A little over a week ago, the Nihon Sumo Kyokai announced its rankings for the upcoming Haru Basho in Osaka.
As expected, Hakuho retained his slot on the slightly more prestigious eastern side of the banzuke, while fellow Mongolian Asashoryu headed the western rankings.
Rightly or wrongly, yokozuna shenanigans linked to Asashoryu continue to dominate the sport — aided by reports that he told a Japanese reporter to "go die." He was photographed traveling back to Japan in a Hawaiian aloha shirt and shorts, a cultural no-no for a man supposed to appear in kimono when traveling or on official business.