The Mainichi, Sunday 22nd September 1946 (Page 2)

Prep Sumo Meet

Kansai Teams Challenge E. Japan's Superiority

     Drawing the unusual attention of sumo fans throughout the country, the 24th national intercollegiate sumo meet - first major prep tournament since the end of the war - will be opened today (September 22) at the Nakamozu sumo ring on the Koya line of the Kinki Nippon interurban system. The annual affair will last for two days.
    A total of 156 grapplers representing 26 teams from all parts of the country will vie for the honors of their respective schools during the two day series.
    The "hegemony", which has long been maintained by the mighty squads from the Kanto district is threatened this year by the fighting Kwansei Gakuin team in the Kansai region.
    Reported as strong as ever, the Waseda aggregation is regarded as one of the most promising candidates for the team crown. The defending champion - Koryo University - formerly Takushoku University - is unquestionably a formidable contender for the title.
    Among the other leading teams are the Nihon, Meiji, Ritsumeikan, Doshisha and Kansai Universities, the Osaka college, the Doshisha economic college and the Kochi young men's normal school.
    In all, 11 universities and colleges are entered from the Kanto district. Against them, the homeguards from the Kansai area number 15, being headed by the Kwansei Gakuin team.
    Prior to matches, an opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. On the first day, matches will be contested in the first, second, and fourth rounds of the inter-team competition.
    On the second and last day, september 23, the eight best teams chosen through the five round preliminaries will vie for the team honors.
    Divided into four groups, the grapplers of the 26 contesting teams will battle for the individual championship in the national event.