In perhaps the most entertaining sumo tournament in years, the recently completed Haru Basho essentially had it all.
Yokozuna Asashoryu is handed the trophy from JSA Chairman Kitanoumi after winning the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
From day one we had ozeki Tochiazuma chasing a second consecutive yusho and with it automatic yokozuna promotion. Taking a tumble when maegashira Aminishiki manhandled him on day two, the doubters were out and about and the various 'what-if' scenarios were being played out in the media, on the Internet and in the minds of many a sumo fan in Japan and abroad to decide just how many defeats he could be promoted with. Coming a cropper again on day seven against komusubi Miyabiyama and one last time on day 11 when fellow ozeki Kaio bundled him out, the yusho race was all but over for the yokozuna wannabe when he turned into the home straight and sensed bouts against Hakuho, Kotooshu, Chiyotaikai and Asashoryu lined up one after the other.