Kotoshogiku has won the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, making him the first Japanese sumo wrestler to win a championship in a decade.
Kotoshogiku, real name Kazuhiro Kikutsugi, won the Emperor's Cup with a 14-1 showing in the 15-day tournament.
While Sumo wrestling is the national sport of Japan, Mongolian athletes have been consistently taking titles for years. The last time a Japanese-born competitor won a tournament was in 2006, and the last Japanese grand champion retired in 2003.