Day 7: Wakatakakage Beats University Senpai Mitakeumi to Go 7-0 in Juryo, One Win From Kachi-Koshi
West Juryo 5 Wakatakakage, 31 (Arashio), forced out East Juryo 9 Mitakeumi, 33 (Dewanoumi), for his seventh straight win. He got his right inside, worked an ottsuke with his left and finished with a left hazu-oshi. It was their first meeting in three years and eight months and their first in juryo; Mitakeumi is his senior from Toyo University, but 'once you're on the dohyo it doesn't matter' (Nikkan Sports). Mitakeumi is 3-4.
On NHK, Nishikijima (ex-komusubi Chiyoo) said, 'His ottsuke is really strong. Mitakeumi couldn't go forward and went for a throw out of desperation, and Wakatakakage doesn't miss that' (Tokyo Sports). Wakatakakage won his second makuuchi title in May but developed compartment syndrome in his left leg before Nagoya and needed four operations; had treatment been delayed, he could have lost the leg. Back after two full absences, he is one win from kachi-koshi (Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports). Fans wrote, 'Still strong' and 'I cry every time' (Daily Sports).
Sources: Yahoo! Japan Sports (Nikkan Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Tokyo Sports) · Yahoo! Japan Sports (Daily Sports)