Yokozuna Kakuryu, a wrestler at sumo's highest rank and winner of six top-division titles, retired Wednesday after missing a fifth straight tournament due to injury.
The retirement of the 35-year-old Mongolia-born wrestler was approved the same day by the Japan Sumo Association.
Kakuryu, whose real name is Mangaljalav Anand, has long been dealing with elbow and lower back pain, and recently announced he would sit out the ongoing Spring Grand Sumo Tournament because of a left hamstring strain.
The surprise retirement announcement came less than two weeks after Kakuryu told his stablemaster, Michinoku, that he is not ready to retire yet. Michinoku told reporters at the time he had confirmed the wrestler's desire to keep fighting.
In November, Kakuryu, as well as fellow Mongolia-born yokozuna Hakuho, received stern warnings from the JSA over their absences from the ring. The admonition was the harshest the JSA's Yokozuna Deliberation Council can make short of recommending a wrestler retire.
The following month, Kakuryu acquired Japanese citizenship, which will allow him to remain in Japan and run his own stable of wrestlers after retirement.
He will retain his wrestler name for his "toshiyori" name as a sumo elder.
Kakuryu made his sumo debut in November 2001, and was promoted to yokozuna in the spring of 2014. He is the first sumo grand champion to retire since Kisenosato in 2019.
Kakuryu, whose real name is Mangaljalav Anand, has long been dealing with elbow and lower back pain, and recently announced he would sit out the ongoing Spring Grand Sumo Tournament because of a left hamstring strain.
The surprise retirement announcement came less than two weeks after Kakuryu told his stablemaster, Michinoku, that he is not ready to retire yet. Michinoku told reporters at the time he had confirmed the wrestler's desire to keep fighting.
His retirement is the first by a yokozuna since Kisenosato walked away in January 2019.
"He was a serious yokozuna," said JSA President Hakkaku, who remembered Kakuryu as a skinny teenager. "He traveled to a foreign land and gave it his all."
"You train your body to master skills. That's how you win when you're young and slender. It's important to train your body."
Kisenosato, who now goes by the name of elder Araiso, remarked on his former peer's intensity.
"His passion was amazing," Araiso said. "I so wanted to see him execute his tremendous 'morozashi' double under-arm belt hold again. I think it's cool to move on before you look vulnerable. That's so like Kakuryu."
In November, Kakuryu, as well as fellow Mongolia-born yokozuna Hakuho, received stern warnings from the JSA over their absences from the ring. The admonition was the harshest the JSA's Yokozuna Deliberation Council can make short of recommending a wrestler retire.
The following month, Kakuryu acquired Japanese citizenship, which will allow him to remain in Japan and run his own stable of wrestlers after retirement.
He will retain his wrestler name for his "toshiyori" name as a sumo elder.
Kakuryu made his sumo debut in November 2001, and was promoted to yokozuna in the spring of 2014. He is the first sumo grand champion to retire since Kisenosato in 2019.
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