Common ethnic roots, a mutual passion for wrestling and a sizable amount of development aid money tightly unite Japan and Mongolia, but over the past year Mongolians have found a reason to worry.
On the friendly side, Mongolians feel close to the Japanese because they believe the two races share ethnic roots. Citing linguistic similarities and Asian migration patterns, many people in Ulan Bator believe Japanese and Koreans descended from Mongolians about 2,000 years ago. Others believe Mongolians descended from the first Japanese emperor.
Modern-day cultural relations are clearer. Ulan Bator native Dolgorsuren Dagvadorj, better known as Asashoryu in Japan, dominates the world of sumo. He is the first Mongolian wrestler to reach the rank of yokozuna, or grand champion.