Many long-time sumo fans trace the origins of the decline of sumo in the modern era back to a decision made in January 2003 by Takanohana to call it quits and hang up his mawashi.

In the years since no Japanese rikishi has realistically come close to being promoted to yokozuna. In fact, in the intervening years, just five of 62 tournaments have been won by a Japanese rikishi.

The fact that the sport was then dominated for the next four years by one of the most polarizing of yokozuna in the history of the sport, and a Mongolian to boot in the shape of Asashoryu, turned the Japanese away from following sumo in droves.