Rank-and-filer Tokushoryu overcame all odds at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament and beat ozeki Takakeisho in the final bout on Sunday to win his first top-division championship.
The 33-year-old Nara native delivered the performance of his career at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to cap off a streak of 13 straight wins and finish with a 14-1 record over 15 days of improbable sumo.
"Deep down I'm feeling like, 'Is it okay for me to win the championship?' " Tokushoryu joked in his post-bout interview.