Yokozuna Kakuryu clinched his fourth career championship on Saturday, the penultimate day of the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
The 32-year-old Mongolian defeated ozeki and local favorite Goeido (9-5) to clinch the title at Edion Arena Osaka with one day left in the 15-day competition. Kakuryu, whose only loss here came on Thursday to New Year Basho champion Tochinoshin, needed only one win over the final two days.
"Last year was brutal," said Kakuryu, who only managed to complete one grand tournament in his injury-hit 2017 campaign. "But so many fans stuck with me and cheered me on, and so many people kept supporting me, I wanted to make those people happy."