Mongolian sumo wrestler appointed grand champion

Last Friday, a Mongolian sumo wrestler was promoted to the highest rank in the sport during a ceremony. The wrestler, named Sugarragchaa Bayambasuren, with the ring name "Hōshōryū," became the 74th yokozuna, or grand champion, after winning a major tournament the previous week.

To become a yokozuna, a wrestler must not only achieve great success in competition but also demonstrate good conduct and receive approval from a judging committee. Hōshōryū's uncle, former yokozuna Asashōryū, who was once considered the "bad boy" of sumo, was forced to retire in 2010 after breaking a man's nose in a drunken brawl outside a nightclub.

However, Hōshōryū has indicated he wants to take a different path than his uncle, who had his promotion ceremony on the same day 22 years ago. "I want to behave properly as a yokozuna and do my best," he said. About 3,500 fans came to Meiji Shrine in Tokyo to witness the 25-year-old complete a series of rituals to accept his new title.

He was presented with the white belt worn by yokozuna and wore it during his entry ceremony. During the ceremony, he clapped, stomped, and squatted low for several minutes, drawing applause from the audience. "I practiced a lot, but it was still more nerve-wracking than I expected," he said, "but I think I did it properly."

Unlike other ranks, yokozuna cannot be demoted and are expected to retire if their sumo level declines. There can be multiple wrestlers holding the yokozuna title simultaneously, but Hōshōryū will stand alone at the top, as the last yokozuna, Terunofuji, announced his retirement earlier this month. His promotion avoids the sport being without a yokozuna for the first time in more than 30 years.

Mongolian wrestlers have dominated sumo over the past 25 years. Six of the seven wrestlers promoted to yokozuna since the beginning of this century have come from the Asian country. During this period, Japan's only yokozuna, Kisenosato, held the title for less than two years. Rob O’Neill, chairman of the British Sumo Federation, told the BBC: "The reason the Mongolians are so good is because their national style of wrestling, Bokh, is very similar."

In Bokh, wrestlers rely on leg sweeps, which are legal in sumo but were not common before the influx of Mongolian wrestlers into professional sumo. "It's like a kickboxer versus a boxer," Mr. O’Neill said. Although Japanese wrestlers have improved in defending against these moves, they are a fundamental part of the Mongolian fighting philosophy, while they are not in Japan. Sumo is a highly traditional sport, and it takes time to adapt.

Another reason for the Mongolians' success is that they start wrestling from a young age. "They are all very strong as well," Mr. O'Neill added. Unlike other combat sports, professional sumo does not have weight classes. To become a professional wrestler, wrestlers must eat, sleep, and train together in a training stable called a "heya." Currently, there are about 40 officially recognized heya by the Japan Sumo Association.

"From when they join to when they retire, it’s their whole way of life," Rob said. Restaurants that serve "chanko nabe," a stew that sumo wrestlers eat in large quantities, are often opened near heya by former wrestlers. Each heya is only allowed to train one foreign wrestler, and as Japan is the only country with professional sumo, most wrestlers are homegrown. Winners of the Men's Amateur Sumo World Championships, which features competitors from nearly 90 countries, are invited to join heya.