After winning his eleventh top division title in November 2000, Akebono suffered another injury and, after sitting out the tournament in January 2001, he decided to retire rather than face a daunting struggle back to fighting fitness. After his retirement, he became a member (or elder) of the Japan Sumo Association as a coach, or "oyakata", and worked with his former mentor in the Azumazeki stable. He helped train the Mongolian wrestler Asashōryū who also became a "yokozuna", and Akebono instructed him on how to perform the "dohyō-iri", or "yokozuna" ring-entering ceremony.