Hidden gems await fans who dig deep into sumo’s lower divisions

Most music streaming providers have two ranges of playlist for artists or bands.

Varied names like Necessities or Deeper Cuts are used to explain compilations of hits and lesser-known songs.

If the makuuchi division is sumo’s model of the High 40 (or, extra exactly, 42), tiers 2 and three (jūryō and makushita) make up the equal of the game’s B-sides and album tracks.

Simply as with music, there are many gems to be discovered if one is prepared to dig somewhat deeper.

Whereas the rikishi exterior of the highest division will not be as achieved or polished as those that dominate the headlines, each jūryō and makushita include an thrilling mixture of young-and-upcoming wrestlers destined for stardom in addition to veterans clinging on with fading power and pace.

As the underside of the second tier additionally faces the yawning chasm of unpaid sumo, there’s a keenness and desperation to bouts there that’s usually lacking from these seen within the highest and lowest divisions.

For newer followers seeking to get deeper into the game, who’re a few of the names that they need to look out for within the juryo and makushita divisions in January?

One wrestler that instantly jumps out is the newly renamed Oho. A part of a sumo lineage that features maybe the best yokozuna of all time (Taiho) in addition to a disgraced former sekiwake (Takatoriki), Oho and two of his brothers battle out of an Otake secure that was established by their grandfather within the Seventies.

Oho’s father additionally lifted the Emperor’s Cup whereas energetic, however Takatoriki is extra recognized today for his position in a betting scandal and a controversial YouTube channel the place he throws out every kind of allegations together with these about match-fixing in sumo.

Oho will clearly be hoping for a profession nearer to that of his grandfather (Taiho), who held the report for many high division championships for 46 years earlier than Hakuho eclipsed it in 2015.

Nonetheless simply 20 years outdated, Oho has made regular, if unspectacular, progress since turning professional in 2018.

Often called Naya till his current promotion to sekitori, the Tokyo native has the physique and talent required to carve out a profitable profession in sumo’s higher reaches, nevertheless. Now free from the duties and tasks of decrease division life and capable of focus solely on sumo, Oho is an efficient guess to start out making the most of the potential that has lengthy been obvious. If he can get off to a quick begin in January, a division title in his jūryō debut wouldn’t be an enormous shock.

If spectacular is a phrase that may’t be utilized to Oho’s profession to date, the alternative is definitely the case in the case of a teenage wrestler who joins the makushita division simply as Oho is leaving it.

Standing two meters tall and weighing over 160 kilograms, Hokuseiho stays unbeaten since becoming a member of ōzumō final March.

At present on a 23-bout successful streak, Hokuseiho, who was born in Mongolia however has lived in Japan from early childhood, has a superb likelihood of breaking the report for many consecutive wins from entry into the game.

If maezumō bouts and playoffs are included, Itai’s 30 straight victories from his debut within the late Seventies is at present the most effective begin. Hokuseiho may higher that with a 7-0 report in January adopted by a playoff win.

It’s an unbelievable run made all of the extra wonderful by the truth that Hokuseiho is a rikishi solely due to an opportunity encounter with Hakuho in an airport when a small youngster. The yokozuna inspired him to offer sumo a attempt to be part of his secure when he grew up.

Makushita is the primary actual take a look at of a sumo wrestler’s talents nevertheless, so regardless of his lightning-fast begin and overwhelming bodily measurement, Hokuseiho has in all probability solely a 50-50 likelihood at better of setting a brand new mark.

A title win isn’t out of the query, however in a 120-man division there’s all the time the potential of another person with a comparatively simpler schedule going unbeaten. The enormous teenager can have his future in his personal arms, however one momentary lapse is all it may take for the championship in his division to go elsewhere.

One tier up, issues gained’t be so tight for Oho. Parity is the secret in sumo’s second division and playoffs amongst two or extra males with the identical report are widespread. If the teenager manages to go unbeaten in his paid debut, he’ll be simply the sixth man in historical past with a 15-0 report in jūryō. The earlier 5 embrace 4 ozeki and one yokozuna.

Oho and Hokuseiho are the headliners in jūryō and makushita respectively, however they’re removed from the one ones to observe in these divisions.

Whether or not it’s the persevering with efforts of somebody like Ura to battle again from devastating damage and regain a spot on the high desk, the struggles of males akin to Mitoryu to translate newbie glory into success within the professional ranks or simply watching any of the getting older veterans making an attempt to stave off the dropping report that can imply inevitable demotion and virtually sure retirement, sumo’s second tier gives loads of causes to observe.

Though as a division decrease it’s extra a case of recognizing the superstars within the making as they hone their craft, makushita, like jūryō, is one that gives loads for sumo followers prepared to check out what’s taking place simply off the primary stage.