Sumo grand champions Hakuho, Kakuryu and Harumafuji performed a foot-stomping ritual at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo on Wednesday ahead of the first tournament of the year, which kicks off this weekend.

It was the first time the three Mongolian-born wrestlers took part in the annual rite to usher in the new year, following Kakuryu's promotion to the highest rank of yokozuna at the March tournament.

Hakuho...