On Sunday, when yokozuna Harumafuji was presented with the Emperor's Cup for the seventh time, the world of sumo was still reeling from the news that Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi had died 48 hours earlier from complications related to rectal cancer aged only 62.
As the sport's 55th yokozuna, Kitanoumi was hugely popular in his day. And as the winner of 24 career titles, he is still fifth on the all-time list of Emperor's Cup winners.
His death was marked in a simple ceremony at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center in Fukuoka with a slow drive by of his hearse. A proper memorial is to be held Dec. 22 in Ryogoku Kokugikan.
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