Grand Champion Futabayama, idol of millions of ardent sumo fans throughout the country, who established a brilliant unprecedented record of holding the national victor's title for 12 times and chalking up 69 consecutive wins before his formal retirement from the ring earlier this year, lost his topknot Tuesday.
    A big crowd of sumo enthusiasts jammed Memorial Hall (former Kokugikan) to witness the cutting of "Futaba's" topknot, the traditional hairs of a Japanese wrestler.
    Ten persons, beginning with Prince Kaya, ardent patron of sumo, and followed by various sumo representatives and influential people, including Prime Minister Yoshida, who represented the Oita Prefectural Association the retiring Grand Champion's home prefecture, took turns in cutting a lock of Futaba's topknot with a scissor.
    The honor of making the final snip went to Kiichi Futagawa, who gave Futabayama his present wrestling name and raised him from his youth into Japan's foremost exponent of the sport.