The formal ceremony to mark yokozuna Asashoryu’s retirement from sumo will take place on October 3. The 68^th yokozuna, who has won 25 titles, will step into the sumo arena for the last time on that day. Fellow Mongolians yokozuna Hakuho and ozeki Harumafuji will help him do his last yokozuna dohyo-iri ceremony. Hakuho will help him as tatemoti or the sword wielder while Harumafuji will be the tsuiharai.  His topknot will then be ceremonially cut off.

Since announcing his retirement on February 4, Asashoryu has been resting in Hawaii.