Day 6: Ichiyamamoto Loses to Oho, but Cheers His Former Okamisan Mizue Takada's Return to Kohaku
East Maegashira 12 Ichiyamamoto, 33 (Hanaregoma), was slapped down (hikiotoshi) by West Maegashira 10 Oho, 26 (Otake), on Day 6 and is 3-3; Oho is 4-2. 'He took good advantage of me being in a halfway position,' he said (Daily Sports). 'Not everything was bad, so I'll reflect on it and do my best tomorrow' (Sports Hochi).
That day, singer Mizue Takada, widow of his former stablemaster, ex-ozeki Wakashimazu (Mutsuo Hidaka, who died in March at 69), was announced as a performer on NHK's year-end Kohaku Uta Gassen, her first appearance in 42 years. Ichiyamamoto heard the news from reporters after his bout: 'That's amazing. There were rumors she might be on' (Nikkan Sports). 'I don't usually watch, but this year I think I'll watch Kohaku at home. I'll do my best this basho so I can enjoy the year-end' (Daily Sports, Nikkan Sports). He has heard her sing at senshuraku parties (Sports Hochi). Daily Sports recalls that in his makushita days, when she was the stable's okamisan, she made him rice porridge as a late-night meal day after day, saying 'You just won't put on weight, will you,' which he has credited with helping him reach sekitori; they still keep in touch.
Another of Wakashimazu's sekitori, ex-komusubi Matsuhoryu (Yuya Matsutani), posted on X: 'Okamisan, that's incredible! As expected! I'm watching Kohaku this year!' Fans wrote 'I bet Ichiyamamoto shows up as a cheering guest' and 'The oyakata must be happy too' (Daily Sports).
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Daily Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Sports Hochi) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Daily Sports / Matsuhoryu)