Yokozuna Kakuryu, a six-time Emperor's Cup winner whose career is on the line after withdrawing from four straight tournaments, said Wednesday he will compete in the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
"It's time I competed," the 35-year-old Kakuryu, who has long been dealing with elbow and lower back pain, told reporters over the phone. "Whether I can focus on my sumo -- it all comes down to that."
The Mongolian-born grand champion has missed all of the last three tournaments and all but the first day of last July's meet. He and fellow grand champion Hakuho sit atop the rankings for the March 14-28 grand tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Over a two-day period in late February when stables held joint training, Kakuryu sparred with Mitakeumi 30 times and won every time, but the komusubi was not in top form either and one wrestler who looked on said it proved nothing.
"You couldn't really tell from those bouts what they are really capable of now," the wrestler said.
If Kakuryu is rusty when he returns, he could get a quick reality check against komusubi Daieisho, January's champion, on the tournament's opening day.
"I won't know until I actually get started, but dwelling on my time off won't do any good," Kakuryu said.
Both Kakuryu and Hakuho were admonished after the November tourney for their absences by the JSA Yokozuna Deliberation Council. The warning the two received is the sternest admonition the advisory board can issue short of a recommendation that a wrestler retire.
Hakuho, who tested positive for the coronavirus in January, has not competed since the 12th day of the July tourney last year. He had endoscopic surgery on his right knee the following month.
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Sumo: Kakuryu to miss January meet after being warned over absences
