Ex-yokozuna Asashoryu named as presidential envoy

Aug 04, 2017 | News On Japan

Aug 04, 2017 (NHK) - Sumo's former yokozuna Asashoryu has been named as a Mongolian presidential envoy in charge of boosting relations with Japan.

The office of Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga announced the appointment on Thursday. It said former grand champion Asashoryu is tasked with strengthening bilateral ties through sports and cultural exchanges during his one-year term.

During the presidential election campaign earlier this year, Asashoryu uploaded many videos on Facebook in support of Battulga of the Democratic Party.

The videos are believed to have garnered support mainly from young voters and helped Battulga win the presidency.

Asashoryu is currently a businessman in Mongolia, running a bank. He is also an executive member of the Democratic Party's local branch.

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