Saturday, May 22, 1999

AP Photo/Koji Kasahara
Accompanied by sword-bearer sekiwake (third highest rank) Dejima,
left, and Musoyama, right, newly promoted yokozuna (grand champion)
Musashimaru, wearing a newly-woven grand champion's ceremonial
rope belt, performs the "unryu" style of ring purification ritual at Meiji
Shrine in Tokyo, today, before more than 2,000 spectators.

Banzai,
Musashimaru!

The 67th yokozuna performs
ring purification ritual

Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) -- Hawaii-born wrestler Musashimaru performed a ring-purification ritual at a Tokyo shrine on Saturday, marking his promotion to the top rank in Japan's ancient sport of sumo.

Musashimaru, 28, became the second foreign-born wrestler to reach the rank of yokozuna, or grand champion, on Wednesday after winning two tournaments in a row, including the latest one at 13-2.

Akebono, also from Hawaii, became yokozuna in 1993.

Dressed in a formal black kimono, Musashimaru received the yokozuna's certificate and a traditional rope-like belt from the head of the Japan Sumo Association, former wrestler Tokitsukaze.

Accompanied by his stablemates, Musashimaru wore the hefty belt around his waist and performed the hand-clapping, foot-stomping ritual with a nervous look on his face.

His movements were somewhat jerky and awkward, but the nearly 4,000 spectators cheered the star with a round of enthusiastic applause after he was done .

A nationally televised broadcast of the performance also showed his mother, Nimala Penitani, shedding tears and wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

Born Fiamalu Penitani, Musashimaru came to Japan in 1989 to become a sumo wrestler, won promotion to ozeki, or champion, in 1994 and obtained Japanese citizenship in 1996.

"I was very happy to perform in front of all the people," Musashimaru was quoted by Kyodo News agency after the ceremony.

"I felt even more nervous last night, when I practiced for the first time," he added. "But I can't say it was perfect."

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AP Photo/Koji Kasahara
Musashimaru performed the foot-stomping and
hand-clapping ritual during the ceremony to mark
the debut of the 67th yokozuna in front of more
than 2,000 spectators.

Musashimaru performs
‘dohyo-iri’ at Meiji Shrine

TOKYO, May 29 (Kyodo) -- Samoan-born sumo wrestler Musashimaru was formally installed as the sport's 67th yokozuna Saturday, performing the "dohyo-iri" ring-purification ritual at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

Musashimaru, 28, received the yokozuna's diploma and the rope belt symbolizing sumo's highest rank from sumo elder Tokitsukaze, head of the Japan Sumo Association.

Musashimaru, the second foreign-born wrestler to attain yokozuna status, then performed the "unryu" style of ring-purification ritual before the hall of worship at the shrine.

Musashigawa stable sekiwake Dejima served as sword-bearer while No. 6 maegashira Musoyama acted as herald, or "tsuyu-harai," for their senior stablemate.

Musashimaru's debut as grand champion appeared somewhat awkward as he performed the ritual, but some 3,800 sumo fans applauded and cheered vigorously for the new yokozuna.

"I was really happy to perform the ritual in front of all the people. I practiced it for the first time yesterday and was nervous," Musashimaru said. "I don't think we can say that it was 100%."

Among the sumo fans attending the ceremony was Nimala Penitani, Musashimaru's mother.

(From yesterday)

Musashimaru practices
ritual, rope belt woven

TOKYO, May 28 (Kyodo) -- Newly promoted yokozuna Musashimaru practiced the "unryu" style of ring purification ritual Friday after members of the stables affiliated with the Dewanoumi school wove the new grand champion's ceremonial rope belt.

Musashimaru, 28, watched with weaving ceremony at the Musashigawa stable in Tokyo and then stepped into the ring to practice the foot-stomping, hand-clapping ritual that he will perform at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday.

Sekiwake Dejima will serve as sword-bearer while No. 6 maegashira Musoyama will act as herald, or "tsuyu-harai," for the ceremony to debut sumo's 67th grand champion.

Top-level wrestlers from the Dewanoumi family of stables, including the Musashigawa stable, worked and chanted to the beat of drums for two hours to complete the 4-meter long rope belt that symbolizes the yokozuna and weighs about 15 kilograms.

Under the watchful eye of stable master Musashigawa, formerly yokozuna Mienoumi, Musashimaru repeated the "unryu" style of "dohyo-iri" in preparation for Saturday's event.

"It was tough having the rope around me and I'm still not comfortable wearing it. Working my way up (out of the crouch), is also difficult," said Musashimaru, who became sumo's second foreign-born grand champion Monday.

In the "unryu" style of ritual, the yokozuna wears a rope with one large loop in the back and after stomping the ring, slides his feet into the standing position with his right arm extended to represent offense and his left arm bent to represent defense.

Fellow grand champions Akebono and Takanohana perform the "unryu" style of ring-entering ceremony.

In the "shiranui" style of ring-entering ritual, by contrast, the yokozuna wears a rope with two loops in back and shuffles to a standing position with both arms extended to signify an offensive stance.

Wakanohana is the lone member of the yokozuna quartet to perform the "shiranui" ring-purification ritual.