Former sekiwake and sumo elder Mutsuarashi died of cerebral infarction at a Tokyo hospital on Tuesday. He was 59.
Mutsuarashi, an Aomori native whose real name is Yukio Minami, was known for upsetting higher-ranked opponents with his agility on the dohyo ring in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s.
He spent 53 tournaments in the top makuuchi division before retiring in 1976. He peaked at sekiwake, the third highest rank in sumo.
Mutsuarashi later became sumo elder Ajigawa but was forced to quit running a sumo stable in 1993 due to ill health.