Terunofuji, who won the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in his yokozuna debut, said he is feeling a mix of joy and relief that he was able to live up to the expectations that come with being a member of sumo's most select group.

In the traditional morning-after press conference for the winning rikishi on Monday, Terunofuji admitted he felt the increased pressure that comes with promotion to the sport's highest rank of yokozuna. He moved up in July ahead of the tournament that ran from Sept. 12 to Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

"I am relieved," he said. "Being ranked at the very top, I've felt that there is a responsibility that I had to fulfill."