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Takamisakari retires

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Takamisakari holds a press conference in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2013, the final day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career.

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Takamisakari retires

TOKYO, Japan - Takamisakari tosses salt into the ring before a bout on the final day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan hall on Jan. 27, 2013. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career the same day.

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Takamisakari retires

TOKYO, Japan - File photos taken in July 2003 show Takamisakakri before a bout at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career on Jan. 27, 2013.

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Takamisakari retires

TOKYO, Japan - Takamisakari (back) beats Wakakoyu in the juryo division with an under-shoulder swing down on the final day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan hall on Jan. 27, 2013. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career the same day.

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Takamisakari retires

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in September 2007 shows Takamisakakri celebrating after winning a bout at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan hall. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career on Jan. 27, 2013.

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Takamisakari retires

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in July 2010 shows Takamisakakri before a bout at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium. The former komusubi Takamisakari, whose pre-bout goofball antics and gutsy performances made him one of sumo's best-loved wrestlers, called time on his wrestling career on Jan. 27, 2013.

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Takamisakari gets confession of love

TOKYO, Japan - Popular sumo wrestler Takamisakari visits a nursing home for the elderly in Tokyo on June 14, 2011. One of the residents, 71-year-old Yoshiko Ishikawa, introduced herself as ''Takamisakari's girlfriend'' when she met him, and asked the wrestler if it is OK for her to ''continue having feelings'' for him. The 35-year-old wrestler, who is not married, nodded.

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Shove in the face

NAGOYA, Japan - Takamisakari gets shoved in the face by Georgian Kokkai during the 11th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 21, 2010, at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya. Takamisakari later heaved out Kokkai to pick up a seventh win in the 15-day meet.

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'Robocop' sumo wrestler comes under throat attack

TOKYO, Japan - Rank-and-filer Takamisakari (top) resists an arm attack to the throat by rank-and-filer Koryu on the 12th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Jan. 21, 2010. Takamisakari, a No. 11 maegashira dubbed ''Robocop,'' fell in the ring and dropped to 6-6.

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Asashoryu beats Takamisakari at Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu of Mongolia throws No. 4 maegashira Takamisakari on the eighth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 15.

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Hakuho, Kotomitsuki stay perfect at Nagoya meet

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna debutant Hakuho (R) beats No. 4 maegashira Takamisakari by a well-timed slap on the shoulder on the sixth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 13. Hakuho, along with promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotomitsuki, maintained his spotless record.

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Kotooshu beats Takamisakari

TOKYO, Japan - Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu (L) wins a battle with crowd favorite Takamisakari, using a counterattack to topple him after the No. 5 maegashira momentarily pushed the ozeki to the edge at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 15..

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Takamisakari visits ASDF base to support troops in Kuwait

FUKUOKA, Japan - Popular sumo wrestler Takamisakari arm wrestles an Air Self-Defense Force member at the ASDF base in Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 28. Takamisakari visited the base to speak with and encourage ASDF members dispatched to Kuwait via video phone.

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Asashoryu, Kotooshu get set for head-to-head clash in Nagoya

NAGOYA, Japan - Bulgarian komusubi Kotooshu throws down 11th ranked maegashira Takamisakari on the 14th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 23. Kotooshu shares the lead with yokozuna Asashoryu of Mongolia in the 15-day tournament with 12 wins and two losses.

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(4)Sumo tourney held at Aichi Expo

NAGAKUTE, Japan - Sumo wrestler Takamisakari joins a sumo practice session with children during an Aichi World Exposition sumo tourney in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture, on April 4.

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Takamisakari wins with rare technique at Nagoya sumo tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Sumo's clown prince Takamisakari (front), who provided spectators with a little comic relief with his barmy pre-bout antics, picked up his second win by backing out Hayateumi with a rare ''ushiromotare'' technique.

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(1)Japanese sumo wrestlers in Beijing

BEIJING, China - Japanese sumo's makuuchi wrestlers Hokutoriki (L) and Takamisakari (R) get taiqi exercise at a park in Beijing on June 6. They are in Beijing to fight in a two-day exhibition tournament.

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Asashoryu bounces back

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu (L) gets back to his rampaging ways as he demolishes Takamisakari at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 15.

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Takamisakari also improves to perfect 4-0

OSAKA, Japan - Crowd favorite Takamisakari sidesteps Kasuganishiki right after the face-off to avoid a near defeat on the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 17. Takamisakari improved to a perfect 4-0.

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Sumo wrestler Takamisakari tries merry-go-round in Seoul

SEOUL, South Korea - Sumo wrestler Takamisakari rides on a merry-go-round in Seoul on Feb. 16 after a two-day sumo exhibition tour in the S. Korean capital.

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(3)Japanese sumo wrestlers in Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - Popular sumo wrestler Takamisakari enjoys eating local dishes at a Seoul restaurant on Feb. 13. He is in Seoul with his colleagues to appear in a two-day event beginning in Seoul on Feb. 14.

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(4)Japanese sumo wrestlers in Korea

SEOUL, South Korea - Popular sumo wrestler Takamisakari beams as he finds a magazine featuring him at a secondhand bookstore in downtown Seoul on Feb. 13.

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Tochi falls at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (L) is tossed to a shock second defeat at the hands of crowd favorite Takamisakari on the ninth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 19. Tochiazuma, who needs at least 13 wins to be considered for promotion to sumo's ultimate rank, slipped to 7-2 and has all but lost hope of becoming the first Japanese wrestler in six years to be promoted to yokozuna.

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Asashoryu beats Takamisakari

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu (L) uses his speed and lower-body power to force Takamisakari out of the ring for his second straight victory on the second day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 12.

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Ozeki Tochiazuma beats komusubi Takamisakari

FUKUOKA, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma pushes komusubi Takamisakari out of the ring in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 20, day 12 of the 15-day competition.

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(2)Asashoryu bounces back, Maru falls at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu (L) pushes komusubi Takamisakari out of the ring in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 11, the third day of the 15-day competition.

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Musashimaru triumphs on 1st day at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (background) pushes komusubi Takamisakari out of the ring on the opening day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 9. The Hawaiian grand champion made his way back to the sacred dohyo after missing all or part of the last six tournaments.

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Takamisakari beaten by Kotomitsuki at autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - No. 1 maegashira Takamisakari (L) is blasted out of the ring by sixth-ranked maegashira Kotomitsuki at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 19.

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Takamisakari marks 8th win at autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Top maegashira Takamisakari (L) ushers out seventh-ranked maegashira Tamanoshima to secure his eighth win, giving him a winning record, on the 12th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 18.

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Takamisakari beats Miyabiyama

TOKYO, Japan - No. 1 maegashira Takamisakari (R) forces sekiwake Miyabiyama out of the ring in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Kokugikan on Sept. 15.

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Takamisakari wins over Toki at autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Crowd favorite and top maegashira Takamisakari (R) endures attacks from Toki before pushing the komusubi out of the ring for a 5-2 standing on the seventh day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 13.

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Takamisakari beats Tochiazuma

TOKYO, Japan - No. 1 maegashira Takamisakari (L) forces ozeki Tochiazuma out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 12, day six of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Takamisakari hands Kaio 1st loss at Autumn sumo

TOKYO, Japan - No. 1 maegashira Takamisakari forces ozeki Kaio out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 11, day five of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Asashoryu beats Takamisakari

TOKYO, Japan - Grand champion Asashoryu (L) pushes top-ranked maegashira Takamisakari out of the ring to maintain his blemish-free record on the third day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 9.

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Ozeki Chiyotaikai beaten by Takamisakari

NAGOYA, Japan - No. 3 maegashira Takamisakari (back) uses a slapping technique to bring down ozeki Chiyotaikai on July 14, the ninth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Yokozuna Asashoryu beaten by Takamisakari

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu (R) is pushed out of the ring by No. 3 maegashira Takamisakari on July 13, the eighth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya.

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Kaio overpowers Takamisakari

NAGOYA, Japan - Ozeki Kaio (R) remains in the hunt for his first title in two years by lifting out crowd favorite Takamisakari on the sixth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 11.

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Yokozuna Musashimaru pulls out of Nagoya sumo

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (file photo) on July 11 pulled out of the ongoing Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after aggravating an injury to his left wrist in a defeat to No. 3 maegashira Takamisakari on July 10.

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Musashimaru suffers 3rd loss, withdraws from tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) is pushed out of the ring by No. 3 maegashira Takamisakari on the fifth day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 10. Musashimaru, who was tagged with his third straight defeat, will withdraw from the tournament July 11, officials of Musashigawa stable said after the bout.

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Asashoryu rock solid at 6-0 at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna (grand champion) Asashoryu (L) pushes out No.1 maegashira Takamisakari in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 16 to take the sole lead in the 15-day race with a 6-0 record.

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Chiyotaikai falls to Takamisakari

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Chiyotaikai (L) gets tripped to his first loss by crowd favorite Takamisakari at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 13.

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Asashoryu still chasing Chiyo

OSAKA, Japan - Grand champion debutant Asashoryu throws second-ranked maegashira Takamisakari for a convincing fifth win at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 14. But the Mongolian yokozuna was still left chasing front-running Chiyotaikai, who hauled down Tosanoumi to grab sole possession of the lead at 6-0.

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Chiyotaikai notches 4th win

OSAKA, Japan - ''Kadoban'' ozeki Chiyotaikai (L) pushes Takamisakari to the edge of the ring on the fourth day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 12. The ozeki notched his fourth win to move a step closer to keeping his rank. Chiyotaikai shares the overnight lead with rank-and-filers Jumonji and Kotoryu.

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Kaio wins after opening-day loss in sumo tourney

OSAKA, Japan - Ozeki Kaio (L) pushes No. 2 maegashira Takamisakari out of the ring on March 10, bouncing back from his opening-day defeat in the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

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(2)Asashoryu performs ritual at Meiji Shrine

TOKYO, Japan - New yokozuna Asashoryu of Mongolia (C) performs the ''dohyo-iri'' ring-purification ritual in front of the hall of worship at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Jan. 31, with Toki acting as ''tachi-mochi'' (sword bearer) at his left and Takamisakari serving as ''tsuyu-harai'' (herald) at his right.

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Mongolian ozeki Asashoryu remains unbeaten in Kyushu tourney

FUKUOKA, Japan - Mongolian ozeki Asashoryu (L) pushes No. 4 maegashira Takamisakari out of the ring in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 17. Asashoryu remains unbeaten during the first eight days of the 15-day tournament.

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Musashimaru marks 2nd straight win

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) pushes rank-and-filer Takamisakari out of the ring to mark his second straight win in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Nov. 11.

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Asashoryu keeps flawless record

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Asashoryu sends komusubi Takamisakari reeling over the edge with a fierce throat-grab, remaining the only grappler with a flawless 6-0 record at the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 13.

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Musashimaru defeats Takamisakari

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) powers his way to push out komusubi Takamisakari in the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 12 to head a list of 10 wrestlers one off the lead.

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Takanohana returns with a win at autumn sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Takanohana (R) makes a triumphant return to the raised ring, muscling out komusubi Takamisakari on the opening day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 8.