"It's not only boys who can practice and enjoy sumo. There are girls that like sumo too. I hope someday women can become pros."
Those were the words of elementary school student Rie Ishibashi, on the day she made history by becoming the first-ever fifth grade female yokozuna at the inaugural Wanpaku girls national finals, held at Okudo Sogo Sports Center in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward on Sunday.
At the same event, Shinka Shimabukuro from Okinawa won the sixth grade championship, while Chiaki Kajiwara took home the fourth grade title.
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