, who has retired from the Sumo Association of Japan, told us.

My opinion is different. Masayo was promoted to ozeki by striking from the chest, right? If that is the case, he should refine his style. You cannot easily change your style. However, I have the impression that Shodai now has a high upper body and his horsepower is waning. I think he lacks training due to the influence of corona and other factors. I think that just by lowering his waist one more centimeter, he will be able to step harder. ……

Direct advice to him?　As a retiree, I am not qualified to give you advice. Even if I could give you advice, it would only confuse you since you are in a place. All I can do is cheer him on from afar with the feeling of, ‘Ganbare.

Will the stern but warm words of advice from his predecessor inspire the troubled ozeki?