Greetings
I would like to express my thanks and pleasure at the Sixth Sumo World Championship being held here at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. This all could not have taken place without the sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Education, the Japaness Olympic Committee, the Japan Sumo Association, and TV Asahi as well as the special support of Japan Foundation.
As you already know, sumo has a long history and tradition. It is part of our country,s cultural heritage and has been nurtured by the people over the years. It is not merely a game of winning and losing, but is a form of a martial art that aims to produce a socially useful human form. I am truly happy that this aspect of sumo has become popular and is widely loved throughout the world. Thanks to this, sumo has advanced to the point where continental sumo championships are held every year in five continents and six regions. On top of being successful, these events make a great contribution to the enthusiasm and to the improvement of sumo techniques, as the qualification for the Sumo World Championship is determined at these continental championships.
At the end of October this year, the number of countries in the International Sumo Federation reached 78. Various races of the world have the chance to laugh and cry together through this contest known as sumo. I believe that this will bring about friendship that cross racial boundaries and contribute to the upkeep and advancement of international peace. I also believe that the continuation of these efforts will bring about “sumo as an Olympic sport” in the near future.
On this day the Sumo World Championship is literally a tournament in which national representatives compete to decide this year's world champion. These representatives have gone through spiritual training and have competed in hard preliminary tournaments. I therefore hope that the competitors fully understand the significance of this event. I also hope that by bearing the heavy load of their nation's honor and hopes, they can duly display the spirit, technique and body that they have honed through day to day training, and that they can compete fairly and fully.
In parting, I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of those involved in the management of holding the championship, and I pray for the success and further development of this tournament.
Akira Sasai
President
International Sumo Federation
