Former sumo grand champions Wakanohana and Takanohana, the sons of sumo elder Futagoyama who died of mouth cancer Monday, said Tuesday they consider their late father more of a teacher as they paid tribute to him and gave him all the credit for their successful careers the day after his death.
"Since I entered the world of sumo at 17, my father was both strict and kind," said Wakanohana of the former ozeki who died Monday at a Tokyo hospital at the age of 55.
"It broke my heart to see him ill. He taught me to keep fighting even at the edge of the ring and never to give up, and that's exactly what he did at the end of his life," he said.