Akebono, facing a potential playoff with No. 9 maegashira Kotomitsuki, overwhelmed fellow-yokozuna Musashimaru in the final bout of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday at Fukuoka International Center to take his 11th yusho with a 14-1 record.
It was the first time Akebono has won more than one championship in a year since 1993, the year he was promoted to yokozuna. Akebono also achieved his best record since March 1995.
The 31-year-old also had his best year since his promotion to yokozuna -- 11-4 in January, 12-3 in March, 13-2 in May, 13-2 in July (with the yusho), 13-2 in September, and finally 14-1 in November. This remarkable comeback for Akebono was in large part due to his seemingly full recovery from knee injuries, which have plagued him in the past, and the mediocre performance of yokozuna Musashimaru and Takanohana.