Last week Asashoryu offered a profuse apology for his "pathetic" performance in the Natsu Basho sumo tournament.

Then, he did something about it, pumping his arms, slapping his thighs, pawing the sand and roaring through five bouts to win the opening round of the Grand Sumo Tournament in Hawai'i yesterday.

The performance spoke louder than words, echoing through Blaisdell Arena, where he forced out fellow yokozuna Hakuho in an all-Mongolian showdown for the Mayor's Cup.

After claiming the 3-foot-high trophy from Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the 26-year-old Asashoryu looked into cameras and pledged to go all-out for the overall Sakura Cup in today's 12:30 p.m. wind-up of the two-day exhibition tournament.

If another sumotori wins today's single-elimination competition for the Governor's Cup, then there will be a playoff for the Sakura Cup that represents the overall title.

Yesterday marked an eye-opening turnaround from Tokyo, where the 6-foot, 326-pound Asashoryu lost his last four matches, including on the final day to Hakuho, to finish 10-5. It was his worst showing of the last 15 tournaments over more than three years and came after he had vowed to give Hakuho a battle for the promotion to yokozuna. Instead, Hakuho finished 15-0 and was promoted to yokozuna, a rank Asashoryu had held by himself for 21 consecutive tournaments.

From his first match yesterday, in which he lifted Tochiozan and deposited him outside the ring as if taking out the morning trash, Asashoryu established that he had come to make a statement. He disposed of Satoyama with a twist down, got hyper-animated Takamisakari with a thrust and Kotooshu with a lift. Then, he lifted out his bigger (6 feet 4, 341 pounds) but off-balance countryman.

Hakuho's loss in his yokozuna debut came before a crowd estimated at 4,000, including his parents and sister from Ulan Bator. But the setback hardly dimmed what has been a magical ride for the winner of the last two tournaments. "We're very happy for him and so excited," said Batgerel Davaajargal, Hakuho's sister.

While promoter Shigemitsu Inohana said he was "thrilled" by the sumotoris' performances, he termed the attendance "not satisfactory," and said he believes today's finale has already surpassed that in tickets sold.

Oshima, the Japan Sumo Association's tour chief, said he believed the early start (4:30 p.m.) rather than an evening start contributed to the low turnout.

HEAVY HEART

Maegashira 9 Miyabiyama is participating in the tournament despite the death of his mother, Masami Takeuchi, in Shizuoka.

She died at age 66 in Japan Thursday from a brain condition.

In sumo, tradition dictates that sumotori fulfill their obligation to the sport above all else.

Miyabiyama lost his opening match to Ryuo.

Hawai'i's Jesse Kuhaulua participated in the Hawai'i Basho in the 1970s as his first child, son Yumitaro, was born.

PRELIMINARY ROUND

Otsukasa def. Iwakiyama

Tochinohana def. Roho

Ryuo def. Miyabiyama

Tochinonada def. Hokutoriki

Kasuganishiki def. Tamakasuga

Futeno def. Asasekiryu

FIRST ROUND

Asashoryu def. Tochiozan

Satoyama def. Tamanoshima

Takamisakari def. Tokitenku

Ama def. Hochiyama

Chiyotaikai def. Iwakiyama

Kyokutenho def. Kotoshogiku

Kisenosato def. Tachinohana

Kotooshu def. Kakuryu

Kaio def. Tokitsuumi

Aminishiki def. Ryuo

Homasho def. Wakanosato

Toyonoshima def. Tochinonada

Kotomitsuki def. Kasugao

Dejima def. Futeno

Hakuho def. Takekaze

SECOND ROUND

Asahoryu def. Satoyama

Takamisakari def. Ama

Kyokutenho def. Chiyotaikai

Kotooshu def. Kisenosato

Kaio def. Aminishiki

Toyonoshima def. Homasho

Kotomitsuki def. Kasuganishiki

Hakuho def. Dejima

THIRD ROUND

Asashoryu def. Takamisakari

Kotooshu def. Kyokutenho

Kaio def. Toyonoshima

Hakuho def. Kotomitsuki

SEMIFINALS

Asashoryu def. Kotooshu

Hakuho def. Kaio

FINAL

Asahoryu def. Hakuho

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.