The following are the events in professional sumo during 2003. Tournaments Hatsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 12–26 January Haru basho, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, 9–23 March Natsu basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 11–25 May Nagoya basho, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya, 6–20 July Aki basho, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, 7–21 September Kyushu basho, Fukuoka International Centre, Kyushu, 9–23 November News January At the Hatsu basho in Tokyo, Takanohana, winner of 22 tournament championships, announces his retirement from sumo after eight years as a yokozuna, after suffering three defeats in the first seven days. He had suffered many injury problems and had only recently returned from a seven tournament layoff. His fellow yokozuna Musashimaru sits out the whole tournament after injuring his wrist in the previous tourney. Also missing are ozeki Kaio and Chiyotaikai, and Tochiazuma who drops out after five losses in a row. In their absence, ozeki Asashoryu wins his second successive makuuchi division championship, with a 14–1 record, and is promoted to yokozuna. He becomes the third foreigner, and first Mongolian, to reach sumo's highest rank. Komusubi Wakanosato, and maegashira Dejima and Tochinonada, are runners-up on 11–4. Wakanosato is awarded the Fighting Spirit prize along with Korean Kasugao. The juryo division championship is won by Asashoryu's stablemate Asasekiryu who defeats Buyuzan in a playoff. Former komusubi Ryogoku inherits the toshiyori name of Sakaigawa from former yokozuna Sadanoyama, and changes the name of his stable from Nakadachi to Sakaigawa stable. February Former sekiwake Takatoriki takes over the running of Otake stable from his father-in-law, former yokozuna Taiho. Former sekiwake Tochinowaka takes over the running of Kasugano stable from former yokozuna Tochinoumi. March At the Haru basho in Osaka, Chiyotaikai returns from injury to win his third top division championship with a 12–3 record. Asashoryu scores 10–5 in his debut tournament as a yokozuna, enough for the runner-up position alongside Kaio and maegashira Kyokushuzan and Hokutoriki. Musashimaru and Tochiazuma sit the tournament out. Musoyama pulls out after five losses in the first six days. Kyokushuzan's stablemate Kyokutenho wins the Fighting Spirit prize, and Takamisakari the Technique Award. Tochisakae wins the juryo championship. Veteran former komusubi Daizen retires after 22 years in sumo, as does former juryo wrestler Susanoumi, the heaviest Japanese rikishi ever at some 240 kg. May At the Natsu basho in Tokyo, Asashoryu takes his first championship as a yokozuna with a 13–2 record. Kaio is runner-up on 11–4, alongside maegashira