Sumo Champion Hakuho Equals Kaio's Record 1,047 Career Wins

Nagoya, July 20 (Jiji Press)--Yokozuna sumo grand champion Hakuho on Thursday picked up the 1,047th win in his professional career in the Japanese national sport, equaling former ozeki champion Kaio's record victories. "I had a good sense of tension on the ring today," Hakuho, 32, said after the day's bout. Tying the record "is beyond words," he added. On the 12th day of the 15-day Nagoya grand tournament in the city of Nagoya, central Japan, Hakuho forced out Tamawashi, who has the third-highest rank of sekiwake in the makuuchi top division. Hakuho is leading the tournament at 11-1. Nobuyoshi Hakkaku, head of the Japan sumo association and former yokozuna Hokutoumi, said, "Hakuho was full of spirit today," adding, "He is good at managing his physical condition." Hakuho, who belongs to Miyagino Stable, earned the 1,047 wins in 97 tournaments, while Kaio, now head of Asakayama Stable, reached the number during his 139th tournament. Hakuho, who is from Mongolia, made his professional sumo debut in the March 2001 spring tournament, at jonokuchi, the sixth and lowest division, and advanced to makuuchi in the May 2004 summer tournament. He won his first Emperor's Cup championship title for the makuuchi division in the May 2006 summer tournament and was promoted to the yokozuna rank after the May 2007 summer tournament. Also on Thursday, it was learned that Hakuho, whose real name is Munkhbat Davaajargal, is considering obtaining Japanese citizenship. A foreign wrestler needs to acquire Japanese citizenship if he wants to remain at the sumo association as stablemaster after retirement and instruct young wrestlers. Hakuho's wife is Japanese. Among other foreign wrestlers, stablemaster Musashigawa, former yokozuna Musashimaru, who is from Hawaii, and stablemaster Tomozuna, former sekiwake Kyokutenho, who is from Mongolia, have acquired Japanese citizenship. END