Wakanohana gets sumo's highest rank
Posted: Wednesday May 27, 1998 09:15 PM
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Wakanohana is now the 66th yokozuna in sumo (AP) |
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's newest hero Wakanohana was officially promoted to sumo's highest rank Wednesday, joining his younger brother at the pinnacle of the ancient sport.
In a nationally televised ceremony held at his stable in Tokyo, the 27-year-old sumo wrestler accepted promotion to "yokozuna," or grand champion, offered by two envoys sent from the Japan Sumo Association.
"I will work hard with indefatigable spirit," Wakanohana, wearing formal black, said in accepting the offer.
Born into a sumo family, Wakanohana entered the sport in 1988 together with his younger brother Takanohana, who was promoted to grand champion three years ago.
"I would like to advise him to the extent that I can," Takanohana told a news conference later.
It is the first time in sumo's centuries-old history for two brothers to be grand champions, according to the association.
Wakanohana is now the 66th yokozuna in sumo, one of Japan's most popular spectator sports.
The two wrestlers are already popular among fans, who call them calling them the 'Waka-Taka' brothers.
"As a sumo fan, I hope the two will play actively as strong yokozuna," Kyodo News quoted Shigeo Nagashima, a baseball legend as a player and now manager of the Yomiuri Giants, Japan's most popular team.
Takanohana and Yokozuna Akebono also made their debuts in the sport in 1988.
The Hawaiian-born Akebono, also known as Chad Rowan, was promoted in 1993.
Yokozuna receive a monthly salary of $19,000, up about 20 percent from the amount paid to ozeki, or champions, just below the top rank, an association official said.
The 288 pound, 6-foot Wakanohana won his second straight tournament Sunday, one of the requirements for promotion to yokozuna. It was Wakanohana's fifth overall career tournament championship.
The next 15-day tournament will be held at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in the central city of Nagoya beginning July 5.
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