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Wakanoshō Will Not Undergo Surgery and Plans to Compete in the Aki Basho: “I’m Training with the Intention of Competing” — Reveals Progress Since Injury at the Nagoya Basho

A medical checkup for sumo wrestlers was held on the 19th at the Sumo Medical Clinic inside Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, and Wakanoshō (22, Minatogawa), who withdrew midway through the Nagoya Basho, attended.

He suffered a contusion to his right femur during his match against Fujiryōga on the sixth day of the Nagoya Basho and withdrew from the tournament on the seventh day. He revealed that he has not undergone surgery and stated regarding the Aki Basho, “I’m training with the intention of competing.”

Currently, “I’m focusing mainly on my upper body, and I’m working on my lower body as much as I can.” He has been back on the dohyō floor since returning from his tournament break and shared his outlook: “I can’t wrestle yet, but I am wearing my mawashi. I hope to be able to wrestle shortly after the banzuke is announced.”

He had recorded nine wins at the Natsu Basho and was feeling confident heading into the Nagoya Basho. Regarding the injury he sustained during that tournament, he said, “It was frustrating, but on the other hand, there were things I was able to learn from it.” He is steadily building up his training in preparation for the Aki Basho.

Source: Nikkan Sports

The other day, I shared a very strange match from Hakuhō's final tournament, which was his Day 7 bout against an extremely nervous Tobizaru. In that match, Tobizaru, not really sure what to do, stepped all the way to the edge of the ring for the tachiai. Despite the strange tactics used by Tobizaru, Hakuhō was able to take inspiration from the flying monkey for his match against Ōzeki Shōdai on Day 14.

In Nagoya 2021, Yokozuna Hakuhō was fighting for the first time in a year. He won his first two matches of the Haru 2021 basho before withdrawing, and he started 10-2 in July 2020 before withdrawing on Day 13. The last time Hakuhō had completed a basho was March 2020, as the 36-year-old had been struggling with a major right knee injury after nearly two decades at the top of the sport. Due to pressure to compete from the YDC, Hakuhō made Nagoya 2021 his final do-or-die tournament. By this point, his knee was completely shot and held together by nothing but hopes and dreams.

Going into this match, Shōdai was 7-6 and needed a win to secure his Kachi-Koshi. Hakuhō had just watched rival Terunofuji win his 14th match to remain undefeated going into Day 15. In an unusual display of mind games and psychology, Hakuhō stepped to the edge of the ring for the tachiai, mimicking the tactic Tobizaru had used on him on Day 7.

After making contact with Shōdai, Hakuhō slapped the absolute shit out of the Ōzeki before manhandling him on his way to a victory by abisetaoshi, or backward force down. This set up the legendary clash between Hakuhō and Terunofuji on Day 15. Shōdai would secure his Kachi-Koshi on Day 15 with a win over Takayasu.

After the match, the YDC issued Hakuhō a stern criticism for the violent strikes, mind games, and unorthodox moves used in the match. Hakuhō said that he fought the match in that way to protect his knee. After retiring, Hakuhō said that the tactics used in this match "were the only way he thought he could beat Shōdai". Despite holding a 10-2 record against Shōdai, Hakuhō viewed him as an extremely tricky opponent who could easily capitalize on a mistake.

Today, I'd like to share one of the funniest matches of all time. This match takes place in Nagoya 2021, which is, in my opinion, one of the most legendary basho of all time.

At the Nagoya 2021 basho, 29-year-old Tobizaru was fighting in just his 6th Makuuchi tournament, ranked Maegashira #3. In his Makuuchi debut in September 2020, Tobizaru was in Yūshō contention until the final day, when he failed to force a playoff against Shōdai, who was promoted to Ōzeki following the tournament. Tobizaru was rocketed into the Joi, so by Nagoya 2021, he had been facing the San'yaku for quite some time. However, this match was Tobizaru's first time facing a Yokozuna, and he had to face none other than Hakuhō himself.

In Nagoya 2021, Yokozuna Hakuhō was fighting for the first time in a year. He won his first two matches of the Haru 2021 basho before withdrawing, and he started 10-2 in July 2020 before withdrawing on Day 13. The last time Hakuhō had completed a basho was March 2020, as the 36-year-old had been struggling with a major right knee injury after nearly two decades at the top of the sport. Due to pressure to compete from the YDC, Hakuhō made Nagoya 2021 his final do-or-die tournament. By this point, his knee was completely shot and held together by nothing but hopes and dreams.

On Day 7 of the basho, Hakuhō (6-0) faced an extremely nervous Tobizaru (3-3), who was facing a Yokozuna for the first time in his career. Not knowing what else to do, the flying monkey resorted to some extremely unconventional tactics, such as starting the match at the edge of the ring. After playing with his food for a while, apex predator Hakuhō grabs Tobizaru's belt to destroy him with an uwatenage.

Hakuhō would later take inspiration from Tobizaru in his Day 14 match against Shōdai, which I will share in a few days.

Yesterday, I shared a great match between Takanohana and Akebono, which was the match that solidified Takanohana's promotion to Yokozuna. Today, I'm sharing a match from the end of Takanohana's career against a rapidly rising Asashōryū.

In the Aki 2002 tournament, Asashōryū, a few days shy of 22 years old, was fighting in his Ōzeki debut. He started the tournament strong, holding a 9-1 record after Day 10. Takanohana, on the other hand, was fighting in what would end up being the final tournament he completed. In Natsu 2001, Takanohana suffered a severe right knee injury on Day 14, but fought through the pain to defeat Musashimaru in a playoff the next day to win his 22nd and final Yūshō. Due to the severity of Takanohana's injury, he sat out an unprecedented seven consecutive tournaments to recover. He was eventually pressured to compete in September 2002. After Day 10, Takanohana was one win behind Asashōryū at 8-2.

The young Asashōryū faced Yokozuna Takanohana on Day 11. After an exciting brawl, the veteran Yokozuna won by uwatenage to advance to 9-2. Asashōryū finished this tournament 10-5, while Takanohana ended with a 12-3 Jun-Yūshō after losing to Musashimaru on Day 15.

In the two tournaments following this, Asashōryū won two consecutive Yūshō to become the 68th Yokozuna, while Takanohana retired just days before Asashōryū's promotion was finalized.

Today is the 54th Birthday of the 65th Yokozuna Takanohana, who accumulated 22 Yūshō throughout his career.

One of the defining parts of Takanohana's career was his rivalry with the 64th Yokozuna, Akebono, who was the first non-Japanese Yokozuna. Takanohana was 6'1 and weighed 340 pounds, while Akebono was 6'8 and weighed 512 pounds. By the time they both retired, they had an even 24-24 record against each other.

Takanohana had possibly the most dominant Pre-Yokozuna run of all time, accumulating 7 Yūshō and 4 Jun-Yūshō before finally being promoted. This was because of the Futahaguro scandal of the late 1980s, who was famously the only Yokozuna to never win a Yūshō. Because of Futahaguro, the promotion criteria were notoriously strict.

On Day 15 of the Kyushu 1994 basho, Takanohana faced Yokozuna Akebono, who was just returning from a career-threatening knee injury suffered in May of that year. Takanohana was 14-0 and had the chance to clinch his Yokozuna promotion in perfect fashion with two consecutive Zenshō-Yūshō.

After an exciting match, Takanohana won by uwatenage, winning his second Zenshō and 7th overall Yūshō to secure his promotion to Yokozuna. Akebono finished the basho 10-5.

The Japan Sumo Association announced on August 7 that 41-year-old Izutsu Oyakata, the former Makuuchi wrestler Akiseyama, has resigned from the organization effective the same day. Born Mitsuhiko Fukao in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, he submitted his resignation, which was officially accepted. Following his retirement, he shared his desire to continue supporting the sport from a new perspective, stating, "From now on, as a fan, I hope to contribute to professional sumo."

Fukao developed his sumo career through Saitama Sakae High School and Nihon University before joining Kise stable. He made his professional debut at the January 2008 tournament, subsequently earning promotion to the Juryo division in November 2010 and entering the top Makuuchi division in March 2016. He reached a career-high rank of East Maegashira 12 and spent four tournaments in the Makuuchi division, finishing his active career with an overall record of 472 wins, 473 losses, and 29 absences.

After retiring as an active wrestler following the September 2023 tournament, he inherited the elder name Izutsu and worked as an assistant stablemaster at Kise stable to train the next generation. Just weeks earlier, when celebrating his 41st birthday on July 18, he had expressed enthusiasm for his coaching role, remarking that he wanted to bring more energy to the stable. His sudden departure marks the conclusion of his official coaching tenure within professional sumo.

Source: Sumostats