Jan. 6 - Japan's sumo grand champion, Asashoryu, stamps before thousands to perform New Year's rites. The Mongolian-born 140-kilo (or some 300 pound) wrestler made his first public appearance of the year at Tokyo's Meiji Shrine in front of 4,500 excited fans. Wearing nothing more than a loin cloth in the crisp January sunshine, Asashoryu, who holds the highest rank of yokozuna, offered sacred rites along with two other sumo wrestlers. The increasing numbers of foreign wrestlers in the traditional Japanese sport is creating a renewed interest in the sport. Soundbites: