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ONOJO, Fukuoka Prefecture – On November 15, yokozuna Kisenosato left Kyushu 's grand sumo tournament after setting a record for post – war uselessness by a grand champion.
Kisenosato, 32, who belongs to the Tagonoura stable, announced the fifth day of the tournament to be held at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
"I'm sorry for the sumo fans because I was the only yokozuna to participate in the tournament," Kisenosato told reporters. "I am really mortified."
An injury to the chest and left arm had prevented the yokozuna from participating in several previous tournaments. But he said it was not the reason he had withdrawn from Kyushu's basho.
"I recently injured my right knee in the fight on the first day (of the tournament)," said Kisenosato.
Yokozuna lost to Komusubi Takakeisho on Nov. 11, the first day of the tournament, followed by three straight defeats against the lowest ranking hiramaku wrestlers in the makuuchi division.
The victories of the hiramaku wrestlers on the yokozuna are called "kinboshi" (gold stars). Kisenosato handed out three consecutive kinboshi, his third time, a record he had already shared with many other great champions.
However, he is the first yokozuna to lose his first four tournament fights (excluding defeats by default) since the summer of 1949.
Kisenosato had jumped or retired from eight consecutive tournaments, but had avoided retirement by winning 10 victories at the fall Grand Sumo tournament in September.
But his decision to withdraw from Kyushu Basho means that the fate of his career will depend on his performance at the Grand An Sumo New Year's tournament in January.
"I want to go back to the dohyo after healing my injury," he said.
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