Yokozuna Onosato said he "managed to get through" the 28-day summer sumo tour that concluded Sunday in Tachikawa, west of Tokyo, despite a persistent left shoulder injury that limited his involvement.
Speaking after the tour's conclusion, Onosato stressed that his immediate focus is on recovering physically in preparation for the upcoming Autumn Grand Tournament. "I managed to get through the tour. Now I want to take time to treat the injury and prepare as best I can for the next tournament," the new yokozuna said.
The left shoulder problem, which had troubled Onosato beforehand, prevented him from fully competing in matches during the summer tour. Still, completing the entire 28-day schedule is seen as a positive sign, indicating progress in his recovery.
The Autumn Grand Tournament is scheduled for September, where Onosato will face the significant challenge of defending his yokozuna status. Earlier, experts had expressed concerns about his ability to compete if the injury did not heal in time.
In a related development, a stablemaster close to fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu has cast doubt on that wrestler's participation in the Autumn tournament, adding further pressure to the upcoming title race.
