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Hakuhō Shō

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Hakuhō Shō is a legendary figure in the world of professional sumo wrestling. Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, he rose to become one of the most successful rikishi, or sumo wrestlers, in history. Many experts consider him the greatest sumo wrestler of all time. He achieved this through incredible skill and a long career in the sport. Throughout his time in the top makuuchi division, he won 45 total championships, known as yūshō.

Hakuho tegata
Hakuho tegata

His path to greatness began with a difficult start in Japan. In October 2000, at age fifteen, he traveled to Japan to pursue sumo. At that time, he was quite small and lacked formal training. Because of his low weight, many sumo training stables, or heya, refused to accept him. He finally joined the Miyagino stable on December 24, 2000. He was given the shikona, or ring name, Hakuhō. This name means "white Peng," referring to a mythological bird from Chinese stories.

Hakuho fight Jan08
Hakuho fight Jan08

Hakuhō climbed the professional ranks with remarkable speed. He made his debut in the March 2001 tournament in Osaka. By May 2004, he reached the top makuuchi division. In his very first top-division tournament, he earned a sanshō, a special prize, for Fighting Spirit. He also earned a kinboshi, or gold star, by defeating a yokozuna while ranked as a maegashira. These achievements helped him reach the rank of ōzeki, the second-highest rank, in March 2006.

Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014
Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014

In May 2007, Hakuhō reached the highest rank in sumo: yokozuna. He achieved this by winning two consecutive championships, including a perfect 15–0 zenshō record. At age 22, he was one of the youngest wrestlers to ever reach this rank. He was the fourth non-Japanese wrestler to become a yokozuna. To celebrate his new status, he performed the dohyō-iri, a ring-entering ceremony. He chose to perform the Shiranui style of this ceremony at the Meiji Shrine.

Hakuho Shiranui dohyo-iri 2012 Jan
Hakuho Shiranui dohyo-iri 2012 Jan

As a yokozuna, Hakuhō engaged in intense rivalries that defined an era. His most famous rival was fellow Mongolian wrestler Asashōryū. Their matches were often high-stakes and highly emotional. In January 2008, Hakuhō defeated Asashōryū in a bout lasting nearly a minute to win a championship. He also faced other strong competitors like Ama and Harumafuji. These battles helped him set numerous records for dominance in the ring.

Asashōryū-2
Asashōryū-2

Hakuhō's statistical achievements are nearly unmatched in the history of the sport. In 2009, he set a record by winning 86 bouts in a single calendar year. He matched this 86-win record again in 2010. He also holds the record for the most undefeated tournament championships, with sixteen total. This is eight more than any other wrestler in history. In 2015, he broke the record for the most top-division championships by winning his 33rd title.

Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014
Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014

Beyond individual titles, Hakuhō set records for longevity and total wins. In May 2016, he broke the record for the most wins in the top division. In July 2017, he achieved the record for the most career wins. He was also the longest-serving yokozuna of all time, a title he secured in 2019. By July 2020, he had fought 1,000 bouts while holding the rank of yokozuna. His 20-year career concluded when he retired in September 2021.

His impact on sumo extends to the global stage of professional sports. Columnists have described him as possibly the most accomplished figure in any sport ever. He represented a significant shift in sumo, as many top wrestlers began coming from Mongolia. His success helped pave the way for other Mongolian wrestlers to reach the highest ranks. Even after his retirement, his unmatchable legacy remains a central part of sumo history.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Hakuho Shiranui dohyo-iri 2012 Jan.JPG
Hakuho Shiranui dohyo-iri 2012 Jan.JPG
File:Hakuho fight Jan08.jpg
Hakuho fight Jan08.jpg
File:Asashōryū-2.jpg
Asashōryū-2.jpg
File:Hakuho tegata.jpg
Hakuho tegata.jpg
File:Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014.jpg
Hakuhō vs Gōeidō May 2014.jpg
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