TOKYO - New sekiwake Fujinokawa expressed determination Thursday to establish himself at sumo's third-highest rank ahead of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.
"As a new sanyaku wrestler, I'll do my best to make sure I hold on to my position," Fujinokawa said after a training session, referring to sumo's three titled ranks beneath grand champion yokozuna.
Fujinokawa, of the Isenoumi stable, visited the Arashio stable in Tokyo's Chuo Ward and went 9-6 in 15 practice bouts against others including Wakamotoharu.
A native of Kyoto Prefecture, Fujinokawa, 21, became the first wrestler from the western Japan prefecture to reach sanyaku in 198 years and is now the youngest wrestler in the elite makuuchi division.
Fujinokawa's father and coach Kabutoyama, who accompanied him to the training session, said he hopes the new sekiwake will "approach the tournament with a challenger's mentality and wrestle aggressively."
The 177-centimeter, 125-kilogram dynamo said he visited his alma mater, Saitama Sakae High School, a sumo powerhouse in eastern Japan, on Wednesday to report his promotion to coach Michinori Yamada and his wife Sanae.
"I never expected to rise to sekiwake in professional sumo when I entered high school weighing 70 kgs," Fujinokawa said.
"I owe who I am today to Mr. Yamada and Ms. Sanae," the wrestler said.
Meanwhile, ozeki Kotozakura began full-fledged training, going 11-4 in practice bouts against stablemates Kotoshoho and Kotoeiho, as well as visiting komusubi Daieisho.
Although Kotozakura did not engage in practice bouts during sumo's regional tour in August due to left ankle pain, the ozeki appeared encouraged by his return to action.
"I moved better than I expected. My legs were moving well, and I was able to stay in at the edge of the ring," he said at his Sadogatake stable in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture.
In July's tournament, Kotozakura shook off the demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki status by posting an 8-7 record and remained at sumo's second-highest rank.
