Photo/Illutration Yokozuna Hakuho receives the Emperor’s Cup from Hakkaku, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, during the awards ceremony at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 18. (Kotaro Ebara)

NAGOYA--The day after he won his record 45th Emperor's Cup, yokozuna Hakuho could finally breathe a sigh of relief as he reflected on how life begins again at 36.

He described his achievement as “unforgettable” as he entered the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament under a cloud that he might be forced to retire if he put up a poor record or dropped out again.

“I feel splendid today, free from the tension and the intensity of yesterday,” Hakuho said at an online news conference on July 19. “Winning the championship this time around was unforgettable as my sumo career was on the line during the tourney.”

Hakuho won the championship by beating fellow Mongolian ozeki Terunofuji, who remained undefeated until their showdown on the 15th and final day of the meet at Dolphins Arena.

Hakuho displayed the same urgency and resolve in every bout in the tournament, the first he completed after withdrawing from six tournaments in a row.

He allowed his emotions to be on full display when he threw Terunofuji, 29, to the dirt in a fierce and hard-hitting battle to clinch the championship.

Hakuho shook his fist in triumph and let out a roar, not customary behavior for a dignified yokozuna, but understandable in his moment of glory.

“I think 70 percent of Japanese believed that Terunofuji would beat me as he has more power than I do,” he said. “In addition, I was unsure how it would play out as it was my first bout against him in several years, and we have not practiced together for many years.”

Hakuho said finishing with a perfect 15-0 record during a tourney that he went into facing calls for his retirement was a feat he still cannot believe.

“I was cornered into a critical point in my sumo career,” he said. “The prospect for retirement was looming large, right before me, so I fired myself up more than before. After winning eight bouts, I could put the fear of being forced into retirement behind me and start eying the championship for the first time after winning 12 bouts.”

In November, the Japan Sumo Association’s yokozuna advisory body issued a stern warning against Hakuho after he had withdrawn from many meets due to injuries despite boasting a record 44th career championships, far more than any other wrestler in history.

Hakuho returned to the tournament after having surgery on his right knee in March and a rehabilitation period. Still, he was not in perfect shape and had some concerns before the Nagoya basho began.

But Hakuho said he regained confidence when he beat komusubi Meisei on Day 1 despite not being fully recovered from his injury.

Terunofuji has nothing to hang his head about, losing on the final day to the greatest sumo wrestler of all time.

With a 14-1 record at the latest tournament and championships in the preceding two tourneys, he is assured of promotion to yokozuna, joining Hakuho in sumo's highest rank as the only other grand champion.

“I will share the responsibility of yokozuna with him,” Hakuho said of Terunofuji. “That is expected to ease my burden somewhat.”



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