The Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, which gets underway on Sunday, is shaping up to be a make-or-break one for several wrestlers.
Takayasu and Kisenosato have seen their respective hopes for a yokozuna run and triumphant comeback dampened by injuries both old and new.
Ozeki Takayasu, coming off back-to-back 12-3 runner-up performances, had many people expecting he would take the final step this time out and win his first Emperor's Cup.