It is the beginning of a new era, the Reiwa Era. It is auspicious time to step out in front of the curtain, especially for the first time. For the Natsu Basho, we have one rikishi who will have the honor of making his sekitori debut this tourney. Along with him, we have two returnees to the paid ranks. Our debutante is making his way into Juryo after exactly 12 years in sumo.
Irodori hails from Saitama prefecture. He is a member of the Shikoroyama stable. The stablemaster is none other ex-Sekiwake Terao. Irodori has two sekitori stablemates, Seiro and Abi. Seiro is making a return to the paid ranks this tournament. Irodori has had a long climb up the banzuke to reach the Juryo division. He made his Makushita debut 8 years ago! Irodori was East Makushita #1 last Basho and won 5 and loss 2. Sitting at the top tier of Makushita, winning the majority of your bouts pretty much guarantees getting to put on the silk mawashi. Over the last 6 tourneys, Irodori has won over a quarter of his bouts using Tsukidashi, or lift out, fighting technique.
Seiro is one of our foreign rikishi from Mongolian. He's also a member of the Shikoroyama stable. He dropped behind the curtain after the 2019 Aki Basho, having only won a single bout. At the last tourney, he was ranked at West Makushita #3. He completed the tournament with 6 wins and only 1 loss. This easily propelled him up to Juryo for the Natsu Basho. Seiro is keen on Yorikiri, or frontal force out. He prefers the belt oppose to pushing and shoving. Over the past year, he has won a handful of bouts via Uwatedashinage, or pulling overarm throw.
Churanoumi is from the sunny beaches of Okinawa. He is a member of Kise stable. He fell down the banzuke to the third division after the Nagoya Basho last year, having on managed 5 wins. At Osaka Basho, ranked at East Makushita #5, he notched a perfect record of 7-0, making him the Makushita Division Champion. Remember, a perfect record when a rikishi is ranked Makushita 15 or above, is automatic promotion to the paid ranks. Churanoumi has been favoring Oshidashi, or frontal push out, the past 6 tournaments. He loves winning with the belt!
Three rikishi step back behind the curtain, making slots available for Irodori, Seiro, and Churanoumi. The three rikishi had just one tournment visit to the paid ranks this time around. It has been over a year since we have seen that.
Takanofuji and Wakamotoharu looked good in Osaka, yet have to give back their silk mawashi for black cotton ones. They are young, 21-years-old and 25-years-old respectively, so we will see them back in front of the curtain before long, probably this year. Wakamotoharu is now at West Makushita #1 for Natsu Basho, so 4 wins gets him back in the paid ranks. Takanofuji is at West Makushita #2 this tourney, so 4 wins might do it, 5 wins would make it more likely he gets back up to Juryo.
Daiseido had an awful tourney in Osaka, winning only 3 bouts. He has taken a big fall down into Makushita, all the way down to East Makushita #7. He will be hard-pressed to get back to Juryo for Nagoya Basho.
It is great to have Irodori, Seiro, and Churanoumi as sekitori for the Natsu Basho. However it looks like it will be a tough time for all three of them. It is always hard stepping in front of the curtain and then actually staying in front of it. As rikishi will tell you, this is the toughest part of the banzuke. Being near the cutoff point, between unpaid and paid, between cottone mawashi and silk mawashi, between being a tsukebito and having tsukebito.
Irodori hails from Saitama prefecture. He is a member of the Shikoroyama stable. The stablemaster is none other ex-Sekiwake Terao. Irodori has two sekitori stablemates, Seiro and Abi. Seiro is making a return to the paid ranks this tournament. Irodori has had a long climb up the banzuke to reach the Juryo division. He made his Makushita debut 8 years ago! Irodori was East Makushita #1 last Basho and won 5 and loss 2. Sitting at the top tier of Makushita, winning the majority of your bouts pretty much guarantees getting to put on the silk mawashi. Over the last 6 tourneys, Irodori has won over a quarter of his bouts using Tsukidashi, or lift out, fighting technique.
Seiro is one of our foreign rikishi from Mongolian. He's also a member of the Shikoroyama stable. He dropped behind the curtain after the 2019 Aki Basho, having only won a single bout. At the last tourney, he was ranked at West Makushita #3. He completed the tournament with 6 wins and only 1 loss. This easily propelled him up to Juryo for the Natsu Basho. Seiro is keen on Yorikiri, or frontal force out. He prefers the belt oppose to pushing and shoving. Over the past year, he has won a handful of bouts via Uwatedashinage, or pulling overarm throw.
Churanoumi is from the sunny beaches of Okinawa. He is a member of Kise stable. He fell down the banzuke to the third division after the Nagoya Basho last year, having on managed 5 wins. At Osaka Basho, ranked at East Makushita #5, he notched a perfect record of 7-0, making him the Makushita Division Champion. Remember, a perfect record when a rikishi is ranked Makushita 15 or above, is automatic promotion to the paid ranks. Churanoumi has been favoring Oshidashi, or frontal push out, the past 6 tournaments. He loves winning with the belt!
Three rikishi step back behind the curtain, making slots available for Irodori, Seiro, and Churanoumi. The three rikishi had just one tournment visit to the paid ranks this time around. It has been over a year since we have seen that.
Takanofuji and Wakamotoharu looked good in Osaka, yet have to give back their silk mawashi for black cotton ones. They are young, 21-years-old and 25-years-old respectively, so we will see them back in front of the curtain before long, probably this year. Wakamotoharu is now at West Makushita #1 for Natsu Basho, so 4 wins gets him back in the paid ranks. Takanofuji is at West Makushita #2 this tourney, so 4 wins might do it, 5 wins would make it more likely he gets back up to Juryo.
Daiseido had an awful tourney in Osaka, winning only 3 bouts. He has taken a big fall down into Makushita, all the way down to East Makushita #7. He will be hard-pressed to get back to Juryo for Nagoya Basho.
It is great to have Irodori, Seiro, and Churanoumi as sekitori for the Natsu Basho. However it looks like it will be a tough time for all three of them. It is always hard stepping in front of the curtain and then actually staying in front of it. As rikishi will tell you, this is the toughest part of the banzuke. Being near the cutoff point, between unpaid and paid, between cottone mawashi and silk mawashi, between being a tsukebito and having tsukebito.
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