Yokozuna Hakuho, a record 42-time sumo grand champion, has acquired Japanese citizenship after relinquishing his Mongolian nationality, an official government publication showed Tuesday.
Although Japanese nationality is not required to compete in sumo, citizenship is necessary if a wrestler wishes to progress to become a sumo elder upon retirement from the raised ring.
"I will try my best not to bring shame upon myself as a Japanese," Hakuho told reporters in front of his Miyagino stable in Tokyo.