Katsunori Shimoyama, the second generation Wakanohana Kanji, died of lung cancer on the 16th.
He was 69 years old.
Mr. Shimoyama from Owani Town, Aomori Prefecture was promoted to yokozuna after the summer of 1978.
He won the championship four times until he finally retired from the first place in 1983.
After his retirement, he also served as a director of the Japan Sumo Association as a master of Magaki.