Gaijin Great Goes to the Gods

[Mike Oxlong]

Taiho dies at 72 after legendary sumo career

Former yokozuna Taiho, whose record of 32 championships stands to this day, died at age 72 on Saturday in a Tokyo hospital, the Japan Sumo Association announced.

Taiho, whose real name was Koki Naya, was a member of the Nishonoseki stable, which will close its doors after the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament concludes Jan. 27.

Born on the Russian island of Sakhalin, Taiho made his ring debut in the 1956 Autumn Basho and won his first championship at the Kyushu tournament in 1960. Following the 1961 autumn tourney, he was promoted to yokozuna along with rival Kashiwado, setting the stage for an epic decade.

Taiho won six tournaments in a row twice in his career, finished eight tournaments with unbeaten records, and even went on a 45-match winning streak.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20130119x3.html

[wagyl]

Of course it is not the fact that he was born on Sakhalin which makes him a suitable topic for here, because 72 years ago his birthplace was Shisukacho Shisukashicho Karafutocho, but it is the fact that his father was Ukrainian.

[matsuki]

Of course it is not the fact that he was born on Sakhalin which makes him a suitable topic for here, because 72 years ago his birthplace was Shisukacho Shisukashicho Karafutocho, but it is the fact that his father was Ukrainian.

So halfbreed and he still won that many championships? The match fixing must have been after he retired