The Hatsu Basho gets underway this Sunday with only one yokozuna competing -- Musashimaru. Yokozuna Takanohana will be absent for the fourth consecutive tournament.
Taka has now tied the record for the number of consecutive tournaments absent for a yokozuna, set by Onokuni 12 years ago.
Takanohana unexpectedly resumed training in December and expressed determination to compete in January, however, he was simply too rusty to get back into shape within a couple of weeks.