Takanohana's retirement, announced on Tuesday, brings to an end the Hanada dynasty's 72-year-long involvement in sumo.
The scion of a family that dominated both in the ring and in the headlines since the 1950's, Takanohana never seemed at ease in the sport that was his birthright.
His success as a wrestler, as well as the Beatlemania-like popularity that both he and his brother Wakanohana enjoyed, masked the fact that the recalcitrant Takanohana harbored deep-seated views about sumo that were often at odds with its established traditions.
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