Day 6: Ex-Collegiate Yokozuna Wakanofuji, Back From a Broken Collarbone, Goes 3-0: 'These Six Months Were Tough'
West Sandanme 29 Wakanofuji, 25 (Kasugano), back after three straight absences, flipped Miyanokaze (Nakamura) with a left sukuinage on Day 6 to go 3-0, one win from kachi-koshi; Miyanokaze, a former juryo man, is 2-1. 'He's my senior from Nippon Sport Science University, so I'd been looking forward to it since the bout was set. I knew he wrestles low and fast, so I made sure not to give him the shitate.' A national high school wrestling champion who switched to sumo at Nippon Sport Science University and won the collegiate yokozuna title, he was at East Makushita 3, on the verge of sekitori, in May when he broke his right collarbone against Arashifuji in his second bout, withdrew, and then sat out Nagoya and Aki; his right shoulder still carries the surgical scar. 'It's my first basho in half a year. The best part is feeling myself get stronger. I love sumo. These six months were tough. I want to stay focused so I don't get hurt' (Daily Sports).