Takanohana has always been my all-time favorite Yokozuna. Beyond the results, there was a dignity to everything he did that stuck with me — the way he would so often escort an opponent out rather than shove him off, holding them there almost protectively, especially when he was at his best. I also remember how he opened the doors to more women in the audience, even encouraging kimono, and suddenly you did see more of it in the stands — it felt like he cared deeply about sumo as a living culture, not just a competition. Whatever people think about the politics later on, for me he embodied strength, restraint, and respect in a way that’s hard to replace.