Prior to the basho, it looked like Nagoya Basho 2010, would be remembered for just one thing: the gambling and the suspensions surrounding it. As the basho that saw a handful of top and second division rikishi suspended (and thus ending with 0-0-15 records), sumo at first appeared to be on a downward spiral with no end in sight.
The tabloids did try and jump on the back of the gambling scandal mid-way through the tournament by attempting to link former yokozuna-turned-stable master Takanohana with gangsters. Several other insinuations about various figures in the world of sumo have also been made but none have thus far borne the fruit the scandal mags hope will sell them a few more copies.
On the dohyo, despite all the woes surrounding the sport away from the clay ring, the yokozuna was in fine fettle — winning his third consecutive tournament with a flawless 15-0 record. It was something his predecessor Asashoryu never acheived, and indeed a new record in the modern-era of six tournaments a year. Hakuho is now on a 47-win streak — the longest such run in the Heisei Era and now the third longest of all time. Ahead of him stand Chiyonofuji (53 wins) and Futabayama (69).