The final day of the grand sumo championship was held on January 24.

Kotoshogiku had beaten the final match to become the first Japanese sumo champion since Tochiazuma 10 years ago.

As it was a decisive final match of the championship, many people in Japan were glued to their TV screen. While this win would have satisfied many sumo fans in Japan, it was surely a milestone for Kotoshogiku as it has been 14 years since he's been in the grand sumo championship.

For the past 10 years, sumo has been largely dominated by foreign wrestlers (Mongolian-born wrestler Hakuho has won the championship 35 times in the past 10 years, for instance). Would this open up opportunities for more Japanese wrestlers to be more competitive? Watch this space.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.