July 2nd search for cupids and Asian girls
Harumafuji follows up yesterday's session with 29 more bouts
Ozeki Harumafuji visited the Michinoku-beya today for a marathon session of de-geiko. Battling the likes of newly-promoted Makuuchi rikishi, Mokonami, Harumafuji fought 29 bouts winning them all. After the session, the Ozeki was all smiles as he declared, "I want to go to Miyagino." First things first, however, as Harumafuji is slated to visit Kisenosato tomorrow, the rikishi with whom he practiced almost exclusively prior to the Natsu basho. When asked about sparring with Hakuho, Harumafuji offered, "I was able to do some great keiko in June at that 10-day camp, so now I'd like to see how I stand up against the Yokozuna."

July 1st search for cupids and Asian girls
Harumafuji kicks off keiko with 36 bouts
Ozeki Harumafuji began his workouts today in preparation for the upcoming Nagoya basho. The Yokozuna hopeful stayed at home battling stablemates Aminishiki and Asofuji 36 times reportedly never losing his breath during the session. Afterwards he commented, "That wasn't bad. I want to polish my tachi-ai so that it's more fierce. I'll do all that I can in the keiko ring prior to the basho." After practice, Harumafuji posed for photographs and signed autographs for the large number of fans who had lined up outside of the keiko facilities.

Hakuho stays home to do battle with Ryuo
Yokozuna Hakuho also began his pre-basho workouts staying at home and doing battle with former Makuuchi rikishi, Ryuo, who is currently fighting as a Makushita rikishi. The two fought 18 times with Hakuho commenting afterwards, "I just wanted to create my own pace out there. It's only the first day."

Asashoryu visits the Kasugano-beya for de-geiko
Yokozuna Asashoryu ventured out for his first dose of de-geiko visiting the Kasugano-beya where he battled the likes of Tochiohzan, Tochinonada, and stablemate Asasekiryu. Asashoryu fought 17 bouts winning 16 of them. "That wasn't a bad session," he commented afterwards. "My movement was a little bit stiff, but my de-ashi is good." During the session Asashoryu worked with his kohai from high school, Tochiohzan, scolding the youngster for fighting too high. When asked about his intentions for de-geiko the rest of the way, Asashoryu stated, "I'd like to do battle with Harumafuji at least once."

June 30th search for cupids and Asian girls
Asashoryu off to a quick start in the keiko ring
Yokozuna Asashoryu began his pre-basho workouts today, and for the first time in a year, he worked out against a Makuuchi rikishi on his first day of keiko battling stablemate Asasekiryu 14 times finishing 13-1. The Yokozuna has reportedly overcome the injuries that hampered him at the Natsu basho in a bad lower back and a strained rib muscle. As is customary, Asashoryu returned home to Mongolia prior to arriving in Nagoya and indicated that he rehabbed his injuries during his vacation. "I was nimble out there today," he commented to reporters afterwards. "I just hope to keep raising the bar as a I go. I wanted to get the feeling back in my lower body. Last year I withdrew from the Nagoya basho, so this year I want to make it to senshuraku." Regarding Harumafuji's run at Yokozuna that could begin this basho, Asashoryu responded, "It won't be easy."

Rikishi raise concerns of swine flu and kyujo at the all-hands meeting
Later on in the afternoon, the rikishi held their all-hands meeting, and the subject was raised regarding the Sumo Association's plans to prevent the spread of the swine flu to any of the Association members. They also voiced their opposition to having a rikishi demoted on the banzuke if he were to contract the flu and then be forced to go kyujo. Regarding their concerns, Musashigawa Rijicho only commented, "We will consult with some specialists and make our decision."

Harumafuji to begin workouts tomorrow
Ozeki Harumafuji took the day off from keiko today as the Isegahama stable went out for a round of golf before the rikishi all-hands meeting today. When asked about his keiko intentions prior to the basho, he stated, "I'll determine that with my oyakata, but I do want to fight with Hagiwara again," he said referring to Kisenosato by his real last name. Harumafuji and Kisenosato practiced extensively together prior to the Natsu basho only to have Harumafuji henka Kisenosato in their head-to-head match. In the middle of June, the Isegahama-beya held a special 10 day training camp in Osaka. Mokonami and Tamawashi also attended the camp where it was reported that Harumafuji fought 450 bouts. After the all-hands meeting, Harumafuji ate lunch with Asashoryu, who has already indicated he will do all he can to put a stop to Harumafuji's run.

Georgian rikishi return home for army physicals
The two Georgian rikishi, Kokkai and Tochinoshin, have returned to Georgia to receive mandatory physical examinations from the Georgian military. Both rikishi will return to Japan shortly and participate in the Nagoya basho as planned. 

June 29th search for cupids and Asian girls
Nagoya basho banzuke released
The Sumo Association released its banzuke rankings for the Nagoya basho set to begin July 12th.  The early headlines are focused on Ozeki Harumafuji who isn't officially up for Yokozuna promotion this basho but who could spur talks of promotion with another solid effort.  Fellow Ozeki Kaio will spend his 96th basho in the Makuuchi division, which leaves him just one behind recently retired Takamiyama (Azumazeki-oyakata) who holds the record for most basho at 97.  Mongolian Kakuryu makes his debut in the Sekiwake ranks with Kisenosato filling in the West slot.  Kyokutenho and Kotoshogiku occupy the Komusubi ranks with Kyokutenho becoming the 7th oldest sanyaku rikishi in modern sumo at 34 years and 9 months.  Russian rikishi Aran reaches his highest rank ever at M1 while Goeido falls to the M1 West slot from the Sekiwake ranks.  Former Sekiwake Baruto falls down to the M4 slot after his first make-koshi basho from the Sekiwake ranks.  Making their debut in the division for the first time are Mokonami, a Mongolian who took 50 basho in the sport to reach the division; Tosayutaka, the first Makuuchi rikishi from the Tokitsukaze-beya to reach the division since the death of Tokitaizan; and Wakakoyu.  Kasugao also makes his return to the division.  The complete Makuuchi rankings are as follows:

May 25th search for cupids and Asian girls
New Juryo rikishi and interviews
The Sumo Association's banzuke reorganization committee convened today to determine the rankings for the Nagoya basho. As is customary, the Association announced the rikishi promoted to the Juryo ranks early, so the new sekitori can make sufficient preparations for the basho. Two rikishi make their debut while another veteran makes his return. As for the first-timers, leading the way is yet another Mongolian, Tokusegawa (pictured at right), a 25 year-old who fights from the Kiriyama-beya. He is joined by Kotoyutaka, a 27 year-old who fights from the Sadogatake-beya. Making his return to the division is former Makuuchi rikishi, Kitazakura, who at 37 years old becomes the second oldest rikishi ever to make his return to Juryo.

Kotoyutaka held a press conference at the Sadogatake-beya in Chiba Prefecture proclaiming, "I'm thrilled. So many times I thought about quitting, but in the end I determined that I would rise up at any cost." Kotoyutaka entered sumo in 1997 when he was 15 after then Sadogatake-oyakata, the former Yokozuna Kotozakura, told him, "You can reach Makuuchi in three years." The former oyakata also promised to do a handstand and go around the block, but that promise never came to fruition as Kotozakura passed away several years ago while it took Kotoyutaka 12 years to reach Juryo. When asked how he'd spend his first ever paycheck, he replied, "I won't even open the envelope and just give it to my parents." Kotoyutaka concluded, "I would like to thank everyone who rooted for me along the way, my stable master, the sekitori, the younger rikishi in the stable, and the members of our fan club."

As for Kitazakura, he met with reporters as well and proclaimed, "I'm as thrilled as possible. I'm just thankful to be able to fight against sekitori again." Kitazakura fell out of Juryo after posting a 5-10 record in January. "I no longer received a paycheck. Then there was the issue of my family and my age. I thought about retiring, but my wife talked me out of it." Once Kitazakura lost his salary, he stopped using taxis and purchased a bicycle for 9,0000 yen ($85 US) to peddle himself around. When asked if he would still throw large amounts of salt prior to his bouts, he answered, "I've got high blood pressure, so I'm thinking about cutting back, but I'll still throw enough and respond to the support of the crowd."

May 25th search for cupids and Asian girls
Harumafuji's yusho press conference
Ozeki Harumafuji held the usual morning after press conference at the Isegahama-beya stable facilities. "I am overjoyed. I never thought in my dreams that I would take a yusho. I still think sometimes is it really okay for someone like me to yusho," he began. Regarding his prospects at the Nagoya basho, he commented, "I love the hot weather. It's important that I build upon this now and do my best." In the afternoon, Harumafuji escorted his mother to Narita Airport where he saw her off prior to her departure home to Mongolia.

Yokozuna Deliberation Council convenes; unimpressed by Harumafuji's yusho
The Yokozuna Deliberation Council held their usual meeting the day after the basho, and according to reports, talk of Harumafuji's promotion to Yokozuna pending his performance in Nagoya did not surface. When asked about it afterwards by the media, several members of the council expressed their displeasure at Harumafuji's tachi-ai henka of Kisenosato on day 11 of the Natsu basho. The always outspoken Makiko Uchidate stated, "Not even Asashoryu resorts to the henka. It made me mad to see him use it." Takuhiko Tsuruta added, "Nobody can approve of that." Tsuruta-san did add however, "It would depend on the content of his wins if he took the yusho with 14 or more wins. If he wants to see Yokozuna promotion, he can't run away." Regarding the comments from the YDC, Harumafuji's stable master, Isegahama-oyakata seemed to disagree it was a henka commenting, "He just moved too fast in that one." Regarding talk of Harumafuji's promotion to Yokozuna, he added, "I want him to get it now and not let this chance go by."

YDC's Makiko Uchidate furious at NHK's Kariya announcer
In other YDC news, Makiko Uchidate was upset at NHK's Kariya Announcer who conducted the yusho interview with Harumafuji at ringside after the trophy presentation ceremony. At the end of the interview, Kariya Announcer asked Harumafuji to raise his hands and acknowledge the crowd...the same gesture that Asashoryu made after the Hatsu basho and received criticism for. Harumafuji, who didn't seem to understand most of Kariya Announcer's questions during the interview, didn't raise his hands, but it didn't stop Uchidate from singling NHK out. "Harumafuji didn't raise his hands, but the announcer's behavior was inappropriate. We cannot have him learning from a bad example," she concluded referring to Asashoryu's gesture after the Hatsu basho.

Ushiomaru to inherit the Azumazeki name and stable
A press conference was held at the Azumazeki-beya to announce that former Makuuchi rikishi, Ushiomaru, would take over the stable as the current Azumazeki-oyakata (former Sekiwake Takamiyama) turns 65 shortly and must retire from the Association altogether. Ushiomaru, who was fighting in the Juryo division, announced his retirement right after the action ended on senshuraku and assumed his toshiyori name of Onogawa. Speaking at the press conference, Onogawa-oyakata stated, "I thought it would be a shame to lose this exciting stable founded by a great stablemaster who raised a Yokozuna." Azumazeki-oyakata and Ushiomaru apparently reached an agreement a year ago that meant the stable would continue its existence even after Takamiyama's retirement. "I hope to raise some wonderful rikishi without losing the experience of this stable," Onogawa-oyakata continued. As for Azumazeki-oyakata, he stated, "I think he [Ushiomaru] could have continued on fighting for two or three more years, but he acquiesced to my selfishness and agreed to take over. There is no doubt this stable will become better." On June 16, Onogawa-oyakata will formally assume the name Azumazeki and inherit the stable.

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