Wakanohana Masaru

Wakanohana III Masaru (若乃花 勝) (born January 201971 as Masaru Hanada (花田 勝 Hanada Masaru)) is the elder son of Futagoyama oyakata, formerly Ozeki Takanohana II. He is also the nephew of Wakanohana I Kanji, who was a famous Yokozuna of the 1950's.

He entered sumo in March 1988, at the same time as his younger brother Takanohana Koji, and also Akebono Taro.

He earned the rank of Yokozuna in Sumo in 1998 after winning his fifth top division championship. However, he subsequently was injured and retired in March 2000 without adding to his tally of championship wins.

In the early part of his career he wrestled under the name Wakahanada, being given his uncle's fighting name a few tournaments prior to his promotion to Ozeki.

After a brief spell as a member (or elder) of the Japan Sumo Association, he eventually left sumo completely and has worked as an entertainer in Japan, as well as trying to enter the professional world of American Football.