Former ozeki Daikirin died from pancreatic cancer in Tokyo on Wednesday, the Japan Sumo Association said Friday. He was 68.

Daikirin, whose real name is Takayoshi Tsutsumi, began his professional career in 1958 and reached sumo's second highest rank of ozeki before staying there for 25 tournaments.

After retiring from the raised ring he became a sumo elder and set up the Oshiogawa stable.