Yokozuna Hakuho and his longtime companion Sayoko Wada tied the knot on February 21 in a ceremony held at the shinto Meiji Shrine in Tokyo. Both Hakuho, born Munkhbat Davaajargal in Mongolia, and his bride wore traditional Japanese dress for the occasion. Hakuho, whose ring name means “white phoenix”, is now the only yokozuna, after compatriot Asashoryu’s retirement earlier this month.

The wedding reception took place in Tokyo’s Price Hotel with many celebrities attending. More than 70 Mongolian guests were invited, including Kyokushyuzan D.Batbayar, now an MP and before that the first Mongolian to compete in sumo’s higher ranks, and G.Usukhbayar, grand champion of Mongolian traditional wrestling.

Hakuho and Sayoko have a son D.Munkhjargal (Mahato) and a daughter Yunrentsoo (Amiu).