Sumo: Ancient Ritual to National Sport in pictures

Former "yokozuna" or sumo grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia (C) takes part in his last "dohyo-iri" or ring entering ritual at the start of his retirement ceremony at the Kokugikan stadium in Tokyo in 2010. More than 300 people, ranging from a professional boxer to a television personality, each cut a tiny portion of his knot with a large pair of gold-coloured scissors on the ring under the glare of fans and media. Asashoryu, often called a bad boy of the ancient sport, bade farewell to the ring as he had his topknot cut in a ritual to officially end his controversial career after a bust-up with the sport's authority

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