Koizumi E-Mail Magazine
[O]n the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Yokozuna Asashoryu won an unprecedented seventh consecutive title...Actually, when Asashoryu visited my office last year, he made a request to me, saying, "I would like to receive the victory trophy directly from you." I promised him then that "I would go if you sweep all the tournaments in the year, from the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament up to the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament." And this year, Asashoryu won brilliantly all six tournaments. Keeping with my promise, I flew to Fukuoka to hand Asashoryu the Prime Minister's Cup. At the awards ceremony, I congratulated him, saying, "The new record, the magnificent record--both are remarkable! Congratulations!" I believe he has become one of the greatest Yokozunas and will surely go down in history.
...I do hope Japanese sumo wrestlers will improve their own records as well.
