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Former sumo wrestler Takatoriki turns to pro wrestling

TOKYO, Japan - Tadashige Kamakari (L), formerly sumo sekiwake Takatoriki, shakes hands with Satoru Sayama, the first ''Tiger Mask'' persona, in Tokyo on Feb. 5, 2014. Kamakari, who was fired by the Japan Sumo Association in 2010 over illegal betting on baseball games, will make his debut in professional wrestling on April 16 at a match organized by a group run by Sayama in Tokyo.

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Former sekiwake Takatoriki hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former sekiwake Takatoriki speaks at a news conference in Tokyo after submitting his official resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Sept. 20. ''I've been allowed to wrestle on my own terms (for all these years) but my power has been drained,'' said Takatoriki, who is currently an 11th-ranked wrestler in the second-tier juryo division.

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Akebono bounces Takatoriki out of ring in summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono bounces komusubi Takatoriki out of the ring and onto his behind at Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7 to open the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with a win over the winner of the spring tourney in March. The Hawaiian-born grand champion is seeking his first championship in three years.

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Musashimaru wins in Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Samoa-born yokozuna Musashimaru forces No. 2 maegashira Takatoriki out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 8 for his first win in the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Akebono takes sole lead

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono (R) defeats nemesis Takatoriki to boost his record to 10-1 on July 14, claiming sole position of the lead at the current Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Musashimaru unbeaten at summer sumo

Ozeki Musashimaru (L) keeps his yokozuna bandwagon rolling May 13 with an easy win over komusubi Takatoriki to preserve his unbeaten record on the fifth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Chiyotaikai falls again

Newly promoted ozeki Chiyotaikai (R) is outclassed by a lower-ranked opponent for the second straight day, losing to No. 1 maegashira Takatoriki at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 15. Chiyotaikai, the Emperor's Cup winner at the New Year tourney, did nothing but backpedal straight out of the dohyo ring.

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Former sekiwake Takatoriki hangs up mawashi

TOKYO, Japan - Former sekiwake Takatoriki speaks at a news conference in Tokyo after submitting his official resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Sept. 20. ''I've been allowed to wrestle on my own terms (for all these years) but my power has been drained,'' said Takatoriki, who is currently an 11th-ranked wrestler in the second-tier juryo division. (Kyodo)

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Akebono bounces Takatoriki out of ring in summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono bounces komusubi Takatoriki out of the ring and onto his behind at Ryogoku Kokugikan on May 7 to open the 15-day Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with a win over the winner of the spring tourney in March. The Hawaiian-born grand champion is seeking his first championship in three years.

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Takatoriki lands emotional 1st Emperor's Cup

TOKYO, Japan - Veteran No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki (R) hops to the side as his opponent, sekiwake Miyabiyama, crashes to the dirt on the final day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on March 26. Takatoriki captured his first Emperor's Cup with a 13-2 record at the 15-day tourney.

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Takatoriki greets sumo fans for victory parade

OSAKA, Japan - No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki (R) greets fans in front of Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 26 for a victory parade after his surprise triumph in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Takatoriki became the first wrestler from the first division's lowest rank to ever win the Emperor's Cup after posting a 13-2 mark in the 15-day meet. Stablemate Akinoshima (L) holds the championship flag.

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Musashimaru hands Takatoriki first loss

OSAKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (L) hands veteran No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki his first loss of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 24 by muscling the Futagoyama stable wrestler out.

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Takatoriki continues perfect streak

OSAKA, Japan - Veteran No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki (R) extends his win streak March 23 by mugging sekiwake Musoyama to boost his record to a perfect 12-0 at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Takatoriki stays undefeated

OSAKA, Japan - No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki (R), showing neat footwork in escaping from ninth-ranked Oginishiki (5-5), flings his opponent to the deck to improve to a perfect 10-0 on the 10th day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 21.

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Unbeaten Takatoriki keeps lead at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki (L) remains the only unbeaten wrestler at the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament as he picks up his ninth straight victory with a force-out win over eighth-ranked maegashira Asanowaka at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 20.

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Musashimaru wins in Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Samoa-born yokozuna Musashimaru forces No. 2 maegashira Takatoriki out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 8 for his first win in the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Akebono takes sole lead

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono (R) defeats nemesis Takatoriki to boost his record to 10-1 on July 14, claiming sole position of the lead at the current Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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Akebono takes sole lead

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono (R) defeats nemesis Takatoriki to boost his record to 10-1 on July 14, claiming sole position of the lead at the current Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

E

Musashimaru unbeaten at summer sumo

Ozeki Musashimaru (L) keeps his yokozuna bandwagon rolling May 13 with an easy win over komusubi Takatoriki to preserve his unbeaten record on the fifth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

E

Chiyotaikai falls again

Newly promoted ozeki Chiyotaikai (R) is outclassed by a lower-ranked opponent for the second straight day, losing to No. 1 maegashira Takatoriki at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 15. Chiyotaikai, the Emperor's Cup winner at the New Year tourney, did nothing but backpedal straight out of the dohyo ring. ==Kyodo