Mongolian sumo wrestler Hakuho has smashed the record for most career wins in Japan's national sport.
The 'yokozuna', or grand champion, took down Takayasu on Friday in a frenetic bout to deafening cheers at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
With his 1048th win, the 32-year-old surpassed former wrestler Kaio's record, in place since 2011.
The Mongolian - who had been so small when arriving in Japan at age 15 only a minor sumo 'stable' would take him in - also holds the record for the most number of tournament wins.
"I'm glad that I was able to show this victory to the fans," the 192cm-framed wrestler said, struggling to catch his breath after the historic win against his 'ozeki'-ranked rival.
"If you put something into words, then it can come true. But you can also say my practice before this tournament and my body's condition led to this result."
The historic win came 16 years after Hakuho's debut, versus the 23 years it took for the previous record holder.
Hakuho's success comes as foreign wrestlers increasingly dominate Japan's 15-century-old sport.
Three of the four wrestlers in the sport's top yokozuna rank are Mongolian. The fourth, Kisenosato, became the first home-grown grand champion in almost two decades when he was promoted earlier in January.
Despite the prevalence of non-native 'rikishi', or wrestlers, the sumo association forbids foreign nationals becoming sumo master, or 'oyakata' - a title that successful wrestlers often seek after they retire.
Several local media reported on Friday that Hakuho planned to attain Japanese citizenship "in the near future" so he could be oyakata one day - a move that could stir controversy in his native Mongolia.
Hakuho's father is regarded as a national hero as the country's first Olympic medallist, when he won silver in 1968 for wrestling.
