Wooden model for Taiho's statue

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

AKITA, Japan - Photo shows sculptor Toshio Kamada unveiling a wooden model he has carved for a statue of the late sumo great Taiho (1940-2013), whose real name was Koki Naya, in the village of Ogata in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2014. After being cast by Kamada, the bronze statue of Taiho, who held sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, is expected to be donated around August 2014 to Poronaysk on the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin, Taiho's birthplace.

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

AKITA, Japan - Photo shows sculptor Toshio Kamada unveiling a wooden model he has carved for a statue of the late sumo great Taiho (1940-2013), whose real name was Koki Naya, in the village of Ogata in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2014. After being cast by Kamada, the bronze statue of Taiho, who held sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, is expected to be donated around August 2014 to Poronaysk on the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin, Taiho's birthplace.

Hakuho presents blood-donation car to Red Cross

Hakuho presents blood-donation car to Red Cross

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Hakuho (C) presents a blood-donation vehicle to the Japanese Red Cross Society in Tokyo on Feb. 21, 2014, taking over the role played by the late sumo great Taiho, whose real name was Koki Naya, for about 40 years from 1969. Naya's wife Yoshiko (L) also attends the presentation ceremony.

1st anniv. memorial for sumo legend Taiho's death

1st anniv. memorial for sumo legend Taiho's death

TOKYO, Japan - A memorial service to mark the first anniversary of the death of legendary sumo grand champion Taiho, whose real name was Koki Naya, is held at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan 19, 2014.

Sumo legend Taiho receives national award

Sumo legend Taiho receives national award

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) hands a commemorative gift to Yoshiko Naya, the widow of the late yokozuna Taiho, during a ceremony in Tokyo on Feb. 25, 2013, to award the legendary sumo champion a posthumous national award in recognition of his historic sumo victory record. Yokozuna Hakuho (L) holds the portrait of Taiho, whose real name was Koki Naya and who died in January 2013 of heart disease at 72.