On Jan. 22, 30-year-old ozeki (champion) Kisenosato (real name Yutaka Hagiwara) emerged victorious in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with an outstanding record of 14 wins and only one loss. His promotion to history's 72nd yokozuna (grand champion) was confirmed by the Japan Sumo Association three days later.
The announcement was greeted with jubilation in Kisenosato's home prefecture of Ibaraki, as well as by fans across the nation.
Whatever sumo fans might have been thinking, the domestic media was careful to avoid stating that Kisenosato was the first "Japanese" to be named to the top rank since Wakanohana in 1998. Rather, Kisenosato was referred to as "Nihon-shusshin" — which in English has been rendered variously as "Japan-born," "native-born," "home-grown," "made in Japan" or other such expressions. Since sumo has developed into an international sport, this steers away from the implication that a naturalized citizen should be regarded as any less "Japanese" than a person of so-called Yamato ethnicity.
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