With a popular new ozeki in the shape of Mongolian Hakuho to whet appetites and a couple of faithful old Japanese types who were toughening the soles of their feet while he was still a toddler, we have a rather interesting mix of past and present, Japanese and foreign at the rank for the May 7th to 21st Natsu Basho. Add the only Japanese ozeki with a body still capable of advancement and a Bulgarian with a dodgy knee, and predicting the direction this latest yusho might take looks somewhat tricky. Tricky perhaps but deliciously so.
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| Winner of sixteen Emperor's Cups to date, sole yokozuna Asashoryu will be aiming for number seventeen starting May 7th. |
Indeed, go to the Internet and you won't find many fan sites dedicated to the sport without at least some members openly salivating at what we can expect in the 15 days of bouts starting this coming Sunday.