Modified Toyota Century To Be Used For Victory Ride of Sumo Champion
20:15 JST, January 13, 2024
Toyota Motor Corp. unveiled a modified version of its top-of-the-line Century on Saturday at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan in which the winner of the upcoming New Year Grand Sumo Tournament will be taken for a victory ride.
The car, a Century sport utility vehicle that was first launched last year, features reinforced suspension springs to handle the added weight of the heavy sumo wrestlers. The company made the SUV into a convertible by removing the roof.
Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda started development of the “sumofied” vehicle about a year ago at the request of former yokozuna Hakuho, now stablemaster Miyagino, with whom he has a close relationship.
“I’m grateful that the Century was chosen as the car that only the champion can ride in,” Toyoda said.
Up to now, the Toyota Crown has been used for the victory parade.
The New Year tournament starts Sunday, with the champion to be crowned on Jan. 28 before being taken for a victory ride.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Shohei Ohtani Defied Ex-Interpreter’s Request to Cover Up Fraud, Report
-
Shohei Ohtani Hits 176 MLB Homers; the Most by a Japanese-Born Player Surpassing Hideki Matsui
-
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
-
Japanese Public Divided Over Hosting Future Olympic Games As Corruption, Bid-Rigging Scandals Blunt Enthusiasm
-
Here’s How Investigators Allege Ippei Mizuhara Stole $16 million From Shohei Ohtani
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’