In 1996 he became a naturalised Japanese citizen, taking the name Taro Akebono. When he retired from sumo wrestling in 2001 due to repeated knee injuries, over 11,000 spectators attended his leaving ceremony – during which he had his topknot gradually cut off by 320 friends and former competitors.
Source link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68787193