A rank reserved for sumo's chosen few...

I dreamed of becoming Ozeki. I'm so happy!

Today we spotlight the coveted Ozeki rank!

During the opening speech of a tournament, Ozeki stand front and center alongside Yokozuna.

Since 1958, there have been just 66 Ozeki.

That's less than 1% of all rikishi.

It's an exclusive club!

We'll hear surprising insights from great Ozeki of the recent past.

If you lose, people don't let you forget it.

It's scary!

Whatever you do, you can't escape it: "Oh boy, I could be demoted."

We'll shine a light on a certain number.

Why 33?

It's a mystery!

The benchmark for promotion - is it really 33 wins over 3 tournaments?

If you don't know Ozeki, you don't know sumo!

It's time for DOSUKOI Sumo Salon!

Welcome to DOSUKOI Sumo Salon.

Today we're talking about Ozeki.

And here with us in the studio, for the second time, is actor Kuroki Hitomi!

Thanks for having me.

You came back!

Last time I learned so much.

It really gave me a chance to enjoy sumo in a deeper way.

Also with us... is Kanda Hakuzan, a traditional Kodan storyteller.

Thank you, it's great to be here.

All right, our topic is "Ozeki." Initial thoughts?

Ozeki have left a deep impression on me.

In Kodan we tell historical stories, and in the Edo period Ozeki was the top rank.

So this is a very serious topic... I hope I can do it justice today.

It's refreshing to see you so humble!

I can be, sometimes!

And Oyakata, you were once an Ozeki.

Yes, I was.

Right.

I was a pretty strong Ozeki.

C'mon, you were very strong.

I mean, you became Yokozuna!

Anyway, is this a good topic for the show?

It's a wonderful topic.

A long time coming, if you ask me!

OK.

Let's start by looking at the Ozeki who won the hearts of sumo fans.

We asked 100 fans to name their favorite rikishi whose highest rank was Ozeki.

He's broken through with a push-and-thrust style.

I support him because he's strong.

Takakeisho.

He's been pushing and thrusting as an Ozeki for five years.

Takakeisho.

The fans love the way he represents Grand Sumo.

The Yokozuna was absent.

He stepped up to lead the charge. In spite of injuries.

I love that about him.

Now, a blast from the past.

Chiyotaikai

Chiyotaikai was known for his tsuppari thrusts.

Asashoryu tries to slip a hand in. Chiyotaikai thrusts.

Asashoryu standing his ground. Chiyotaikai keeps thrusting.

You watched old footage?

I saw him on DOSUKOI Sumo Salon!

Thanks for watching!

Chiyotaikai is a good choice.

His tsuppari was sensational.

But watching from home I'd go,

"Grab the mawashi. Come on! The mawashi!" Just yelling at the TV.

What does this fan say?

It has to be Konishiki.

He was just massive.

Tall and heavy.

He made a huge impression.

The next rikishi was the longest serving Ozeki of all time.

He could crush an apple in his hand.

He'd get that right outside grip. Just brilliant!

I love Kaio.

Kaio remains a fan favorite.

He held the rank for over a decade and was known for this signature move.

A right outside grip!

Uwatenage, overarm throw!

Even when he lost, it made me happy just watching him compete.

I see.

To me, Kaio was the ultimate Ozeki.

And now, the Ozeki who got the most votes.

He was a slim but muscular rikishi.

He really stood out.

- Handsome, too.
- He was so cool.

He had a lean physique, but he had tenacity.

The first Takanohana.

Nicknamed the "Prince of Sumo," the first Takanohana was loved by fans of all ages.

With his slim build, he faced off against giants.

He was known for his never-say-die attitude.

Kotenage, arm lock throw!

He was as popular as a Yokozuna.

Amazing.

My favorite has always been Takanonami, ever since I was a kid.

He was a tricky rikishi, despite his large size.

Very daring.

He's hanging on.

Kawazugake, hooking backward counter-throw.

He was very daring, but also faithful to the fundamentals.

So later, as a commentator, he'd go into lots of detail.

About the bout.

About the bout, and mental tactics...

I remember his comments on my sumo were always on the mark.

He must have been meticulous in his approach to sumo.

So back when I was doing commentary, I looked to his style as the gold standard.

Fascinating.

OK, next, a group of fans who have something to say about our topic.

Yeah, this should be good.

When they heard we were spotlighting Ozeki, these three sumo fans convened an emergency meeting!

Who are their favorite Ozeki?

For me, it's Baruto.

Having an Ozeki who was so gentle yet strong really brightened things up.

You had rikishi who worked their way up with careful strategizing,

and he'd just hurl them to the ground.

He amazed spectators with his tsuridashi.

He grabs hold. He's in control.

Tsuridashi, frontal lift out.

Dubbed the "Baruto Crane," it rendered his opponent helpless.

Mine is Mitakeumi.

The way he forces back his opponent!

He's great to watch when he's doing well.

Yes! When he loses, I get really annoyed.

Right!

That's an Ozeki for you.

I vote Tochiazuma.

Fine choice!

He's one of the greats.

He'd take a barrage of slaps, get a bloody nose, and fight on.

Nomachi's referring to this bout against Asashoryu!

Face slaps from Asashoryu.

Straight out of the initial clash, Asashoryu unleashes a barrage of face slaps.

21 in all!

Asashoryu attacks!

The Ozeki is still in this!

It seems someone is bleeding.

The referee calls for a break.

We asked the former Ozeki, now Tamanoi Oyakata, about the bout.

I wanted him to come at me with face slaps.

Asashoryu would do that against rikishi he had trouble with.

He didn't like rikishi like me who would come in low.

So he'd unleash a flurry, and that was my chance.

My nose was bleeding, but I stayed calm, stayed low, hung in there.

You wanna slap me? Go right ahead.

That was my strategy!

When the bout restarted, Tochiazuma neutralized his opponent.

Tochiazuma wins!

That was real Ozeki class!

That was a bit much! All those slaps!

Blood gushing out!

Very intense!

In sumo, we say, "If your opponent is slapping, don't back off!"

If you go in face-first you can get inside.

Of course, that's easier said than done...

No kidding!

But he actually does it - very impressive.

I was never able to beat him.

What?!

Whenever Goeido and I get together and talk about who was the strongest, we always say Tochiazuma.

Such a fierce opponent.

And I thought he'd get fired up, but no, he was so calm.

When there's a break, can it bring the energy level down?

If there'd been no break, I think Asashoryu would've had the momentum.

But because it was stopped, the advantage went to Tochiazuma.

- A reset.
- Yes.

Asashoryu probably wasn't happy about it!

I bet!

Fascinating stuff.

OK, next, what does it mean to be an Ozeki?

Let's hear from stablemasters who've attained the rank.

What are the pressures on an Ozeki? We asked these two.

In tournaments an Ozeki is supposed to be in the title race.

So it's a daily battle.

Here's Naruto Oyakata, who fought as Kotooshu.

Ozeki should get 10-plus wins.

Eight is not enough.

Tamanoi Oyakata says there's one more thing he focused on.

Tochiazuma wins the title!

I knew I had to stop the Yokozuna.

That was my only path to tournament victory.

Stop the Yokozuna.

Here he faces off against Asashoryu, who was on a 27-bout winning streak.

The Yokozuna thrusts. The Ozeki tries to go in low.

He gets in close.

Tochiazuma drives forward.

Tochiazuma wins! Asashoryu's streak ends at 27.

As an Ozeki, Tochiazuma defeated Yokozuna Asashoryu five times.

I remember he did well against Asashoryu.

Yokozuna are on a different level, and that motivates us Ozeki, makes us want to defeat them.

I think that's why I was able to hold my own with him.

Speaking of ending winning streaks, let's see our resident Oyakata during his Ozeki days.

Hakuho was on a 43-bout winning streak.

Hakuho evades.

Right inside grip.

Kisenosato drives forward. Yoritaoshi, frontal crush out.

It's the job of an Ozeki to liven up the tournament by stopping the Yokozuna.

That was a great match!

Oyakata, how did it feel to put a stop to the Yokozuna's winning streak?

It felt incredible.

I went into the bout thinking, "Watch me make tomorrow's papers!"

I was determined to win.

I love being the center of attention.

I never realized!

Anyway, I get the sense that Ozeki are expected to showcase quality sumo, just like Yokozuna.

Right, simply getting more wins than losses isn't enough.

The bar's higher.

That's tough.

How often do Ozeki actually get double-digit winning records?

We took a look at the data.

Data analysis!

Here are the rikishi listed in order of percentage.

Just look at the Ozeki who had a high percentage of double-digit winning records.

What a line-up.

Incredible.

That feat is no joke!

But the overall average is just 43.4 percent.

In other words, most of the time, Ozeki do NOT achieve a double-digit winning record.

I get the sense that people are always being critical of Ozeki.

Right.

If they were getting praise, they'd be Yokozuna.

Exactly.

They'd be promoted.

They're in a tough spot.

To think, Kaio did it for about 10 years.

Incredible.

Such mental toughness!

It turns out it's no easy feat for an Ozeki to get a double-digit winning record.

Wow! When you see the data like that, it's impressive!

Oyakata, your percentage was very high!

Were you conscious of that?

- Yes.
- I see.

My old stablemaster always told me that only the strongest Ozeki make it to Yokozuna.

So I always worked hard to get the best winning record.

Imada-san, time for a guessing game!

For me?

What was the highest number of Ozeki to participate in a single tournament?

- Huh?
- In a single tournament?

Generally, I think there are two? Or three? Maybe?

Right.

5!

6!

Kuroki-san says 6!

Oyakata, you know the answer?

I believe I was there.

Kanda-san?

I'm gonna say 7.

7! So 5, 6, 7.

You're not taking this seriously!

7 is a perfectly fine choice!

OK, let's see the answer.

Ooh I'm nervous!

Here it is!

It looks like... 6!

Kuroki-san had it!

Kuroki-san!

So Oyakata, this was during your Ozeki days.

But the second half of that tournament was tough.

I had to face the other Ozeki back-to-back!

Plus the Yokozuna!

Exactly.

Wild!

6 active Ozeki - the most in sumo history.

Here's the chairman's opening speech from the 2012 July tournament.

The ring is packed with Ozeki.

We asked Naruto Oyakata to reflect on this era of fierce rivalries.

It was do-or-die, one bout at a time.

You had to face five Ozeki, plus the Yokozuna.

If you lost them all, you could easily end with a losing record.

Yeah, a crazy time.

In the 2012 July Tournament, Kotooshu faced four Ozeki, as the fifth, Kotoshogiku, was a stablemate.

He lost to Kakuryu and Harumafuji, and ended with 9 and 6.

If he had dropped all his Ozeki matches...

He would've had a losing record.

Meanwhile, Harumafuji racked up the wins.

Sukuinage, beltless arm throw!

He defeated all five other Ozeki and won the title with a perfect record.

How about that!

So it was really do-or-die for Kotooshu.

- But for fans it was great to watch!
- Right.

Lots of matches between Ozeki.

Yes. Which Ozeki will end with a winning record?

And, will any Ozeki end up being demoted?

Exactly.

Yeah.

My stomach hurts just thinking about it.

I feel you.

Which Ozeki made you struggle?

I struggled with the ones who were bigger than me.

Baruto?

Baruto and Kotooshu.

They were tough...

I'm intimidated by people who are bigger than me.

They really psych me out!

I see.

My body would freeze up.

OK, next we look at the benchmark for promotion to Ozeki.

The eternal question!

In the 2023 July Tournament, Hoshoryu secured promotion to Ozeki.

A hot topic in the media was the unofficial benchmark for promotion...

33 wins. Keep in mind that's just a benchmark.

33 or more wins over 3 straight tournaments.

Who came up with 33?

I've always wondered that myself.

It wasn't the Sumo Association.

Right.

It's just a benchmark.

So where did 33 come from!?

When was the magic number 33 first mentioned in the media?

Great question!

We looked at live commentary and newspaper articles from 1989 onwards.

Incredible work!

In the early '90s, a number of benchmarks were suggested, including 30 and 35 wins.

The number's changed over time!

We continued to search through the papers...

...and finally discovered the number 33 in a July 1998 article.

The following year, the number was also mentioned in live commentary.

Recently the Ozeki benchmark is said to be about 33 wins over 3 straight tournaments.

Through our research, we determined that the number 33 was first mentioned in the media about 25 years ago.

But how many wins did Ozeki actually rack up to secure their promotion?

We reviewed all tournaments between January 1958 and March 2024.

Here are the results.

The most wins I see is...

37.

37 wins!

That's Yokozuna level!

Seriously.

So strong!

32!

Yeah, Asanoyama and Shodai had 32.

- Yup.
- Right.

From 37 to 28, the actual number of wins has varied greatly.

And 20 rikishi have been promoted to Ozeki with less than 33 wins.

Considering how Kisenosato and Kitanoumi went on to become Yokozuna, the right decision was made.

In retrospect, yes.

Right.

Same with Kitanofuji.

Yeah, in the commentary booth, Mainoumi likes to tease him about that.

He fans the flames.

Exactly.

Case in point...

There are rikishi, like Kitanofuji, who get promoted with 28 wins.

Kitanofuji's looking daggers at you right now!

Say that again and we're through!

Kitanofuji was promoted to Ozeki in 1966.

He scored a total of 28 wins over three tournaments.

With no expectation of being promoted, he had a few drinks and went to sleep.

When he received the call the next morning, he jumped out of bed.

He hastily fixed his topknot.

He had to borrow a formal kimono.

And a senior stablemate had to fill in for his absent stablemaster.

He ended up keeping the messenger waiting for 45 minutes.

Not a typical promotion, to say the least.

Now what about cases where a rikishi scored over 33 wins but wasn't promoted?

I wonder.

It turns out it's happened 13 times.

Naruto Oyakata fought as Kotooshu.

We asked him how it felt to get 35 wins and not be promoted.

How did it feel to be skipped over?

Skipped over? I wasn't skipped over, that's actually not what happened.

What happened was, the chairman decided that I needed a perfect record to earn promotion.

So it wasn't meant to be.

At the time, Kotooshu was moving up the rankings rapidly.

It was decided that he needed to achieve a perfect record to prove he was worthy of Ozeki.

He seemed to be on track...

Uwatenage, overarm throw.

12 straight wins!

Then on Day 13, he faced Yokozuna Asashoryu.

On Day 14, he fought then rank-and-filer Kisenosato.

Oshidashi, frontal push out!

Two crushing defeats.

In spite of 35 wins, he missed out on being promoted.

35 is just a number.

It's about more than your win count.

It's about your sumo, who you beat, how you fought.

If you can execute your sumo under pressure, you will thrive as an Ozeki.

In the next tournament, Kotooshu defeated the Yokozuna and proved himself with his sumo, earning his promotion to Ozeki.

Yorikiri, frontal force out! Kotooshu wins.

So it's about more than the number of wins.

That's why, even with 35, he wasn't promoted.

Can you judge a rikishi by looking at the substance of their sumo?

Yes.

If you sidestep a lot, or do other things unbecoming of the Ozeki rank,

there will be objections, even if you meet the bar of 33 wins.

The substance of your sumo is vital.

I can imagine.

If it were only about wins, life would be simple.

Oyakata, we just saw a variety of win totals.

How did you, as a rikishi, feel about that?

There are various angles, but personally I was focused on 33.

I see.

Just as a goal.

In my mind I had to meet that bar to become an Ozeki.

But I ended up being promoted with 32.

So then I was determined to get 11 wins next time around

so that I'd have 33 over the most recent three tournaments.

I made it, and it felt like there'd be no objections after that.

33 wins was a must.

Yes, totally.

Substance is key, but a rikishi must focus on getting each win.

At this tournament, two Ozeki candidates each made a move in their initial clashes.

Daieisho sidesteps left!

And then...

Whoa, sidestep!

Both of them were skipped over for promotion.

Years ago, another rikishi went through a similar experience.

Kaio.

This was his sixth attempt at earning promotion to Ozeki.

In his final bout...

In his eagerness to win, he sidestepped.

But he says the experience was a wake-up call.

In the moment of truth, I came up short.

The Ozeki rank was within my grasp, and I didn't make the grade.

I wasn't worthy.

So I resolved to rethink my sumo, everything down to the very basics.

And looking back, it's from that point that I was able to truly become stronger.

That bout changed my life.

A chance for promotion to Ozeki.

Two tournaments later, he was able to earn promotion in style.

That must get him the Ozeki rank. Congratulations, Kaio!

Here's Wakamotoharu sharing his thoughts after failing to earn promotion on his first attempt.

I'm still far from worthy of the rank, I'm not good enough.

It all comes down to ability - true strength.

So I will work hard to develop true strength moving forward.

The Ozeki hopefuls out there right now have yet to reach the rank partly because they lack something.

If they can figure out what it is they're missing, I'm positive they can attain it.

So, to become Ozeki you need true strength.

It's a really high bar.

And it seems the ability to recognize that is also key.

I was wondering what makes them decide to sidestep.

It's as if there's something in the air that tempts these great rikishi to do something they shouldn't.

Yes, they fall victim to temptation.

I was always told that the sumo ring is a microcosm of life itself.

It reveals who you are.

Your day-to-day conduct is laid bare.

That's terrifying.

Indeed. But if you're on the right path, the answer is revealed.

If you've been serious, you won't find yourself feeling faint-hearted in the ring.

But even a great Ozeki like Kaio once found himself in that situation.

That's quite a surprise.

When promotion to Ozeki is decided, the rikishi is notified in a special ceremony.

I... humbly accept.

I will endeavor... with the spirit of "kihaku-issen"

to never tarnish... the title of Ozeki.

It's customary to accept by giving what's called a "kojo" speech.

You OK?

What if my mind goes blank up there?

Let's look at some memorable speeches from over the years.

I humbly accept.

The new Ozeki always "humbly accepts."

But then they decide how to complete the statement.

First up...

We're going way back!

Fans flocked to catch a glimpse of this one.

Here's what Chiyonofuji said.

I will work hard with the spirit of "issho-kenmei."

He used the idiomatic expression "issho-kenmei."

It's a sincere declaration that several rikishi have used since.

I will work hard with the spirit of "issho-kenmei."

I will work hard with the spirit of "issho-kenmei."

I will endeavor with the spirit of "issho-kenmei."

It's a popular choice!

Sometimes we may get a more esoteric phrase.

"futo-fukutsu" - An indomitable spirit

Here's another.

"ichii-senshin" - With single-minded dedication

And even this...

"banri-ikku" - Tirelessly striving for a single goal

I've never heard that before!

When he was asked about the meaning of the obscure phrase...

All our efforts lead to the same goal.

Be sure to work hard and never lose sight of that goal.

He'd prepared notes in advance and showed that he was a man of integrity.

Takanosato went in a different direction.

It had taken him 13 years to reach the rank, partly due to serious illness.

"kenko-kanri" - Managing my health

Some opt to keep it as simple as possible.

I will devote myself so as not to tarnish the Ozeki name.

Thank you for today.

An Ozeki's choice of words offers a glimpse into his personality.

What will the next Ozeki say?

Oyakata, no idiomatic phrase!

Right, lots of people gifted me dictionaries but I chose to keep it simple.

You didn't get swayed.

I love it.

OK. Once a rikishi becomes an Ozeki,

there's a whole new set of challenges he must face to maintain the Ozeki rank.

Oh, boy.

If an Ozeki posts two consecutive losing records, he's demoted to Sekiwake.

That means that from the moment a rikishi is promoted to Ozeki, he feels the pressure of the rank.

My stablemaster told me if I was demoted, he'd make me retire.

I realized the gravity of my position...

the weight of it all, and came to terms with it.

If an Ozeki posts a losing record, the make-or-break tournament is called "kadoban."

Another kadoban tournament for Goeido!

Goeido experienced nine kadoban tournaments.

We asked him what it's like knowing that you're heading into the next tournament under threat of demotion.

From then on, whatever you do - having a meal, eating good food - you can't escape it:

"Oh boy, I'm kadoban!"

It really dragged me down.

I can't imagine what that's like...

The 2016 September Tournament.

Kadoban number four.

Inside, the anxiety was overwhelming...

but I kept it hidden.

Your opponent can tell if you're scared.

They'll get you.

He went into Day 1 unsure of himself.

And Tochinoshin was a physically imposing opponent.

Tochinoshin gets an outside grip. Goeido needs to shake it off.

Goeido wins.

On Day 3, he was under pressure...

...but pulled off a win.

In every tight spot, he refused to back down.

Goeido wins. That's real Ozeki spirit!

It turns out that his life in the ring was on the line.

I had decided that if I was demoted, I'd retire.

So a losing record would've been the end.

The middle days.

He was determined to battle through.

Yorikiri, frontal force out. Goeido with 6 straight wins!

Goeido with 7 in a row!

After Day 7, he was 7 and 0.

And just 1 win from a winning record.

He says his sumo on Day 8 was his best of the tournament.

For a belt fighter like me, a frontal force out is ideal.

You want to win decisively, both for your own satisfaction as well as to show your supporters your Ozeki credentials.

His flawless run continued.

A fierce stare down!

Even against a Yokozuna...

He went into Day 14 with a perfect 13 wins.

He was on the verge of clinching his first tournament victory.

Goeido wins his first championship!

From kadoban to king of the ring!

Goeido soaked up the crowd's approval.

Goeido! Goeido! Goeido!

Goeido also won on Day 15, escaping demotion with a perfect record

To think he went into that tournament prepared to retire...

I can't imagine what that pressure was like.

He took it one bout at a time.

You were kind enough to leave me out of the highlights, but he beat me, too.

He was incredibly strong in that tournament.

I faced him 30, 40 times over my career, but that time was different.

He overwhelmed me.

I didn't stand a chance.

Kuroki-san, what do you think of kadoban?

Once a rikishi reaches Ozeki, no more threat of demotion?

I'm actually for kadoban.

Yeah?

Yes.

It's what inspires Ozeki to become stronger and reach for the top.

Right, good point.

He was saying how even during a meal his thoughts would drift to his kadoban status.

Yeah, that struck me too.

Relentless mental pressure!

That kadoban identity, all the time.

Right. You're an Ozeki 24-7, a rikishi 24-7.

I experienced just one kadoban in my career, and the lead-up was unbearable.

The tournament itself felt so long too.

It just felt really stretched out...

and when I secured a winning record, it was the biggest relief of my entire 17-year career.

Wow.

I called up some people close to me and gave them the good news.

It's not something an Ozeki usually does.

And their reaction was, "You're calling us about that?!"

But you were ecstatic!

They were like, "So what?" It was sobering.

Tough crowd!

Yeah.

OK, lastly, we spotlight a rikishi whose story embodies the dignity of the Ozeki rank.

He was demoted from Ozeki twice.

But twice he fought back...

Tochiazuma.

He first lost Ozeki status in 2004.

As Ozeki he'd won two tournaments.

People were seeing him as a Yokozuna contender.

Sukuinage, beltless arm throw! Shimotori wins!

But then came disaster: a major injury to his left shoulder.

He withdrew, resulting in a losing record.

Then he was absent from the next tournament - so a second losing record.

He was demoted to Sekiwake.

No exceptions for injury?!

But the rules state that a demoted Ozeki can regain his rank with 10 wins in the next tournament.

Tochiazuma was determined.

Tochiazuma is seated by the ring, eyes shut.

That tournament was really difficult.

I still wasn't at 100%, and I hadn't been able to train properly.

I had no idea what was going to happen - it was tough.

And thus the test of Tochiazuma began.

Throat thrust. Oshidashi, frontal push out!

He racked up wins while nursing his injury.

Oshidashi, frontal push out! Tochiazuma wins!

Tochiazuma diverts his charge. Rear push out!

At the end of Day 10, he had 8 wins.

But in his final bouts, he would face the top rankers.

Day 11: his opponent is Yokozuna Asashoryu.

Tochiazuma wins!

He needs one more win...

Tough loss!

Two straight losses!

I wondered if I could really make it - my confidence was faltering.

I wanted to believe in myself, but doubts were creeping in.

All I can say is... it was a demanding, stressful experience.

Two days to go.

His next opponent was Miyabiyama, who was in the title race.

Tochiazuma pushes back.

Tochiazuma applying forward pressure.

Tochiazuma gets his 10th win!

He will return to the Ozeki rank!

A triumphant comeback!

There were some rough times. I'm glad I made it through.

After 9 wins, you lost 2 in a row. How did you feel?

I almost lost hope.

But I had amazing support from the crowd.

But then... just two tournaments later...

Another serious injury.

And another demotion.

The next tournament was his new chance to reclaim the rank of Ozeki.

On Day 14, he was on 9 wins.

The first rikishi ever to regain the Ozeki rank twice!

He overcame serious injury not once but twice to return to the Ozeki rank.

In retrospect, how does he view that the experience?

I really have no words.

I can't really explain it, but I treasure those comebacks more than anything else.

Wow... this is why I love sumo.

I'd like to show that video clip to the rikishi in my stable.

The idea of posting two consecutive losing records and then having to get 10 wins in the next tournament...

it's an almost impossible task.

Really!

And he was able to do that twice.

I can't imagine what it took.

In my whole life there's never been a 15-day span where I devoted my entire body and soul,

where my lip was quivering because I had faced each moment with such intensity.

I don't think I'll ever experience that.

Maybe you did!

Maybe you too experienced something that intense.

Kuroki-san...

Yes?

No, he didn't.

That's a unique situation.

Just watching the video you can feel him putting it all on the line.

Decades-old footage, but I was desperate for him to win!

I know what you mean.

Kuroki-san, any thoughts?

I don't know if this is the perfect analogy,

but when I first became an actor, someone told me to always strive to be number two.

Because if you become number one, you become complacent.

They said always be the number two striving for number one.

That's deep.

Watching these Ozeki, they're striving for the top while also working to maintain their rank.

And in that sense, I felt some similarities.

Interesting insight.

OK, Imada-san!

This is a tough one!

It's that time again.

Understood.

Ozeki are like...

Akashiya Sanma.

Yep.

I have no idea how to react!

All comedians look up to him, but we don't want to be him.

The weight of expectation!

Ahhh.

That's so interesting.

He works so hard it's almost as if he believes he's fighting kadoban!

True!

He even keeps tabs on comedians on regional late-night TV!

That's an Ozeki!

When the Ozeki shine, sumo thrives.

Incidentally, the number of Ozeki tends to vary by tournament.

But the most common is four.

When will we see the next new Ozeki?

More insights soon, on DOSUKOI Sumo Salon!