Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > January, 2006

Awards Ceremony for the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize Tuesday, January 24, 2006 JAPANESE The Awards Ceremony for the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Sponsored by the Japan Professional Sports Association, the Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize is awarded each year to the individual or group that is deemed to have made the largest contribution to overall professional sports throughout the country. The Grand Prize for the year 2005 went to sumo wrestler Yokozuna Asashoryu, who received the Prize for the second consecutive year. Asashoryu achieved unprecedented full wins of all six tournaments throughout the year, winning 84 bouts in a year to set a record for the greatest number of wins. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi presented him with the Prime Minister's Award. Prime Minister Koizumi then received from him an Asashoryu doll and a book written by him. Prime Minister Koizumi congratulated him on his strong showing, saying, "Your record will not likely be broken any time soon. That's splendid."