[sumo] Mongolian Tour

[Sumocypher at aol.com]

Today's Japan Times:


JSA announces Mongolian tour
Kyodo News
 
The Japan Sumo Association officially announced Saturday it will  hold a 
training tour of Mongolia from Aug. 25 to 29, the first tour of its kind  to the 
country in sumo history. 
The top-tier makuuchi division wrestlers and the Mongolian  wrestlers in all 
divisions, led by yokozuna Hakuho and Asashoryu, are scheduled  to attend the 
tour that includes exhibition tournaments on Aug. 27 and 28. 
"Mongolians all love sumo. I'm sure they will be happy to see us  there," 
Hakuho said. 
Asashoryu emphasized the significance of introducing Japan's sumo  culture 
and tradition to people in Mongolia through the tour. 
"I want to let _Mongolian  people_ (javascript:void(0))  know not only the 
severity of sumo itself but traditional  aspects of the sport's culture as well, 
including sumo songs and how  gingko-shaped topknot are tied," Asashoryu 
said. The tour has been arranged at  the height of the careers of the two 
wrestlers from the landlocked Asian  country, who occupy both of sumo current two 
spots at the highest rank of  yokozuna. 
"We have two Mongolian grand champions — Hakuho on the east side  and 
Asashoryu on the west side. Now is the best time to take a tour to  Mongolia," JSA 
tour director Oshima said. 
In the climax of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament last month,  Hakuho 
defeated Asashoryu in the _grand  finale_ (javascript:void(0))  to win his third 
straight Emperor's Cup with a 14-1 record.  Asashoryu finished 13-2 in his 
return from a two-tournament ban that stemmed  from his participation in a charity 
soccer match in Mongolia after apparently  feigning the extent of his injuries 
to sit out a regional sumo tour. 
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