Before the Harumafuji scandal broke, 2017 had been shaping up to be one of the better sumo years of recent times.
It started with Kisenosato finally winning a tournament and becoming the first Japan-born yokozuna since 2003. Fellow yokozuna Hakuho then broke the all-time career wins record in July and finished the year with 40 top-division championships — by far the most in sumo history.
A whole host of exciting up-and-coming rikishi also provided thrills and entertainment throughout the year as they challenged the old order for supremacy. Things were looking good and sumo was at an all-time high of popularity before everything went south on Nov. 14 with the news that Harumafuji had assaulted Takanoiwa while out drinking.
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