KASUGAI, Aichi -- Holding a copy of the freshly released rankings listing him at his new rank of ozeki, Tochinoshin expressed his determination to mark the promotion with a victory at the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
"I'm thrilled that the letters [of my name] are now so big," Tochinoshin told the press at the Kasugano stable lodgings in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday. "I will fight with the intention of winning the title."
In the days following his promotion, Tochinoshin returned to his native Georgia, where he got caught up in a whirlwind of celebrations. "It was beyond my imagination," he said. "I barely had any time to spend with my family."
Tochinoshin was listed as the second ozeki on the west side of the rankings released earlier in the day by the Japan Sumo Association for the Nagoya tournament, which starts July 8 at Aichi Prefectural Gym.
The two other ozeki, Goeido and Takayasu, will both wrestle under "kadoban" status, meaning each needs a majority of wins in the 15-day tournament to retain his rank.
Yokozuna Kakuryu, who won his second straight title at the preceding Summer tournament, remains on the prestigious east side for the third straight tourney. Kisenosato, who has missed all or part of seven consecutive tournaments, sits below him as the No. 2 east yokozuna.
Mitakeumi moved up from komusubi to sekiwake, while Tamawashi and Shohozan now fill the two komusubi slots.
Two wrestlers, Kotoeko and Meisei, will make their debuts in the upper-most makuuchi division as maegashira. Kotoeko becomes the first makuuchi newcomer from Miyazaki Prefecture since 1974.
Meanwhile, former ozeki Terunofuji has dropped to the third-tier makushita division, marking the first time a former holder of the second-highest rank who had won a makuuchi division title in his career had sunk that low.
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