Top �� Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister

Congratulatory Telegram from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Nambaryn Enkhbayar, on the Promotion of Ozeki Asashoryu to the Rank of Yokozuna

January 29, 2003

With the achievement by Mongolian ozeki Asashoryu of a second victory at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament and his formal promotion to the rank of yokozuna on this day, January 29, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent a congratulatory telegram to the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Mr. Nambaryn Enkhbayar, as outlined below. I wish to offer my heartiest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of Mongolia on the second victory of ozeki Asashoryu, who is from Mongolia, at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, and the decision by the Japan Sumo Association board of directors to promote him to the highest rank of yokozuna on January 29. Many mutual high-level official visits and cultural exchanges were undertaken in 2002 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Mongolia diplomatic relations. Furthermore, the sense of friendship between Japan and Mongolia has deepened rapidly in recent times through sumo. In this context, the rise of Asashoryu to the rank of yokozuna is an event that symbolizes the great broadening of exchange between the peoples of Japan and Mongolia in the twenty-first century.