Odawara, Kanagawa
Asanosho Hajime (born 23 December 1969 as Hajime Ozawa, later Hajime Ozuka) is a former sumo wrestler from Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan. He made his professional debut in March 1992, and reached the top division in March 1995. His highest rank was "maegashira" 2. He defeated "yokozuna" Akebono in their first meeting in March 1997 to earn his only "kinboshi." A back injury sent him down to the "sandanme" division, and he decided to retire in January 2002, after suffering a detached retina. He became an elder of the Japan Sumo Association, but left in January 2008.