Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

TOKYO, Japan - Takasago (R), stable master of Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu, and Isenoumi, an executive of the Japan Sumo Association, apologize during a conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Aug. 28. An emergency meeting of JSA executives approved Ashashoryu's return to his homeland for treatment of a mental disorder.

Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

TOKYO, Japan - Kitanoumi, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, heads for an emergency meeting of JSA executives at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Aug. 28. The meeting approved Ashashoryu's return to his homeland for treatment of a mental disorder.

Ashashoryu beats Kokkai on 1st day at Autumn sumo

Ashashoryu beats Kokkai on 1st day at Autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu of Mongolia (L) forces komuzubi Kokkai of Georgia out of the ring on the first day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 10.

Asashoryu meets with Taiwan's President Chen

Asashoryu meets with Taiwan's President Chen

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Ashashoryu of Mongolia (L) and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian shake hands in Taipei on Aug. 18 as a group of sumo officials and wrestlers pay a courtesy call on Chen.

Ashashoryu beats Kotomitsuki in Nagoya sumo

Ashashoryu beats Kotomitsuki in Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu of Mongolia (L) pushes sekiwake Kotomitsuki out of the ring in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 22, the 13th day of the 15-day tournament.

Yokozuna Ashashoryu beats No. 3 maegashira Tamanoshima

Yokozuna Ashashoryu beats No. 3 maegashira Tamanoshima

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu pushes third-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima out of the ring on the fourth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 12.

Ashashoryu beats Kotomitsuki in Nagoya sumo

Ashashoryu beats Kotomitsuki in Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu of Mongolia (L) pushes sekiwake Kotomitsuki out of the ring in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 22, the 13th day of the 15-day tournament. (Kyodo)

Asashoryu meets with Taiwan's President Chen

Asashoryu meets with Taiwan's President Chen

TAIPEI, Taiwan - Sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Ashashoryu of Mongolia (L) and Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian shake hands in Taipei on Aug. 18 as a group of sumo officials and wrestlers pay a courtesy call on Chen. (Kyodo)

Ashashoryu beats Kokkai on 1st day at Autumn sumo

Ashashoryu beats Kokkai on 1st day at Autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu of Mongolia (L) forces komuzubi Kokkai of Georgia out of the ring on the first day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 10. (Kyodo)

Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

Yokozuna Asashoryu to return to Mongolia for treatment

TOKYO, Japan - Takasago (R), stable master of Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu, and Isenoumi, an executive of the Japan Sumo Association, apologize during a conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Aug. 28. An emergency meeting of JSA executives approved Ashashoryu's return to his homeland for treatment of a mental disorder. (Kyodo)