Newly promoted Yokozuna Onosato performs ring-entering ceremony
In sumo wrestling, newly promoted Yokozuna Grand Champion Onosato performed his first ring-entering ceremony at Tokyo's Meiji Jingu shrine on Friday.
Onosato first received a newly braided white rope, a symbol of grand champions, from Hakkaku, the chairperson of the Japan Sumo Association.
The ring-entering ceremony then took place inside a shrine building due to rain. Spectators watched the ceremony from outside the building.
Wearing the new rope around his waist, the yokozuna performed the ceremony in the unryu style, which is said to symbolize both offense and defense in sumo.
Spectators cheered as Onosato gave a powerful performance called seriagari, in which he gradually moved his big body from a low position to upright, showing off his long arms and legs.
Onosato said after the ceremony that he thought he managed to do well although he was a little nervous. He added, "I now feel I've really become a yokozuna. I'll do my best."
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