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Tochiazuma downs Hakuho at spring meet

OSAKA, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (front) pushes promotion-chasing Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho (in back) out of the ring on March 23, the 12th day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, for Hakuho's first loss.

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Tochiazuma marks flawless 8th win at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (L) sent Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho flying out of the ring to mark a perfect 8-0 mark at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Jan. 15.

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Sekiwake Tochiazuma beats No.1 maegashira Tochinonada

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochinonaza pushes first-ranked maegashira Tochinonada out of the ring on the 14th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 22.

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Asashoryu zeros in on New Year title

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Asashoryu (R) moves within one win of claiming the Emperor's Cup for the 10th time by beating nemesis Tochiazuma for his 12th win at the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 20. Asashoryu was in total control in the day's finale at Ryogoku Kokugikan as he shrugged off a head butt to the chest and locked onto the sekiwake's left arm before easily forcing him out of the ring.

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Tochiazuma suffers 3rd loss at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (back) is blasted out by top-ranked maegashira Iwakiyama for his third loss on the 10th day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 18 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tochiazuma needs 10 wins to return to his ozeki rank.

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Tochiazuma beats Kyokutenho at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma swatted down Kyokutenho to stay 7-2 at the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tornament on Jan. 17 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Komusubi Hakuho beats sekiwake Tochiazuma

TOKYO, Japan - Komusubi Hakuho of Mongolia sends sekiwake Tochiazuma to the dirt at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on the eighth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 16.

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Tochiazuma beats Tamanoshima at Nagoya sumo tourney

NAGOYA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (L) beat komusubi returnee Tamanoshima for a fourth win on the fourth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 7, moving a step closer to the 10 wins he needs to regain the ozeki rank he lost after missing the summer meet because of injury.

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Tochiazuma beaten by Kotomitsuki at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - New Year champion ozeki Tochiazuma (L) is pushed out of the ring by sekiwake Kotomitsuki for his third loss on the 10th day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 19.

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Sekiwake Asashoryu beats ozeki Tochiazuma

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian Sekiwake Asashoryu (L) crushes out ozeki Tochiazuma at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 14, day five of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Tochiazuma's chances of a move up to yokozuna, sumo's highest rank, now look slim after he suffered two losses.

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Tochiazuma saddled with 1st loss by Koto, Chiyo shares lead

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Kotomitsuki (L) pushes down ozeki Tochiazuma on the 12th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 24. Tochiazuma, however, along with ozeki Chiyotaikai, still leads the 15-day tourney with one loss.

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Tochiazuma takes sole lead in New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (L) pushes former ozeki Dejima out of the ring Jan. 22 to become the sole undefeated wrestler in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo after sekiwake Kotomitsuki and ozeki Chiyotaikai both fell to their first losses.

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Kotomitsuki defeats Kaio

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Kotomitsuki (L) pushes ozeki Kaio out of the ring to remain tied for the lead with ozeki duo Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 21 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Kotomitsuki perfect at 8-0

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Kotomitsuki (R) pulls out a hard-fought win over Chiyotenzan to remain unbeaten along with ozeki Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai on the eighth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 20.

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Chiyotaikai stays among leaders at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Chiyotaikai (L) forces out Mongolian komusubi Kyokutenho (1-6) in a one-sided affair to move to 7-0 heading into the second week of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 19. Chiyotaikai co-led with fellow ozeki Tochiazuma and sekiwake Kotomitsuki in the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Tochiazuma overcomes battle to tie for lead at New Year tourney

TOKYO, Japan - Newly-promoted ozeki Tochiazuma throws Mongolian sekiwake Asashoryu out of the ring and remains undefeated on the fourth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 16.

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Tochiazuma promoted to ozeki

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (C) accepts his promotion by the Japan Sumo Association to the rank of ozeki in Sue, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2001. The 25-year-old Tokyo native, who posted a 12-3 record as sekiwake and finished runner-up to yokozuna Musashimaru at the just-ended 15-day meet tournament in Fukuoka, became the first wrestler to reach sumo's second-highest rank since Kaio was promoted in July 2000.

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Musashimaru downs Tochiazuma to win Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru topples sekiwake Tochiazuma to win his ninth Emperor's Cup on the next to last day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 24. Musashimaru finally ended a title drought dating back to autumn last year

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Tochiazuma remains in pursuit of Kyushu sumo crown

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (R) pushes No. 4 maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 23, the 13th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. With 11 wins and two losses, Tochiazuma is the only wrestler with a chance to overtake yokozuna Musashimaru, who leads the tourney with a 12-1 slate.

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Tochiazuma defeated by Toki at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (background) suffers his first loss in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 18 after being slapped down by No. 7 maegashira Toki.

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Musashimaru backs out Kotonowaka at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) backs fourth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 17 for his seventh straight win of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. The Samoan-born grand champion shares the lead in the 15-day tourney with sekiwake Tochiazuma and No. 10 maegashira Hayateumi.

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No. 2 Kotomitsuki keeps lead in autumn sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - No. 2 maegashira Kotomitsuki (L) forces maegashira Takanowaka out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 20, the 13th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. He maintained his lead in the tourney with 12 wins and one loss, followed by ozeki Musoyama and sekiwake Tochiazuma, each with 10 wins and three losses.

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Ozeki Musoyama defeats Tochinonada

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Musoyama (R) pushes No. 5 maegashira Tochinonada out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 20, the 12th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. Musoyama, along with sekiwake Tochiazuma, remain second with nine wins and three losses in the 15-day tourney, with No.2 maegashira Kotomitsuki leading the race with 11 wins.

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(2)Yokozuna Musashimaru suffers 2nd loss

NAGOYA, Japan - Spectators throw ''zabuton'' or cushions into the sumo ring at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 20, day 13 of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, after Yokozuna Musashimaru suffered his second loss by being defeated by sekiwake Tochiazuma.

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(1)Yokozuna Musashimaru suffers 2nd loss

NAGOYA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (foreground) pushes yokozuna Musashimaru out of the ring at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya on July 20. Musashimaru suffered his second loss with 11 wins in the 15-day tourney.

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Ozeki Kaio remains perfect at Nagoya sumo meet

NAGOYA, Japan - Ozeki Kaio (L) muscles sekiwake Tochiazuma out of the ring for his seventh straight win in the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on July 14. Kaio and yokozuna Musashimaru are the only unbeaten wrestlers in the 15-day meet.

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Komusubi Asashoryu finally records his first win

NAGOYA, July 11 - Mongolian sumo wrestler komusubi Asashoryu (L) (1-3) pushes out sekiwake Tochiazuma (3-1) and records his first win on July 11, the fourth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Nagoya.

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Tochiazuma in pain after being slammed down by Takanonami

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (R) writhes in pain after being slammed down by komusubi Takanonami in their bout Sept. 4 at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. Tochiazuma, hoping to win promotion to the ozeki rank with 11-12 wins, fell to 1-1.

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Akebono blasts to 4-0

NAGOYA, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono (L) catapults sekiwake Tochiazuma into the ringside cushions in a battle of unbeaten wrestlers at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on July 12. He walked away sharing the lead at 4-0 with rank-and-filer Takamisakari.

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Yokozuna Akebono flops at summer sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono does a roly-poly as he loses to sekiwake Tochiazuma at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on May 9. The Hawaiian-born giant's defeat at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan left both men at 2-1 for the 15-day tourney.

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Dejima loses 2nd straight bout in Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Ozeki Dejima (L) suffers his second straight loss Nov. 19 in a bout against sekiwake Tochiazuma at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

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Tochiazuma beats Tamakasuga in Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - In a hard-fought battle between sekiwake Tochiazuma (L) and top-ranked maegashira Tamakasuga, Tochiazuma comes out the winner on Nov. 14, the eighth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. He remains on track to become the third sekiwake to win a tournament this year.

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Tochiazuma beats Tosanoumi in Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma slaps down Tosanoumi on Nov. 13, the seventh day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

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Musashimaru backs out Kotonowaka at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru (R) backs fourth-ranked maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 17 for his seventh straight win of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. The Samoan-born grand champion shares the lead in the 15-day tourney with sekiwake Tochiazuma and No. 10 maegashira Hayateumi.

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Tochiazuma defeated by Toki at Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (background) suffers his first loss in the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 18 after being slapped down by No. 7 maegashira Toki.

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Tochiazuma promoted to ozeki

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (C) accepts his promotion by the Japan Sumo Association to the rank of ozeki in Sue, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 28, 2001. The 25-year-old Tokyo native, who posted a 12-3 record as sekiwake and finished runner-up to yokozuna Musashimaru at the just-ended 15-day meet tournament in Fukuoka, became the first wrestler to reach sumo's second-highest rank since Kaio was promoted in July 2000.

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Chiyotaikai stays among leaders at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Chiyotaikai (L) forces out Mongolian komusubi Kyokutenho (1-6) in a one-sided affair to move to 7-0 heading into the second week of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 19. Chiyotaikai co-led with fellow ozeki Tochiazuma and sekiwake Kotomitsuki in the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

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Kotomitsuki perfect at 8-0

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Kotomitsuki (R) pulls out a hard-fought win over Chiyotenzan to remain unbeaten along with ozeki Tochiazuma and Chiyotaikai on the eighth day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 20.

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Tochiazuma saddled with 1st loss by Koto, Chiyo shares lead

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Kotomitsuki (L) pushes down ozeki Tochiazuma on the 12th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 24. Tochiazuma, however, along with ozeki Chiyotaikai, still leads the 15-day tourney with one loss.

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Sekiwake Asashoryu beats ozeki Tochiazuma

OSAKA, Japan - Mongolian Sekiwake Asashoryu (L) crushes out ozeki Tochiazuma at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on March 14, day five of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Tochiazuma's chances of a move up to yokozuna, sumo's highest rank, now look slim after he suffered two losses.

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Tochiazuma beaten by Kotomitsuki at spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - New Year champion ozeki Tochiazuma (L) is pushed out of the ring by sekiwake Kotomitsuki for his third loss on the 10th day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka on March 19.

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Komusubi Hakuho beats sekiwake Tochiazuma

TOKYO, Japan - Komusubi Hakuho of Mongolia sends sekiwake Tochiazuma to the dirt at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on the eighth day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 16. (Kyodo)

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Tochiazuma suffers 3rd loss at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (back) is blasted out by top-ranked maegashira Iwakiyama for his third loss on the 10th day of the 15-day New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Jan. 18 at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. Tochiazuma needs 10 wins to return to his ozeki rank. (Kyodo)

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Sekiwake Tochiazuma beats No.1 maegashira Tochinonada

TOKYO, Japan - Sekiwake Tochinonaza pushes first-ranked maegashira Tochinonada out of the ring on the 14th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Jan. 22. (Kyodo)

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Tochiazuma marks flawless 8th win at New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (L) sent Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho flying out of the ring to mark a perfect 8-0 mark at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Jan. 15. (Kyodo)

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Tochiazuma downs Hakuho at spring meet

OSAKA, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (front) pushes promotion-chasing Mongolian sekiwake Hakuho (in back) out of the ring on March 23, the 12th day of the 15-day Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka, for Hakuho's first loss. (Kyodo)

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Musashimaru downs Tochiazuma to win Kyushu sumo

FUKUOKA, Japan - Yokozuna Musashimaru topples sekiwake Tochiazuma to win his ninth Emperor's Cup on the next to last day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Nov. 24. Musashimaru finally ended a title drought dating back to autumn last year

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Tochiazuma remains in pursuit of Kyushu sumo crown

FUKUOKA, Japan - Sekiwake Tochiazuma (R) pushes No. 4 maegashira Kotonowaka out of the ring at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Nov. 23, the 13th day of the 15-day Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament. With 11 wins and two losses, Tochiazuma is the only wrestler with a chance to overtake yokozuna Musashimaru, who leads the tourney with a 12-1 slate.

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No. 2 Kotomitsuki keeps lead in autumn sumo tourney

TOKYO, Japan - No. 2 maegashira Kotomitsuki (L) forces maegashira Takanowaka out of the ring at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Sept. 20, the 13th day of the 15-day Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament. He maintained his lead in the tourney with 12 wins and one loss, followed by ozeki Musoyama and sekiwake Tochiazuma, each with 10 wins and three losses.

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Tochiazuma takes sole lead in New Year sumo

TOKYO, Japan - Ozeki Tochiazuma (L) pushes former ozeki Dejima out of the ring Jan. 22 to become the sole undefeated wrestler in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo after sekiwake Kotomitsuki and ozeki Chiyotaikai both fell to their first losses.