1st May 2021

So there are just 8 days until the Natsu tournament. The lead up to 
each tournament is always an exciting time. There are updates galore 
with which rikishi (wrestler) are looking genki (at their best) during 
the various training sessions, who will be kyujo (injured) and the 
various other dramas going on. There is also the excitement of the 
Banzuke, a list of rikishi rankings, appearing 2 weeks before the 
tournament starts. 

At the moment, I have not heard of any one being kyujo other than 
Hakuho. It is yet another tournament without a Yokozuna (highest rank 
in osumu) seeing as Kakuryu retired and Hakuho was injured. So we look 
to the Ozeki (second highest rank in osumu) to keep the hungry 
Sekiwake, Komusubi and Maegashira on their toes. New Ozeki Terunofuji 
will be a force to watch out for. He managed to regain his rank after 
serious injury and falling far into the unsalaried ranks. He is the 
only rikishi to have the drive and stamina to achieve this. Hopefully, 
he manages to avoid injury on the road to Yokozuna. Shodai is kadoban 
(at risk of demotion if he gains a losing record) and that normally 
produces some great drama. I am not sure what Shodai's chances are but 
hopefully he finds the strength to remain an Ozeki. 

With the Sekiwake and Komusubi, we see little change. Hopefully there 
is some movement as the top Maegashira have suffered greatly from no 
slots being available and so not being promoted. Takayasu did well for 
the first half of the March tournament but lost focus as the 
tournament progressed. Poor papa bear! It would be great for him to be 
able to regain Ozeki and finally win a tournament. 

In the Maegashira ranks, I will be keenly watching Wakatakakage, 
Tobizaru and Terutsuyoshi (the grand salt thrower). I have a weakness 
for the shorter rikishi as they tend to produce some fantastic sumo. 
Unfortunately Enho is still in Juryo (division below Makuuchi) and I 
will miss his antics. He is ranked East #1 so he should be back in 
Maegashira if he has a winning record. Ura could be back in Maegashira 
again as well after suffering significant injury and falling pretty 
far down the banzuke. Kotoshoho, another favourite, seemed to have 
suffered harshly on falling down to Juryo East #5 from Maegashira West 
#11. That is a huge fall of 20 ranks or so. He did have a stinker of a 
March tournament though only wining once out of the 7 bouts he was not 
kyujo for. Hopefully, he is back on form and starts wining again. 

It feels like Juryo is the more exciting of the 2 seikitori (paid 
wrestler) divisions for Natsu but I am sure there will be plenty of 
drama and excitement with Makuuchi. We need some new Yokozuna but I 
cannot see Shodai or Asanoyama pushing hard enough to get it. 
Takakeisho might but I think he will struggle to get the 2 yusho 
(tournament wins) necessary to get there. Terunofuji has the fighting 
spirit necessary but will his knees withstand the struggle? We shall 
see amidst the excitement of Hatsu! 

I shall be watching using NattoSumo's fantastic videos on Youtube and 
I am considering writing about my impressions on most days. Who knows 
what the schedule will allow for.