Rankings announced for New Year tournament

Rankings announced for New Year tournament

MATSUDO, Japan - Sumo wrestler Kotoyuki (L) holds a new rankings list for the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with his stablemaster Sadogatake at their stable in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, on Dec. 24, 2012. Kotoyuki, ranked as a No. 15 maegashira, is just one new face in the elite makuuchi division in the Jan. 13-27 tournament in Tokyo.

Yokozuna hopeful Kisenosato labors to 7th win in Nagoya

Yokozuna hopeful Kisenosato labors to 7th win in Nagoya

Ozeki Kisenosato slaps down komusubi Kotoyuki on the eighth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 17, 2016, improving to 7-1. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo: Hakuho returns to winning ways in Nagoya

Sumo: Hakuho returns to winning ways in Nagoya

Mongolian grand champion Hakuho (R) sends komusubi Kotoyuki flying to the sandy surface on the sixth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 15, 2016. Hakuho rebounded from a shock first defeat to get his bid for a record-extending 38th career championship back on track. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

No change at the top as Hakuho and Kisenosato remain unbeaten

No change at the top as Hakuho and Kisenosato remain unbeaten

Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Hakuho (R) pushes sekiwake Kotoyuki out of the ring on the eighth day of the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 15, 2016, to remain unbeaten. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Yokozuna Harumafuji succumbed to Kotoyuki

Yokozuna Harumafuji succumbed to Kotoyuki

Yokozuna Harumafuji looks disappointed as he was beaten by top-ranked maegashira Kotoyuki on March 15, 2016, the third day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hakuho marks 671st win as yokozuna

Hakuho marks 671st win as yokozuna

Yokozuna Hakuho marks his 671st win after promotion to the highest rank in sumo, first place on the all-time list, on March 14, 2016, the second day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, by beating No. 1 maegashira Kotoyuki. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hakuho marks 671st win as yokozuna

Hakuho marks 671st win as yokozuna

Yokozuna Hakuho marks his 671st win after promotion to the highest rank in sumo, first place on the all-time list, on March 14, 2016, the second day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, by beating No. 1 maegashira Kotoyuki. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Scenes of Sumo

Scenes of Sumo

Sumo wrestlers (from L) Kotoyuki, Okinoumi, Kotoshogiku, Goeido, Harumafuji, Terunofuji, Chiyoshoma and Ishiura enter the venue of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, central Japan, in colorful kimonos with animal motifs on July 10, 2017, the second day of the 15-day tourney. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Scenes of sumo

Scenes of sumo

Kotoyuki glares ahead of his bout against Sadanoumi at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 13, 2017, the fifth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, central Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo: Former komusubi Tokitenku dies at 37

Sumo: Former komusubi Tokitenku dies at 37

Photo taken in July 2015 shows Tokitenku (L) barely defeating Kotoyuki during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. Tokitenku died of malignant lymphoma at a Tokyo hospital on Jan. 31, 2017, at the age of 37, just months after retiring as a sumo wrestler. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Sumo: Okinoumi taking center stage at autumn tourney

Sumo: Okinoumi taking center stage at autumn tourney

Top-ranked maegashira Okinoumi (L) and ozeki Terunofuji try not to step out of the ring on the fourth day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sept. 14, 2016. Okinoumi won the match, improving to 4-0 and sharing the lead with Goeido and Kotoyuki. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo