The Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi Nichi, Thursday 9th May 1940 (Page 3)

Summer Sumo Test Opens In Tokyo Today

Preliminary Matches Held On May 8, Breaking Past Custom

    The 1940 summer main tourney of the Nippon Professional Sumo Association will open on May 9 at the Kokugikan, Tokyo, to continue for 15 days.
    Breaking the custom, the preliminary matches were staged on May 8, the eve of the opening day, beginning 3 p.m., because of the unusually large number of contestants.
    The matches for the wrestlers whose names are listed in the standings will start on May 9 about 2 a.m.
    As usual, the admission fee on the opening day will be a uniform rate of 50 sen and the total proceeds will go into the fund of the Dai Nippon Churei Kenshokai, the Association for Exalting the Merits of the War Dead.
    On the first day, Futabayama is matched with Shinkai, while Minanogawa is pitted against Aobayama.

The other leading bouts were:
Banjaku vs Kashimanada
Tsurugamine vs Kasagiyama
Oshio vs Taikyuzan
Kaneminato vs Ayanobori
Tamanobori vs Yamatonishiki
Onami vs Itsutsushima
Terukuni vs Hishuzan
Asahigawa vs Akinoumi
Nayoroiwa vs Sakuranishiki
Katsuragawa vs Maedayama
Haguroyama vs Fujinosato