TOKYO - Yokozuna Hoshoryu, who has withdrawn from three consecutive grand sumo tournaments due to injury, performed a ring-entry ceremony at an exhibition meet Monday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Having undergone surgery on his right knee in late July, he expressed a sense of relief following the performance.
"I'm glad I could show the audience that I'm doing OK," said the Mongolian-born grand champion, who did not take part in any bouts on the day. "It was a relief physically to perform the ring-entry ceremony again after so long."
He sat out the entire 15-day Autumn meet in September, reportedly spending his mornings in rehabilitation and afternoons training at his Tatsunami stable.
He intends to join sumo's Autumn tour midway, from the Oct. 10 event in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, provided he has medical clearance to take part.
While he did not go into detail about his recovery, he said his condition had "improved significantly."
