Kisenosato Yutaka, a sumo grand champion, disclosed his fateful decision through a press conference on January 16, 2019. The wrestler opts to retire after three successive defeats in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Hall in Tokyo. Based on a report, komusubi Mitakeumi defeated him on the opening day and was also outplayed by the top-ranked maegashira Ichinojo and Tochiozan. “While I was happy to see him promoted to yokozuna, I could tell from seeing him up close that he was struggling. His two years as yokozuna passed so quickly,” his stablemaster Tagonoura stated.

The 32-year old yokozuna became a professional sumo wrestler in 2002 until he made it to the top in makuuchi division in 2004. In March 2017, he came to be the first Japanese-born wrestler that got promoted to yokozuna, sumo’s highest rank, after 19 years. However, his career was already in peril after holding a record of four consecutive losses in November’s Kyushu meet. Following his yokozuna debut with two consecutive wins, he lost eight bouts in a row marking the most undesirable run for a champion since sumo tournaments began in 1949.