The first Yokozuna Deliberation Council sōken training session to be open to the public in four years took place at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Saturday.

An estimated 4,000 people took advantage of the rare (and free) opportunity to watch all of the sport’s top ranked wrestlers practicing together on the raised ring at sumo’s headquarters.

Although well attended, the atmosphere at the event was noticeably more subdued than in past years.

That may have been partly attributable to the lingering hangover from three years of COVID-19 restrictions, which limited cheering and led to tournaments having a muted feel.

The removal of sections of first-floor seating close to the ring to make way for Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku’s kanreki (60th birthday) ring-entering ceremony celebrations later in the day also played a role.

Mainly though, the fact that sumo’s current lineup lacks the relentless intensity brought by former yokozuna pair Asashoryu and Hakuho meant the first post-pandemic open practice was never going to match the 2005 edition, when the two aforementioned Mongolian-born stars and fired-up Russian Roho created a crackling honbasho-like atmosphere at a packed Kokugikan.

Inside the ring on Saturday, it was no coincidence that the main winner of the event — if a practice session can have such a thing — was the man who fought longest and hardest against top ranked opponents.

Veteran Kirishima finished with twice as many wins as losses while taking on fellow ozeki Hoshoryu and Takakeisho, as well as sekiwake pair Daieisho and Wakamotoharu.

In July, the 27-year-old missed part of his debut tournament at sumo’s second-highest rank, with a subsequent early return from injury leading to a struggle through the remaining schedule in Nagoya — one that eventually concluded with a losing record.

Kirishima looks fully recovered now however, and was sharp and decisive at the sōken, achieving double digit wins, before finishing his day on a tough butsukari session with yokozuna Terunofuji.

The Michinoku stable man’s actions at the home of sumo, though, were certainly louder than his words.

Kirishima spoke so softly in the post-sōken news conference as to be virtually inaudible to reporters.

That prompted a laughing Hoshoryu, waiting his turn at the back of the interview room, to call out “Can’t hear you!” several times.

For his part, the Nagoya tournament-winner and sumo’s newest ozeki didn’t seem at all bothered by lackluster results in the ring on the day, being both playful and enthusiastic when talking to the media.

“It was great practice,” said Hoshoryu, “The last time (it took place in front of fans) I was in makushita. I’m happy I was able to go out there as an ozeki.”

The 24-year-old finished with more losses than wins on the day but brushed off a question about results, saying, “I don’t care about the record, I’m just happy that I was able to do training with strong opponents."

Hoshoryu also indicated that physically he was in good condition, and isn’t focused on the pressure that comes with being an ozeki, saying his plan for September is just to go out and perform as normal.

Like Kirishima, sumo’s third extant ozeki will be fighting to keep his rank in the fall meet. Takakeisho last won a bout on May 26 as the three-time Emperor’s Cup winner sat out the entirety of the Nagoya tournament.

At the sōken, the Hyogo native looked sharper and able to generate more power than at any time since January. Takakeisho’s only losses on the day came against his fellow ozeki, but the oft-injured veteran also had his share of wins on the day and was smooth in his movements.

While the ozeki triumvirate was providing the day’s highlights, those ranked above and below them on the banzuke gave plenty of cause for concern.

Yokozuna Terunofuji, who has fought for all 15 days of a tournament just once in the past two years, lent his chest to Kirishima at the Kokugikan but didn’t take part in any bouts.

Sumo’s 73rd grand champion still has the ability to just show up and run the table, but reaching the finishing (or indeed starting) line is increasingly challenging for the soon to be 32-year-old veteran.

Sensational youngster Hakuoho was a nonparticipant in the sōken, with the man who in July almost became the first makuuchi division rookie to lift the Emperor’s Cup in 109 years subsequently pulling out of the upcoming tournament.

Offsetting fans’ disappointment in not getting to see bouts by the yokozuna or sumo’s hottest young star was a solid practice session by up-and-comers in the second tier jūryō division.

Kiho put every cell of his 166-centimeter, 110-kilogram frame to use in wins over collegiate legend Onosato and Ukrainian Shishi — two men who tower over Hakuoho’s diminutive stablemate.

Shishi finished the day with an equal number of wins and losses, but while in technique there is still has much to improve upon, once the Ikazuchi man gets a belt grip, he is able to display power reminiscent of three European predecessors (Kotooshu, Baruto and Tochinoshin) who all eventually reached ozeki.

Although just a practice session whose results shouldn’t be read too much into, last week’s sōken was a good snapshot of the state of sumo ahead of the September meet.

While the atmosphere may not have matched up to past editions, allowing fans in was a welcome move and one of the last remaining steps on the road to full normality.