SOFIA – Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotooshu received a congratulatory message Tuesday from the Bulgarian government on the eve of officially earning promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki. Vesela Lecheva, head of Bulgaria’s State Agency for Youth and Sports, said in the message that Kotooshu’s achievement is an “unprecedented success” and encouraged the 22-year-old to “successfully take the final step to the top.” Lecheva’s message was introduced at a news conference held by the Bulgarian Sumo Federation, which was attended by Kotooshu’s parents and Koichiro Fukui, Japanese ambassador to Bulgaria.
Politics & Diplomacy
Hashimoto to retract sex suggestion for U.S. military
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto aims to retract his remark that U.S. servicemen in Okinawa should use its adult entertainment industry to avoid committing sex offenses.