Former Sumo Grand Champion Azumafuji (center) is officially retired as a Sumo Wrestler with the traditional Mage-cutting ceremony. Cutting a strand of the Sumo top-knot with a pair of scissors is Japan Pro Wrestling Commissioner Tadamasa Sakai (right) and acting as attendant is wrestler and referee Surugaumi.

    Popular former Sumo Yokozuna (Grand Champion) Azumafuji who has turned his ring activity to pro wrestling Thursday formally retired as a Sumo Wrestler.
    He bowed out of the Sumo picture as his Sumo Mage (top-knot of hair), symbol of a Rikishi, was removed in the traditional hair-cutting ceremony before an overflowing crowd of 2,000 at the Sankei Hall, Otemachi, Tokyo.
    Thirteen leading figures of the pro wrestling, business and entertainment world, closely attached to the 310 pound ring celebrity, headed by Japanese pro grappling champ Rikidozan, Pro Wrestling Commissioner Tadamasa Sakai and his foster-brother Hawaii Nisei singer-actor Katsuhiko Haida snipped off strands of his Mage in performing the rite.
    After Azumafuji declared his retirement from Sumo at the close of the 1954 Fall Grand Tournament, he underwent training to become a pro wrestler in Hawaii from where h returned ot Japan recently with a record of only one defeat in all his matches.
    Following the ceremony, Commissioner Sakai announced his authorization of Azumafuji to appear as a pro wrestler.
    The program also included two grappling exhibitions, music by Haida and the Moana Glee Club, and a showing of a film on Rikidozan's matches.
    Azumafuji will make his mat debut Friday, July 15, with Rikidozan and Co. against Primo Carnera and other foreign wrestlers at the Kokugikan at Kuramae, Tokyo to open a three-night stand there.