Tributes poured in from around the country Monday as mourning continued the day after Japan lost legendary sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji, who died in a Tokyo hospital due to pancreatic cancer at the age of 61.
The funeral and memorial service for the former yokozuna and 31-time champion will take place at noon on Sunday at the Kokonoe stable in Tokyo's Sumida Ward, and the Japan Sumo Association will be discussing whether to organize a send-off ceremony.
An official announcement has yet to be made, but Sanoyama stablemaster and former ozeki Chiyotaikai is expected to fill the void left by Chiyonofuji as the new Kokonoe stablemaster.