New Juryo Asahifuji Gets a Lucky-Bird Kesho-Mawashi From Dazaifu
Mongolian Asahifuji, 24, who inherited the 63rd yokozuna's shikona, makes his juryo debut at Kyushu. After years as an Isegahama 'trainee' while Terunofuji occupied the stable's foreign-born slot, he debuted in jonokuchi this January, opened with 25 straight wins, and reached juryo in six basho, tied for the fastest since 1958 (excluding tsukedashi entrants).
On the 3rd, Dazaifu Tenmangu, home of the stable's Fukuoka lodgings, presented a kesho-mawashi featuring the uso bullfinch, said to bring good fortune, with red and white plum blossoms. 'It's auspicious,' he said, vowing to fight all 15 days without injury, Asahi reports.
Source: Yahoo! Japan Sports