A new YouTube video from the “Chris Sumo” channel, who is a reliable English-language source with connections in the Japan Sumo Association, reveals some early injury news and notes for the May Tournament, good and bad.
The Good: Yokozuna Terunofuji will be back. He is on the current April tour to get daily reps in and it sounds like his knees are constantly improving and he’a good to go. It was hinted that he may have retired already if he wasn’t the sole yokozuna but there seems to be none of the customary retirement pressures on yokozuna following consistent poor performance or, in this case, extended absences due to injuries.
The Bad: Wakatakakage and Onosho are likely out of the May Tournament. Both withdrew in March due to injuries (Wakatakakage on Day 14, one win short of keeping his Sekiwake ranking, which would now be gone anyway with missing May). Onosho is reportedly out 2 months with knee issues so he has a chance to participate, but an ACL injury will cost Wakatakakage 3 months and definitely his year-plus spot in Sanyaku. Onosho could be demoted to Juryo is he misses May, finishing the equivalent of 4-11 (4-5-6) in March at Maegashira 4 which means demotion. It sounds like Daieisho will definitely return to Sekiwake now in May. Hoshoryu and Kiribayama will both have chances at Ozeki promotion after May but likely just one could make it as they will probably need to win the tournament. If Kiribayama wins again he’ll meet the primary criteria for Ozeki promotion, which is win consecutive tournaments at Sekiwake.
