Tokyo, Jan. 16 -- Grand champion Kisenosato, the only Japanese wrestler at sumo's highest rank, has decided to retire after three straight losses at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Kisenosato needed a strong start to the New Year tourney to salvage his career but wasn't able to win in the first three days and decided to retire, his stablemaster said on Wednesday.

"I spoke to him for about 30 minutes yesterday," stablemaster Tagonoura said. "It was his decision. He told me he could no longer perform at the level he wanted to."

The 32-year-old Kisenosato was the first Japanese-born wrestler in 19 years to gain promotion to sumo's highest rank in March 2017. He won his second straight championship in his yokozuna debut at the followin...