Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (back), who recently had surgery on his left knee, never got anything rolling against Russian komusubi Roho (front), who got both hands around the ozeki's mawashi and powered him out of the ring for the fourth ozeki upset at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 8.

Asashoryu off to winning start at New Year sumo

Asashoryu off to winning start at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu (R) begins his bid for a 20th Emperor's Cup with a classy win over Russian komusubi Roho on the opening day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Jan. 7.

Asashoryu off to winning start at Kyushu sumo

Asashoryu off to winning start at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion (yokozuna) Asashoryu (R) throws down komusubi Roho of Russia on the first day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Nov. 12.

Bulgarian Kotooshu beats Russian Roho in spring sumo

Bulgarian Kotooshu beats Russian Roho in spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Ozeki (champion) Kotooshu of Bulgaria pushes komusubi Roho of Russia out of the ring in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium in Osaka on March 17, day six of the 15-day competition.

Hakuho beats Roho for 3-0 mark at spring sumo

Hakuho beats Roho for 3-0 mark at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho (L) disposed of Russian komusubi Roho with an upper-belt throw to move to 3-0 at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 14.

Promotion-chasing Tochiazuma off to winning start

Promotion-chasing Tochiazuma off to winning start

OSAKA, Japan - Tochiazuma (R) makes a winning start in his latest bid for promotion to grand champion by defeating Russian komusubi Roho on the opening day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium on March 12.

Promotion-chasing Tochiazuma off to winning start

Promotion-chasing Tochiazuma off to winning start

OSAKA, Japan - Tochiazuma (R) makes a winning start in his latest bid for promotion to grand champion by defeating Russian komusubi Roho on the opening day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium on March 12. (Kyodo)

Hakuho beats Roho for 3-0 mark at spring sumo

Hakuho beats Roho for 3-0 mark at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho (L) disposed of Russian komusubi Roho with an upper-belt throw to move to 3-0 at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 14. (Kyodo)

Bulgarian Kotooshu beats Russian Roho in spring sumo

Bulgarian Kotooshu beats Russian Roho in spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Ozeki (champion) Kotooshu of Bulgaria pushes komusubi Roho of Russia out of the ring in the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament at Osaka Municipal Gymnasium in Osaka on March 17, day six of the 15-day competition. (Kyodo)

Asashoryu off to winning start at Kyushu sumo

Asashoryu off to winning start at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Mongolian grand champion (yokozuna) Asashoryu (R) throws down komusubi Roho of Russia on the first day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka on Nov. 12. (Kyodo)

Asashoryu off to winning start at New Year sumo

Asashoryu off to winning start at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu (R) begins his bid for a 20th Emperor's Cup with a classy win over Russian komusubi Roho on the opening day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Jan. 7. (Kyodo)

Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

Tochiazuma suffers 2nd defeat at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (back), who recently had surgery on his left knee, never got anything rolling against Russian komusubi Roho (front), who got both hands around the ozeki's mawashi and powered him out of the ring for the fourth ozeki upset at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 8. (Kyodo)