A yokozuna debutant has never won the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Asashoryu will make his debut as yokozuna and be the heavy favorite to win the Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Tournament in Osaka, beginning Sunday.
That's all about to change if scrappy Mongolian Asashoryu has his say-so when the meet gets under way at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on Sunday.
Still on a euphoric high after brawling his way to two successive championship titles and promotion to sumo's ultimate rank, Asashoryu is showing no signs of retreating from the fray.