Ex-yokozuna Wakanohana registered with X-League Onward

Ex-yokozuna Wakanohana registered with X-League Onward

TOKYO, Japan - Former yokozuna Wakanohana, whose real name is Masaru Hanada, poses at a news conference August 1 after being named to the roster of the Onward Skylarks of the American football X-League. He will be eligible to play in league games when the season begins in September.

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue is interviewed in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, on June 18, 2020. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue is interviewed in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, on June 18, 2020. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue is interviewed in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, on June 18, 2020. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Photo taken June 18, 2020, shows Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue practicing in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Photo taken June 18, 2020, shows Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue practicing in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Photo taken June 18, 2020, shows Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue practicing in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

American Football: Toshiki Sato aims to become 1st Japanese in NFL

Photo taken June 18, 2020, shows Toshiki Sato of Japan's X-League team IBM BigBlue practicing in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo. The 26-year-old took part in a tryout in the United States this spring, aiming to become the first Japanese NFL player. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Ex-yokozuna Wakanohana registered with X-League Onward

Ex-yokozuna Wakanohana registered with X-League Onward

TOKYO, Japan - Former yokozuna Wakanohana, whose real name is Masaru Hanada, poses at a news conference August 1 after being named to the roster of the Onward Skylarks of the American football X-League. He will be eligible to play in league games when the season begins in September.