JAPAN: Sumo champ Mongolian Hakuho ties the knot in Tokyo

Record ID: 1517604

  • Title: JAPAN: Sumo champ Mongolian Hakuho ties the knot in Tokyo
  • Date: 22nd February 2010
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (FEBRUARY 21, 2010) (REUTERS) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ** ) NEWS CONFERENCE GROOM AND BRIDE ON PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) HAKUHO, MONGOLIAN SUMO GRAND CHMPION, SAYING: "Yesterday I couldn't sleep much. I was nervous but it's a different kind of tension from the feeling of the ring. It's a good feeling and I am glad the ceremony went well." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SAYOKO WADA, BRIDE, SAYING: "In the future I'd like to keep on building a cheerful and warm home." VARIOUS OF GROOM AND BRIDE COUPLE SHOWING WEDDING RINGS MORE OF GROOM AND BRIDE COUPLE BOWING AND LEAVING THE VENUE
  • Embargoed: 9th March 2010 04:04
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA708U63HT5AX14FY6X4MMT2FIW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Nuptial rites for sumo wrestler Hakuho take place at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.
    Mongolian sumo grand champion Hakuho and his bride Sayoko Wada tied the knot on Sunday (February 21) in a ceremony held at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.
    Hakuho, born Munkhbat Davaajargal, and his consort were both clad in traditional Japanese formal dresses and exchanged the marriage vows at the shinto temple, in the heart of the Japanese capital, under the eyes of curious fans.
    Shortly after the wedding, which was conducted according to the Japanese traditional protocol, the couple held a news conference where the 24-year-old yokozuna, which means the highest rank in professional sumo, confessed his emotion to the reporters.
    "Yesterday I couldn't sleep much. I was nervous but it's a different kind of tension from the feeling of the ring. It's a good feeling and I am glad the ceremony went well," he said.
    A second official wedding ceremony is to be held on Saturday (February 27) in the bride's home town Tokushima, in the southern region of Shikoku, where the couple reportedly first met.
    Asked about their future projects, sumo champion's wife Sayoko Wada said "In the future I'd like to keep on building a cheerful and warm home."
    Hakuho, whose ring name means 'white phoenix', was promoted to sumo's highest rank of yokozuna in 2007.
    At present, he is the only active yokozuna, following the recent retirement of his rival and compatriot champion Asashoryu.
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