Sumo: Kotooshu receives highest award in Bulgaria+

SOFIA, July 28 Kyodo -
Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu was awarded the Stara Planina Order First Class, the
highest government award, by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on Tuesday.

Kotooshu, who became the first European wrestler ever to win an Emperor's Cup
at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May last year, received the award in
Sofia for his contribution to the recognition of Bulgaria and its culture in
Japan.
The 26-year-old attended the award ceremony with his fiancee Asako Ando after
finishing 13-2 in the recently concluded Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kotooshu is the second sumo wrestler to receive the highest government award
from his native country following Asashoryu, who received the Hero of Labor
award in Mongolia last month.
==Kyodo