Tosatsu: Sawatari and Okonogi Face Off at Practice — 'One More, Before It Counts'

As previously reported, master Gonzo Sawatari showed up for practice for the first time in about a week on the 12th and publicly declared he would seek a rematch at November's monthly tournament. At the practice session on the 14th, as Daichi Okonogi was preparing to head home, Sawatari called out, "Stay a bit longer," and the two squared off in an empty practice hall with no spectators planned. An association steward who was present laughed, "It was only meant to be an extension of practice, off the books — but by the time I noticed, a dozen or so members had gathered to watch."

Sawatari edged out Okonogi, 3 planks 2 squares to 3 planks 3 squares. "If I'd thrown still carrying the sting of losing the real match, I'd have tensed up even more and lost my usual rhythm. Today I could throw a bit more calmly," Sawatari reflected. Okonogi conceded freely: "Getting to watch the master's hands up close again was worth it. The way he works the squares is still different from mine."

Both men stressed the bout had no bearing on the actual rematch. "Winning today doesn't mean anything one way or the other. November is its own contest," Sawatari said, and Okonogi agreed: "I'm not thinking about today's result at all. I'll just fix what I saw today before November." The association does not plan to record tonight's bout as official.

One shopkeeper who stopped by the practice hall said, "Getting to watch the master and the challenger still throwing together at the same hall, even after a real match between them, is a treat for anyone watching. I hope November's tournament has the same feel as tonight." The association steward predicted that, given how many turned out just for practice, "November's turnout is likely to be bigger than usual."