Futabayama, "yokozuna" and grand champion of the professional sumodom in Japan, who won the main tournaments for 12 times and set a record of 69 straight victories in his official matches, formally retired from the ring with due ceremony on November 19 at the Memorial Hall, Tokyo, before a crowd of sumo fans including H.I.H. Prince Kaya.
    During the retirement ceremony, Futabayama performed his final "dohyo-iri" (ceremony marking the formal entrance of "yokozuna" grappler into the ring), with Haguroyama and Terukuni, both "yokozuna," as his partners.
    The was followed by a ceremony of cutting the hair of the grand champion.