Japan today: Kasugao anxiously awaits tour to Seoul

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=6&id=255076

Kasugao anxiously awaits tour to Seoul

Wednesday, April 2, 2003 at 07:00 JST
SEOUL ? South Korean Kasugao, the country's first sumo wrestler to break 
into the makuuchi upper division, brimmed with confidence Tuesday as he 
prepared for the upcoming sumo tour in Seoul.

The 25-year-old Kasugao, whose real name is Kim Sang Taek, told a press 
conference, "I want to introduce sumo's traditional culture to South Korea," 
during an exhibition to be held June 14 and 15 at Chamshil indoor gymnasium.

Many local reporters peppered the No. 7 maegashira from the Kasugayama 
stable with questions, ranging from comparisons of sumo with traditional 
Korean-style wrestling known as "Ssirum" to his salary and what difficulties 
he has experienced in Japan.

Kasugao scraped out a winning record of 8-7 in last month's spring tourney 
in Osaka.

Komusubi Tosanoumi, who was also at the press conference, said, "It is a 
traditional sport. Therefore, please note the wrestlers' comportment and 
their styles as well as the bouts themselves." (Kyodo News)





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