President Chen Shui-bian met with a delegation of the Japan Sumo Association on August 18 at the Office of the President. He praised his "gigantic" guests for introducing to Taiwan and the world traditional Japanese culture and the Samurai spirit from which people can learn the importance of etiquette and respect.
He especially thanked Kitanoumi, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association who first met with the president in 2004 and promised him to arrange a sumo wrestling tournament in Taipei as soon as possible. And now, the promise has been fulfilled.
The president wished his sumo guests a wonderful time during their stay in Taiwan and happiness in sharing the Taiwanese people's pride of the country's socio-economic-political achievements. The sumo masters told the president that they looked forward to and were excited about visiting Taipei 101 and the National Palace Museum, and thanked him for meeting with them.
The president's guests included Sumo masters Asashoryu, Hakuho, Chiyotaikai, Kaio, Kotooshu, and Tochiazuma, and the staff of the Japan Sumo Association Ooshima, Shiranui, and Oguruma. Their visit to the Office of the President was accompanied by Cheng Wen-tsang, Taiwan's minister of the Government Information Office.