Former yokozuna Hakuho, the most decorated wrestler in sumo history, has assumed the toshiyori name of Miyagino and moved into a new role of stablemaster, the Japan Sumo Association said Thursday.
The 37-year-old, who won a record 45 grand sumo tournament titles before retiring last fall, had taken the sumo elder name Magaki and served as coach at the Miyagino stable in Tokyo's Sumida ward.
The former stablemaster, former wrestler Chikubayama, reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 in August.
Hakuho gave up his Mongolian nationality and acquired Japanese citizenship in September 2019. In order to become a stablemaster, the elder who carries the same name as the stable where wrestlers live and train together, one must be a Japanese citizen.
Hakuho arrived in Japan from Mongolia in 2000 at the age of 15, rose to yokozuna in 2007 and competed at the top rank for 14 years.
He drew the curtain on his 20-year career in September at the age of 36.