Mongolian sumo wrestler yokozuna Asashoryu returned home during the week for a well-earned break, following his success in the March grand sumo tournament.

Following a calf injury Asashoryu sustained during a bout against Kotomitsuki in the tournament, he was told he could not train for two weeks and was given approval to return home for recuperation. He also revealed he gained another injury during a non-competitive tournament in Nara Prefecture on March 31. Japanese press reported that Asashoryu’s leg turned purple and swelled up, with the official diagnosis being a muscle tear. Before returning home, the sport’s highest-ranking sumo was seen by a Japanese doctor, who said his injuries would take around three weeks to heal. Asashoryu’s return to Mongolia will also coincide with his daughter’s fifth birthday.

The sumo champion’s stable master Takasago approved the travel to Mongolia and submitted the papers to the Japan Sumo Association. He will most likely return to Japan on April 24, just prior to the announcement of the new ranking list.

The Japan Sumo Association has also begun selling tickets for the next tournament, to be held on May 11.
Officials said tickets for the tournament’s last day were sold out on the first day they went on sale.
They also said the competition between the two yokozunas, both Mongolian, was extremely popular, as the winner of the last two tournaments was known prior to the last bout. “Usually the May Grand Sumo Tournament ticket sales are slow, but this year it’s been extremely popular so far,” a spokesperson said. Fans began lining up two days before the tickets went on sale on April 5.Approximately 1600 tickets were sold on that day compared to the just 1200 of last year. As the performances of the two yokozunas improves, the ticket sales become stronger.Controversy has surrounded the two yokozunas, which may have also contributed to high interest in the competition. Asashoryu was criticized by JSA committee member Mitsuru Yaku following the March tournament, over his behavior during the event.

“After a bout where you’ve just exerted all of your power and won, you should take the high road. It takes away from the win otherwise.” Yaku also criticized Asashoryu for shouting “Thank you each and every time” in Japanese at the Osaka crowd during his tournament victory interview. “There’s no place for that in the sumo arena,” Yaku said. On April 7, yokozuna Hakuho was victorious in an exhibition tournament held in Yokosuka City. It was a single day elimination tournament held at the Yokosuka Arena, where around 4,000 fans gathered to watch Hakuho perform on the ring. In the final bout, Hakuho was able to win against ozeki Kotomitsuki by throwing him to the ground. Yokozuna Hakuho participated in the recording of the television show Sanma no Manma, which is hosted by famous Japanese comedian and actor Akashiya Sanma.

“When I tried to answer a question from him, he was already peppering me with the next one,” Hakuho said.
Akashiya Sanma got Hakuho to talk about a visit he paid to a Philippine bar in the Kinshi neighborhood of Tokyo.
Following the recording, Hakuho said, “I always watch him on TV, so it didn’t feel as if I was meeting him for the first time.” The show will broadcast in the Kanto and Kansai regions on May 9.
During the week Hakuho also revealed what is driving his determination to build up more muscle - the result of an arm-wrestling match against Ozeki Kaio during the exhibition season where the ozeki soundly defeated the yokozuna.
“I want to be able to generate the same power as Kaio-zeki,” Hakuho said.
Training sessions will soon begin and the wrestlers, who will have to train well to please sumo fans who are expecting a dynamic tournament like the last two ones.
Following Asashoryu’s return from suspension, both yokozunas are tied, each with one tournament victory.

THE UB POST

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