In the six decades since Hawaiian Takamiyama embarked on a trailblazing journey in Âé¶¹´«Ã½ national sport, only two foreign countries have produced yokozuna.

The United States led the way, with Takamiyama¡¯s protege Akebono being first to break sumo¡¯s glass ceiling in 1993, and his compatriot Musashimaru followed suit six years later.

Since the turn of the millennium, though, it¡¯s been a case of Mongolian domination, with Hoshoryu¡¯s recent promotion bringing to six the total number of grand champions hailing from the Land of the Blue Sky.