A 100-strong delegation of the Japan Sumo Association, including 42 top-ranked professional sumo wrestlers, arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit.
The sumo wrestlers will stage exhibition matches tomorrow and on Sunday in the Taipei Arena.
This will be the first visit to Taiwan by a Japanese sumo wrestling team since the end of World War II.
PHOTO: CNA
Conspicuous among the wrestlers will be Asashoryu Akinori, the first sumo wrestler from Mongolia to reach the rank of yokozuna -- the highest sumo rank. As of this year, he is also the only active yokozuna.
Another well-known wrestler of Mongolian origin is Hakuho Sho, who is the sixth foreign-born wrestler to reach the rank of ozeki, the champion rank immediately below yokozuna.
The sumo exhibition competition in Taipei is sponsored by Asia Plus Broadcasting, a local cable TV network.
PHOTO: CNA
The network had invited a group of wrestlers from Japan to tour Taiwan in mid-June to promote this month's event.
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