Yokozuna

Yokozuna Kakuryu lifted the Emperor’s Cup last Sunday after a final day defeat of fellow yokozuna Hakuho.

Akebono, an American-born sumo wrestler who became the first non-Japanese grand champion or “yokozuna”, died of heart failure this month, the US Forces in Japan said on Thursday.

It was easy sailing for the Mongolian-born yokozuna in a quick win over No. 4 maegashira Abi (4-4) that left Hakuho leading two wrestlers with 7-1 records.

Kotomitsuki, for all his technical brilliance, never found the answer to the Mongolian yokozuna’s sheer will to win and wildly unpredictable sumo.

Meanwhile, komusubi Daieisho’s struggles continued, falling to his fifth defeat in his first tournament in the three ranks below yokozuna.

The other Mongolian-born yokozuna, Kakuryu, dropped out of the race on Day 2. It is the first time since the New Year basho in January that the tournament will take place without both of the wrestlers at the top of the banzuke rankings.

Asanoyama and Shodai each prevented the yokozuna from clinching on Day 13 of the 15-day meet with wins over No. 4 Kotoyuki and No. 6 Enho, respectively.

Former "yokozuna" or sumo grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia (C) takes part in his last "dohyo-iri" or ring entering ritual at the start of his retirement ceremony at the Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo in 2010.

It's common knowledge that the written banzuke (ranking sheet) contains the name of every single wrestler in professional sumo, from the yokozuna at the top right on down to those at th.

Sean Connery also waltzes straight into the dressing rooms and talks to and gets his tickets directly from yokozuna Sadanoyama (with Taiho and Kashiwado watching in the background).

The 32-year-old Japanese yokozuna attempted an overarm throw against his opponent, but instead found himself at the edge of the straw as Tochiozan swung Kisenosato around and nudged him out.

The retirement of yokozuna Kisenosato seems to have had little effect on th.

Tochinoshin sealed his victory in 0.8 seconds, dodging the yokozuna’s charge and slapping him down with his right hand.

Tomokaze is the fifth wrestler in the top two divisions to pull out of the year’s final tournament, following yokozuna Kakuryu and ozeki Goeido.

While not an official title in any sense, dai (great) yokozuna is a commonly used moniker in Japan for grand champions who have won ten or more Emperor’s Cups.

Yokozuna Hakuho improved to a perfect 8-0 to maintain a one-win lead as the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament reached its midpoint on Sunday.

Yokozuna winning in 1993 was the first truly dominant performance in Rumble history.

Former yokozuna Harumafuji famously loves to paint and indeed has an exhibition of his work currently running in a Ginza gallery.

He might receive the rank of ‘sekiwake’ or ‘yokozuna’, which are the champions at the top of the Makuuchi divisions.

Koko B. Ware lost to Yokozuna.