Takahanada becomes youngest wrestler to win sumo tournament
January 26, 1992
Takahanada accepts the Emperor's Cup from Japan Sumo Association Chairman Futagoyama for winning the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, becoming the youngest wrestler to do so, at 19 years and five months. Takahanada is later promoted to yokozuna after changing his name to Takanohana and helps create a surge in popularity in Japan's traditional sport.
Takahanada, right, and his older brother, Wakahanada, appear for their debut at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 17, 1988. The brothers were sumo thoroughbreds as their father, who fought as Takanohana, rose to the second-highest rank of ozeki, while an uncle was the yokozuna Wakanohana I, who later became JSA Chairman Futagoyama.
JSA Chairman Futagoyama presents the Emperor's Cup to Takahanada for winning the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in 1992. Takahanada set a number of records as the youngest wrestler to reach the second-highest juryo division as well as the highest makuuchi division.
Takanohana accepts promotion to ozeki in January 1993 between his father, the stablemaster Fujishima, and his mother, Noriko. Takanohana took on his father's ring name to mark the promotion, in which he set another record as the youngest to become ozeki.
Takanohana performs the dohyo-iri, or ring-entering ceremony, after being promoted to yokozuna in November 1994. His older brother, who took on the ring name of Wakanohana, also was eventually promoted to yokozuna in 1998, becoming the first brothers to reach sumo's highest rank at the same time.
Takanohana loses to fellow yokozuna Akebono in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in 1997. Akebono became the first foreign yokozuna in 1993 and contributed to the popularity of sumo along with Takanohana and Wakanohana, who all entered the sumo world at the same time and continued to serve as rivals throughout their careers.
Empty seats are prevalent at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament of 2003 after Takanohana announced his retirement from sumo. While sumo enjoyed a long period of sold-out crowds during the height of Takanohana's popularity, it was later plagued by various scandals, including bout-fixing, drug use and gambling.
