What better way could there possibly be for a sumotori to celebrate his birthday than to be presented with the Emperor’s Cup, having earlier the same day picked up his 24th basho in a career that will, statistically, always be regarded as one of the best in sumo history?
On Sunday afternoon, Asashoryu also received the Prime Minister’s Cup from the country's new leader, PM Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan. The ceremony reminded us that nothing lasts forever. As the LDP recently gave way to the DPJ after decades of almost uninterrupted power, someday Asashoryu too will have to relinquish his power.
As any regular Japanese media watcher will know, Asa is a man who has been hounded by scandals over past few years. However, by posting a 14-1 record over the 15 days of action, and then defeating fellow yokozuna Hakuho in a play-off at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, Asa answered his critics and got a big dollop of icing on his cake.