The 1944 spring main tourney of the Dai Nippon Sumo Association, the fifth since the outbreak of the current war, will be opened on January 9 at the Kokugikan, Ryogoku, Tokyo Metropolis, for 15 days, manifesting the latent strength of the nation.
    The time-honored ring festival was observed on January 8 from 11 a.m. at the Kokugikan, in which the "sandangamae" performances were solemnly held between Futabayama and Terukuni, both "yokozuna" and captains of the West and East teams, respectively, and between Haguroyama, "yokozuna", and Maedayama, "ozeki".
    Akinoumi, "yokozuna" of the East team, will be absent from the coming main tourney since he sprained his right ankle while training vigorously on January 5.