Sumo crowns new Grand Champion

2 Sumo crowns new Grand Champion www.japanator.com

posted by

banzaitokyo | 8 years, 3 months ago

The 30-year-old rikishi, who is 6'2' and 386 pounds of Tokyo beef has had a long road to achieve this highest of ranks. A perennial runner-up in the world of push and pull, he has been up for promotion to grand champion four times in his career but always came up short. However, with this win and that he consistently provided good wrestling and has finished a tournament with a losing record only once since 2010, he was awarded the title even without winning a consecutive tournament (The usual requirement for Yokozuna). In the January tournament, he finished 14-1 and secured the win to be named the 72nd Yokozuna of sumo in a ceremony on Wednesday.

0 | #12649 by BarbaraEbara | 8 years, 3 months ago

My friend in Tokyo is obsessed with Sumo wrestling. I have only recently started taking an interest. She always tells me how amazing these men are for what they do. I am glad I gave it the time of day because now I can understand why it is such an honor to be crowned the new Grand Champion. Congrats to the winner!
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0 | #12653 by Yubi | 8 years, 3 months ago

Happy to see him become a Yokosuna, he has been on the top fine consistently even before he started winning. This is a great time for Sumo. Right now there are four grand champion playing, and every tournament is highly competitive. IO hope this helps to keep the tradition going. I just visited the Sumo museum in Ryogoku. I could see school kids coming, not just the elderly.
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0 | #12654 by Sergey | 8 years, 3 months ago

I wouldn't worry about the tradition. I think the fact that it was not easy for a Japanese athlete to become a Yokozuna means that the international competition is strong, the popularity of sumo goes well beyond Japanese borders. It is a little bit easier to follow sumo tournaments now when NHK World broadcasts 30 minute long "Sumo highlights" shows during championships. (It is quite recent, just a few months ago there was no way to follow championships)
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0 | #12672 by shivam | 8 years, 2 months ago

i have been fascinated by sumo wrestling since my childhood and i usually watch matches and i love watching it. many many congrats to the winner of the match.
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0 | #12687 by RamenRyan | 8 years, 2 months ago

This is such a huge honor for him. I know many families have praised my friend's son for his size and I never understood why until I seen what a HUGE deal it is to have a large athletic body in Sumo arts. Major congrats to him, his family must be so proud of him!
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