This week, I decided to create more gifs of Wakaichirō’s prior matches. I find it interesting to review his early performances, but I also find it oddly relaxing to make these gifs. There is a little bit of zen to be found in going back through these old basho.

In this post, I provide gifs of Wakaichirō’s performance in the Haru Basho 2017. This was Wakaichirō’s second basho after his mae-zumo matches. He was very green, but he proved that he was also a quick learner. It is very neat to see how strong he looks in these early matches, especially considering that he often looks just as strong against higher competition in the present!

If you would like to see anything else involving Wakaichirō, please contact me at NorthAmericanSumo@Gmail.com.

Author Note: I apologize for this post being two days late – I had to work this weekend.

Wakaichirō Ken Match 1 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Tatsunofuji Masaru (22 East ; 2-5) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-Jpg6zBebY

Wakaichirō Ken Match 2 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Karutaki Kazuki (17 East ; 6-1) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtaIH95hJkE

Wakaichirō Ken Match 3 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Noborifuji Daiki (23 East ; 2-5) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZkJKkwb3yY

Wakaichirō Ken Match 4 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Wakayama Satoshi (16 West ; 6-1) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He-_q3xfuFY

Wakaichirō Ken Match 5 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Ryuki Takamori (15 East ; 4-2-1) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwvzAGF1RF8

Wakaichirō Ken Match 6 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Kenshin Shohei (13 West ; 5-2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPMhuAT0h4U

Wakaichirō Ken Match 7 Gif – Haru Basho 2017

Shimakaze Hisa (18 East ; 4-3) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkUBQyy7Yno

I find it interesting that Wakaichirō’s approach in these matches does not visually appear to be too different from his current approach. He was a thruster-pusher back then, and he is a thruster-pusher today. He also seems to have always had the same marching approach by taking small steps towards his opponent, rather than staying flatfooted like most rikishi. I am curious about whether Wakaichirō uses this approach as a crutch. That is, whether he has other techniques in his back pocket, but he relies on this approach due to its relative success.

Wakaichirō’s record in this basho was 5-2. This would promote him to the middle of jonidan, where he would go 4-3 in the following three basho. Not a bad start to the young rikishi’s career!