Ozeki Terunofuji is seen on July 13, 2021, at Dolphins Arena in Nagoya. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Newly promoted sumo grand champion Terunofuji has given up his Mongolian nationality and acquired Japanese citizenship, an official government publication showed Wednesday.

       By becoming a Japanese citizen, the 29-year-old who belongs to the Isegahama stable clears the way to run his own stable of wrestlers in the future.

       Terunofuji is the fifth foreign-born yokozuna who switched to Japan after U.S.-born Akebono and Musashimaru, who are both retired. The still-active Hakuho and retired Kakuryu, both from Mongolia, also made the change.

       Despite falling short of a third straight championship, Terunofuji was promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna after he finished the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament with a 14-1 record last month.

       He suffered injuries to both knees and a health condition but still became the first wrestler to fight his way back to the second-highest rank of ozeki after being demoted as low as fifth-tier jonidan.

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