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Friday, a Mongolian Sumo wrestler was promoted to the highest rank of sport during a ceremony.
Hoshoryu, the real name Sugarragchaa Byambasuren, became the 74th Yokozuna, or a big champion, after winning a major tournament last week.
To become a Yokozuna, the wrestler must not only obtain great sporting success, but also display good driving and be approved by a judges’ advice.
The uncle of Hoshoryu Asashoryu, a former Yokozuna who was known as the bad boy of Sumo, was forced to leave sport in 2010 after having broken the nose of a man in a drunk fight outside a nightclub.
But Hoshoryu has already indicated that he wanted to follow a different path to his uncle, whose own ceremony took place 22 years ago until the day.
“I want to act properly like a yokozuna and do my best,” he said.
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A yokozuna cannot be demoted and should retire if his level of sumo falls
About 3,500 fans arrived at Meiji Shine in Tokyo to see the 25 -year -old finish a certain number of rituals to receive his new title.
He was given a white rope belt carried by Yokozuna, which he put for his entrance ceremony of the ring.
During that, he struck his hands, stamped his feet and sat in a low squatting for several minutes while the crowd applauded.
“I practiced a lot but I was even more nervous than what I expected,” he said.
“I think I did it correctly.”
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“I practiced a lot but I was even more nervous than what I expected,” says Hoshoryu
Unlike other ranks, a Yokozuna cannot be demoted and should retire if their level of sumo decreases.
Several wrestlers can take rank at any time, but Hoshoryu will stay alone at the top after the last big champion remaining Terunofuji, 34, announced his retirement earlier this month.
His appointment avoided sport without great champion for the first time in more than 30 years.
Mongols have dominated sumo for 25 years.
Since the beginning of the century, six of the seven wrestlers promoted to Yokozuna are from the Asian country.
The only new Japan champion during this period, Kisenosato, maintained the rank of less than two years.
“Mongols are doing so well because their national style of struggle, Bokh, is very similar,” said Rob ó Néill, president of the British sumo Federation, at the BBC.
In Bokh, the fighters are counting on leg slices, which are legal in Sumo but were rare until the wave of Mongolian fighters became professional.
“It was like a kickboxer fighting a boxer,” said Mr. O’Neill.
Although Japanese fighters have improved in the defense of these movements, they are a fundamental element of Mongolian combat philosophy in a way that they are not in Japan.
Sumo is a very traditional sport that takes time to adapt.
Another reason behind the success of the Mongols is that they are starting to struggle from an early age.
“They are also absolutely huge guys,” added Mr. ó Néill.
Unlike other combat sports, professional sumo has no weight categories.
To be professional, the combatants must eat, sleep and train with each other in a type of training room called stable.
There are currently around 40 stables officially recognized by the Japan Sumo Association.
“This is all their lifestyle from the moment they join their retirement,” said Rob.
The restaurants serving Chanko, a type of stew consumed in large quantities by wrestlers, are often opened by veterans near the stables.
Everyone is authorized to form only one foreign wrestler, and as Japan is the only country with a professional sumo, the majority of combatants are local.
The winner of the world championships amateur of male sumo, who feeds competitors with nearly 90 countries, is invited to join a stable.
