Former sekiwake Okinoumi announced his retirement from competition Saturday after pulling out of the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 37-year-old withdrew Friday from the 15-day meet at Ryogoku Kokugikan, where he was competing as a No. 12 maegashira, after opening with five straight losses.
He will remain attached to the Hakkaku sumo stable as an instructor, taking on the elder name Kimigahama.
"For several years, I relied on mental strength to overcome my inability to wrestle my own style of sumo, but it recently became too exhausting," he said. "I received a lot of support and met a lot of people (through sumo). I really have no regrets."
A native of Shimane Prefecture, Okinoumi began competing out of high school in 2005 and debuted in the elite makuuchi division in March 2010.
Known for his 190-centimeter height and good looks, he became particularly popular among sumo's young women fans.
He was promoted to sekiwake in March 2015, becoming the first wrestler from his western Japan prefecture to attain sumo's third-highest rank in 121 years.
He contested 75 tournaments in the top division, including eight as a member of the distinguished "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
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A native of Shimane Prefecture, Okinoumi began competing out of high school in 2005 and debuted in the elite makuuchi division in March 2010.
Known for his 190-centimeter height and good looks, he became particularly popular among sumo's young women fans.
He was promoted to sekiwake in March 2015, becoming the first wrestler from his western Japan prefecture to attain sumo's third-highest rank in 121 years.
He contested 75 tournaments in the top division, including eight as a member of the distinguished "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
