Sayonara Asashoryu

One of my favorite sumo stars has called it quits, 29-year-old Asashoryu. Born Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, the Mongolian sumo wrestler stormed onto the scene racking up 25 top-division tournament wins over his career. Asashoryu has often been criticized for not living up to the standards of a sumo grand champion in a sport associated closely with Japanese traditional culture.It should be noted that Asashoryu's former-rival, Yokozuna Takanohana, has been elected to the Japan Sumo Association and is looked to reform the troubled sport. Recent problems with assault, drugs and even the death of a teenage sumo wrestler in the sumo world have casted a negative light.According to Mainichi:

"When Takanohana was a wrestler, sumo enjoyed unprecedented popularity. Seats at sumo tournament venues were sold out for 666 consecutive days. However, nowadays even seats at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, the home of sumo, are seldom booked up during tournaments, and the seat-occupancy rate for tournaments held in other areas remains low.As the birthrate keeps declining, the number of apprentices at sumo stables has been decreasing, and many top-ranking wrestlers are foreigners. Sumo's traditions have been shaken. It is an urgent task to reform a sumo association plagued by numerous problems."

It should be noted that Takanohana won the confidence and vote of one stablemaster, Ajigawa. This resulted in Ajigawa announcing that he would resign from his position due to causing one of his own senior faction member a seat on the Japan Sumo Association.By the way, there are only two sumo wrestlers with more titles than Asashoryu, Taiho with 32 and Chiyonofuji with 31. I am going to miss seeing Asashoryu in the ring! He was the guy people loved to hate. Sayonara and good luck!

photo credit: petra.langeder1

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