Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Congratulates Tochinoshin
By Mariam Chanishvili
Tuesday, February 6
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Taro Kono sent a letter to Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil Janelidze, celebrating the victory of Tochinoshin.
Tochinoshin became the first rank-and-file wrestler in nearly six years to win a grand sumo tournament defeating Japanese wrestler Shohozan for his seventh straight victory at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
“I congratulate Tochinoshin on his victory. It is very joyful and remarkable in the history of our countries’ friendly relationship. I wish him success and also wish for deepening of our countries’ bilateral relations,” stated Taro Kono.
Tochinoshin, whose real name is Levan Gorgadze, was fighting as a number three ‘maegashira’, the lowest of the five ranks in the sport’s top ‘makuuchi’ division and won the Emperor’s Cup.
