THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
December 10, 2020 at 15:07 JST
Yokozuna Kakuryu has acquired Japanese citizenship, which could open the door to becoming a stablemaster after he retires from the dohyo.
An application for Japanese citizenship from Kakuryu, 35, who was born in Mongolia as Mangaljalav Anand, has been granted, according to an official government gazette published on Dec. 10.
It marks a big step for Kakuryu to be eligible to remain in the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) and become a stablemaster after retirement, which could be on the horizon after an injury-plagued year.
Kakuryu came to Japan in 2001. He has won six Emperor Cups, with the most recent coming at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July 2019.
But he has been prone to injury in recent years and missed four of the five tourneys held this year.
In November, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council issued a "caution" resolution against Kakuryu and fellow yokozuna Hakuho, who is also from Mongolia and has acquired Japanese citizenship, for their frequent absences from the dohyo.
Both are being strongly pressured to return to action in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
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Kakuryu in February 2020 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
