TOKYO — The Japanese are pulling their hair out over a little hair-pulling.
For the first time, a top competitor in sumo wrestling yanked an opponent's topknot during a match — and it's front-page news.
"Topknot grabber, unheard of," read Friday's headline in the nation's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri.
"A first that has sullied the honor of sumo's highest rank," blared another in the Nikkan Sports tabloid, which carried a photo of the hair-grab on the front page.
Grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia was disqualified for yanking his opponent down to the dirt ring by his topknot in a match Thursday.
In an ancient sport known for its discipline as well as 400-pound wrestlers, pulling hair is considered among the worst fouls possible. It also marked the first time a grand champion lost because of a foul.
In Thursday's final bout, Asashoryu went against a lower-ranked wrestler, Kyokushuzan, also from Mongolia. After a barrage of powerful thrusts that had his rival reeling, Asashoryu inexplicably grabbed Kyokushuzan's hair and pulled him down.
The judges disqualified Asashoryu and declared Kyokushuzan the winner. Asashoryu, beaten by Kyokushuzan the last time they fought, said he did not intend to break the rules.
"From beginning to end, I was just trying to win," Asashoryu said.
Asashoryu's foul has caused an uproar in Japan, due mostly to the fact sumo has a deeper significance than other popular sports.
Wrestlers follow a strict communal training regimen, dress in traditional kimono and have a disciple-master relationship with their coaches. They also are expected to observe a high level of discipline in the ring, which is considered sacred ground.
They bow to each other before and after each bout; they toss fistfuls of salt onto the ring in a purification ritual.
To win, wrestlers slap, push and throw their opponents to the ground in an effort to either knock them down or out.
But pulling hair? Never. There are some, though, who are willing to forgive the champion.
"Sumo these days is very rough," said Hiromi Sato, a shopkeeper in Tokyo. "I think he was in trouble and thought grabbing hair could help him win."
Asashoryu was still allowed to wrestle in the 15-day tournament in Nagoya, a city in central Japan. The tournament ends July 20.