Last week was a pleasant surprise
for Mongolian-born sumo wrestler Shironoryu, 26, who acquired Japanese
citizenship last year. He found himself among the seven the sumo ranking
committee had promoted to the second-highest juryo division for the autumn
tournament. Only weeks ago he was caught up in the recent baseball gambling
scandal that shook the sumo world to its foundations.

 Shironoryu was allowed to
participate in the recent Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament because his connection
to the gambling was minimal. However, the young wrestler was obviously moved by
his promotion from the third-highest makushita division, as he broke down in
tears during a news conference to announce the move at the Sakaigawa stable.