28.11.2019
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov met with the Bulgarian sumo competitor Kaloyan Mahlyanov - Kotoōshū. "Sumo is an imperial sport, the most popular one in Japan, and as I have repeatedly said, Kotoōshū is an ambassador of our country and of the European Union. We are proud that there are people like him, who glorify our country," said the Prime Minister during the meeting.
Kotoōshū was the first Bulgarian to be admitted in 2002 to a sumo professional training school in Tokyo. For a long time he competed in the professional elite sumo division Makuuchi, and in January 2006 received the Ozeki rank. He won the Emperor's Cup and became the first European to win this trophy.
Currently the most famous Bulgarian sumo fighter is developing his own Naruto Beya school in Japan. Kotoōshū told Prime Minister Borissov that he had devoted himself to coaching.
Kaloyan Mahlyanov - Kotoōshū arrived in Bulgaria on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the offering and distribution of Bulgarian yogurt in the Land of the Rising Sun. In recent decades, it has taken an impressive share of 20% of the Japanese market, with its popularity surpassing that of many world-renowned brands.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Borissov and Kotoōshū also discussed the development of the Sumo sport in Bulgaria, projects that would promote it and activities in this direction.
