Displaying a ruthless streak that would have had Genghis Khan applauding from the ringside cushions, Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho put Asashoryu in the shade to emerge as sumo's new "Daddy" in 2009.
Silent but deadly, Hakuho extinguished Asashoryu's fireworks in Sunday's final bout at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament to wrap up a year in which he notched a remarkable 86 wins against just four losses, passing the record of 84 set by Asashoryu four years ago.
Over the course of 2009, the calm, soft-spoken 24-year-old has won three titles, two of them with flawless records, and was in the thick of the title race in the other three tournaments before succumbing in championship playoffs.