A retirement ceremony was held on Saturday for former sumo Grand Champion Hakuho at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

He won the most ever 45 tournaments, chalking up 1,187 wins before retiring in 2021 after that year's Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament.

He then took over the Miyagino stable, becoming its new stable master last July.

At the ceremony, held 16 months after his retirement, the new Miyagino stable master had his last bout with his son Mahato, and then performed a ring-entering ceremony that drew loud applause.

He was accompanied by Sekiwake Hoshoryu, and Ozeki Takakeisho, who won the New Year Grand Sumo tournament earlier this month.

At times he shed tears when nearly 300 people, including former Yokozuna Kisenosato, former Yokozuna Harumafuji and his mother, who turned 75 years old on that day, began cutting his topknot with scissors.

Stable master Magaki, who trained him when he was young, cut off the final portion of the topknot, bringing an end to his 20-year career.

Stable master Miyagino told reporters after the ceremony that he feels refreshed, but also a bit sad for losing what became a vital part of his body.

He said he will start fighting in another ring, and that he will work to live up to Miyagino's name, and give back by raising new Yokozuna and Ozeki.