2018-06-06
The first Georgian ozeki has arrived in his homeland. Tochinoshin's victories have put in place a robust bridge between the Georgian and Japanese nations.
Today, he is Georgia's leading face in Japan.
Even though a great distance separates Georgia and Japan, our people's characters have much in common. Exceptional is Tochinoshin's role in better introducing our country to the Japanese people. The unanimous support of the Georgian people, which Tochinoshin has enjoyed during his tournaments, is most rare, indeed.
Levan largely credits his victory to support and rooting from all of Georgia.
"You can count on us just as we do count on you," he told me before bidding farewell.
Of course, we are all counting on him. I have no doubt that greater victories are still ahead.