on this day: 1988

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

Mainichi Daily News, Saturday 7th May 1988

Onokuni: Awful Or Awesome In Summer Sumo

   One year ago burly Ozeki Onokuni rolled to an impressive 15-0 victory in 
the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament and rode the momentum of his first 
tournament championship to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna.
   Since ascending to grand champion status, however, the 202 kg Onokuni 
has been more awful than awesome - that is, until four days into March's 
Spring Tournament.
   Humiliated by two losses to rank and file wrestlers on the second and 
third days, Onokuni clawed his way back for a 13-2 record and slapped down 
fellow Yokozuna Hokutoumi twice on the final day to claim his second tourney 
title.
   When the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament gets under way at the Ryogoku 
Kokugikan Sumo Arena Sunday, opponents will be looking to see which Onokuni 
will step onto the dohyo - the Emperor's Cup contender or yokozuna 
pretender.
   "When I went down 1-2 in the last tournament, I didn't get as nervous as 
the people around me.  I figured that if you've practiced hard, win or lose, 
you can only go out there and try your best," reasoned Onokuni.
   The 25 year old Hokkaido bear has appeared more confident than ever in 
pre-tournament practice sessions and some observers have remarked that he 
looks especially sharp with his belt technique.
   This is certainly not a promising development for Hokutoumi, who was 
listed over Onokuni at the more prestigious East Yokozuna position for the 
Summer Tournament.
   Hokutoumi, who was denied the Haru Basho crown in March, will be a 
co-favorite to garner his fourth tourney title this time out, but must come 
up with a way to topple Onokuni.
   Despite leading all sumo wrestlers with 74 sumo wins in 1987, the 
hustling 144 kg Hokutoumi went at Onokuni twice for the title in March and 
lost both bouts - as his career record against Onokuni dipped to 8-18.
   While the two top yokozuna are again likely to meet in a showdown on the 
final day, crafty veteran Chiyonofuji and yokozuna-aspirant Asahifuji must 
also be counted among the title contenders.
   Chiyonofuji, in the unusual position of being listed as an auxiliary or 
"haridashi" yokozuna, would normally be the pre tourney favorite, but 
questions remain about a dislocated shoulder that forced the 32 year old 
"Wolf" out of the Spring Tournament.
   Determined to demonstrate that it is premature to speak of him as a 
champion in the past tense, Chiyonofuji snaps opponents around in practice 
("like playing with a day," said one observer) when he locks onto his 
adversary's sash.
   When Chiyonofuji was attempting to rebound last November after sitting 
out the Autumn Tournament, doubters talked about his lack of practice time 
and readiness for renewed sumo battles.
   The masterful veteran, however, soon made believers out of the skeptics 
as he swept the Kyushu Basho 15-0.
   Ozeki Asahifuji is a candidate for promotion to yokozuna after winning 
the New Year's tournament with a 14-1 record and a respectable 12-3 finish 
in Osaka.
   A tournament victory would certainly help the lanky Aomori ozeki's 
cause, but his laid-back "my pace" mentality toward practice remains suspect 
among sumo officials.
   Also suspect are the knees of Ozeki Konishiki, which are rumored to be 
bothering the 248 kg American Samoan.
   After his disappointing 8-7 performance in March, Konishiki will be 
trying to rekindle talk of his becoming sumo's "first foreign yokozuna." 
But, a few breaks must come his way in order for the "sullen one" to capture 
his first title.
   Muscular Western Samoan Nankairyu (Kiriful Saba) made a big jump to the 
No. 2 maegashira slot and will be getting his first taste of major league 
competition on a daily basis.
   In the junior makushita division, Hawaiian born Takamikuni (Taylor 
Wiley) will be bidding for a second straight 7-0 record and a chance of 
becoming a full-fledged sumo wrestler. (Kyodo)

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