In the fortnight ahead of the annual Natsu Summer Basho, there is always something of a lull in the sumo world.
The springtime tours are over, and with Natsu and the warmer, humid months of summer beckoning, the only thing to do is train to get in shape for the upcoming tournament. This, many of the rikishi in the top flight set achieving about roughly two to three weeks ahead of the first day of action, and while it permits those close enough to Tokyo the chance to see the fighters in their home setting during morning practice, with the exception of a single day of public practice on April 29, little else has been heard of many of the rikishi.
Once the banzuke ranking sheet has been released ahead of the basho, all the rikishi know at which position they will be fighting. Personal targets are set — be it with one eye on halting a slide down the ranks for some, or continuing on an upward path for others.