Kirishima and Asanoyama Get Their Work In at Takekuma-beya
Ozeki Kirishima visited Takekuma stable in Nakagawa, Fukuoka on the 4th and took 19 straight bouts against maegashira Gonoyama and fellow visitor Asanoyama, winning 17. "It was good practice," he said, and he is considering one more outside session on the 5th to wrap up his main pre-basho training. Kirishima went 8-7 last basho and fell short in his bid for yokozuna promotion.
Asanoyama, 32, who will be East Maegashira 1 in Kyushu, also took 19 bouts there, against Yokozuna Hoshoryu and Kirishima among others, winning six, though he went 1-6 against Hoshoryu and 1-5 against Kirishima. He said Kirishima invited him the day before at Isegahama stable. Notably, he practiced with only taping on the left knee he injured two years ago, instead of the large supporter he wears in tournaments. Coming off his first double-digit makuuchi record in 20 basho, he faces the top ranks this time: "It'll be a tough basho, but I want to step on the dohyo with confidence."
Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi; also Kyodo, Sponichi)