Mongolian-born yokozuna Kakuryu has been granted Japanese citizenship, it was announced in an official government notice on Thursday.
The Japan Sumo Association stipulates that Japanese citizenship is required for a sumo wrestler to remain in the association as an oyakata coach or stablemaster after retirement. In September last year, fellow Mongolian-born yokozuna Hakuho obtained Japanese citizenship.
The 35-year-old Kakuryu, whose real name is Mangaljalav Anand, became the 71st yokozuna after the 2014 spring tournament. He has won six titles.
However, due to back pain and other problems, the Michinoku stable wrestler had to miss all or part of three consecutive tournaments through the most recent one in November.
Because of his extensive absences, the association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council issued him a warning, as it also did with Hakuho, who has also been out of action recently due to injuries.
Kakuryu is now facing a tough situation in which he will have to consider his next course of action when he makes his next appearance in a tournament.
Other foreign-born yokozuna have been granted Japanese citizenship in the past, including Akebono and Musashimaru, now Musashigawa Oyakata. Both were born in Hawaii.
-- Hakuho ready 'to respond'
Meanwhile, Hakuho has taken the warning he received from the Yokozuna Deliberation Council to heart.
"I understand why [that decision] was made this time," Hakuho said Wednesday, speaking on the issue publicly for the first time. "All I can do is respond," an indication of his intention to get back into action at the New Year tournament.
Hakuho missed the past two tournaments due to a right knee injury, the first time in his career he missed all of two consecutive tourneys.
The yokozuna appeared to be back into full training Wednesday, going through fundamental and contact drills. But asked about the condition of his knee, he replied, "It's still day by day."
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