Former yokozuna Takanohana, who retired from sumo in January with 22 Emperor's Cups, performed his final "dohyo-iri" ring-purification ritual in Yokosuka on Sunday, the final day of the Japan Sumo Association's customary spring sumo practice tour.
Amid cheers by some 5,000 fans, the 30-year-old former grand champion, who has been coaching at his father's Futagoyama stable since his retirement, performed the Unryu-style rite with yokozuna Musashimaru serving as sword bearer and fellow grand champion Asashoryu as usher.