Harumafuji conquered rival yokozuna Hakuho, putting an exclamation point on his first title at sumo's highest rank on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
For a man whose critics had begun singing a Harumafuji requiem after his famous meltdown on his yokozuna debut at the Kyushu basho in November, it was redemption of the highest order. Having clinched the championship with a day to spare on Saturday, he finished 15-0 in his third tournament in four meets.
What the Mongolian firebrand proved more than anything else is even great champions at times have clay feet, and perhaps the members of the Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council were too quick to judge a man they themselves had recommended for sumo's highest rank.