Terukuni (left) and Akinoumi who were both elevated from the rank of "ohzeki" to "yokozuna" (grand champion) – highest attainable in the time-honored sport of sumo – at a special meeting of the directors of the Japan Sumo Association Monday. They both won 13 bouts and lost two in the 15-day "summer" tournament that ended at the Kokugikan on Monday, the same as Grand Champion Futabayama, to whom the championship was awarded by virtue of his higher rank. Coincidentally, the records of Terukuni and Akinoumi for the last five tournaments on which their promotion was based is the same – 61 victories and 14 defeats. Terukuni, 23, is the youngest grand champion ever in sumo annals. He hails from Akita Prefecture. Akinoumi, 28, is a native of Hiroshima Prefecture.

    The "Sumo" champions Akinoumi and Terukuni, who competed the present 15-day summer tournament with 13 victories and 2 defeats, were made Grand Champions at Monday’s meeting of the Japan Wrestling Association following the closing of the tournament.
    Akinoumi and Terukuni are the 37^th and 38^th Grand Champions respectively since the establishment of the Grand Championship system of "Sumo".
    Meanwhile, Futabayama, the only active Grand Champion of the just concluded tournament, established a new record by winning the championship of the tournament for the tenth time. He clinched the honor again Sunday, by topping Akinoumi.

    A Grand Champion or "Yokozuna" is the highest rank of wrestlers. "Yokozuna" was originally the name of a sacred rope which symbolizes the divine activities of Musubi-no-Kami-no-o, guardian deities of production, and it was once called Musubi-no-Kami-no-o, or the rope of guardian deities of production. In ancient time, when prayers were to be offered to the deities, a most powerful wrestler, who was a man of high moral integrity, was appointed to wear this sacred rope to perform the religious office.
    The "Yokozuna" wrestler was, therefore, one who was qualified to wear the rope. It is apparent from this that the rope was once a sort of emblem of the most powerful wrestler with a high moral integrity. In course of time, the interpretation of the article underwent a change, until "Yokozuna" became the highest rank off the wrestler.
    When the main events of the day are ready to take place, in the afternoon of each day during the period of the grand tournament, the ceremony known as dohyo-iri, or "Entering the Ring" is performed around the ring by the highest ranking wrestlers separately of the east and west camps, who are to try their prowess in their scheduled matches.
    It is a magnificent and imposing scene as the wrestlers of such exceptional stature and strength, each wearing a glittering ornamental loin-cloth, which is richly embroidered with gold and silver and silk threads and strings of many color, arrive at the ring in procession from the outer passage leading to the wrestling stage.

    When all champions are gathered, they stand around the ring and observe the ceremony according to the time-honored tradition, making various motions of ancient origin. This imposing ceremony has more than one significance. It symbolizes the oath sworn in other athletic games, and also that all the wrestlers scheduled for the matches are present. When one side of the wrestlers completes the ceremony and retires from the scene, the other side appears upon the scene to perform it.
    There are three types of loincloth. The one for training is called the "training loin-cloth", and the next to be worn for the regular bout, the "match loin-cloth". The third, which is worn exclusively on the occasion of the ceremony of entering the ring, is called Kesho-mawashi, or "decorated loin-cloth".
    The "Yokozuna" wrestler does not participate in the ceremony mentioned above, because he has the special ceremony to perform independently of the rest. This ceremony is known as deguiri. In observing this function he wears "yokozuna", the snow-white sacred rope, over his ornamental loin-cloth. When dressed, he is ushered into the ring heralded by a wrestler of high rank, and followed by another in the capacity of guard and sword-bearer, both imposingly get up in their decorated loin-cloths. The ceremony performed by the "yokozuna" is symbolic of prayer and oath taking, as well as the demonstration of the basic form of wrestling and the spiritual power with which wrestling is to be presented. It is made the occasion of a manifestation of heroic and stately beauty of strength and skill in ceremony by the most accomplished wrestler, and has been regarded from time immemorial as the premier feature in the realm of Sumo.