End of an era: Yokozuna Taiho gets his topknot removed in 1971.
End of an era: Yokozuna Taiho gets his topknot removed in 1971. | KYODO
Taiho
Taiho | KYODO

Taiho May 29, 1940 — Jan. 19, 2013

"Taiho showed he is still the strongest wrestler in sumo by overwhelming Tamanoumi in the final bout to hand his fellow yokozuna his only loss of the tournament and force a playoff. . . . In the playoff match, Taiho once again outmaneuvered Tamanoumi on the belt, effectively preventing his tough little opponent from getting both hands on the sash at any point in the bout. . . . Tama effectively offset his 330-pound (150 kg) opponent's arm-throw attempts with simultaneous arm-throws. . . . Tama then retaliated with a desperate attempt to hoist his opponent off his feet, but just didn't have the strength to pull it off. . . . Taiho immediately countered with an arm throw, and although it fell short of the target, it enabled him to drive Tama to the edge and finally pressure him past the straw boundary for the tourney-winning triumph." — Andy Adams, The Japan Times, January 1971