Hoshoryu (25) of Tatsunami, who won the first tournament of the sumo season and was promoted to yokozuna, held a celebratory parade around Kashiwa Station in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture on the 16th. A total of about 25,000 people came to the event.

Hoshoryu came to Kashiwa Nittaidai (now Nippon Sport Science University Kashiwa) in the city after graduating from junior high school in Mongolia and later switched from wrestling to sumo, eventually joining the sumo world. When he won his first championship at the Nagoya tournament in 2023 and was promoted to ozeki, he paid a courtesy visit to the city and said, "Kashiwa is my hometown in Japan."

On this day, he rode in a rickshaw for the first time, and appeared on the 220-meter road from the west exit of Kashiwa Station to the 440-meter road from the east exit, where he was greeted with calls such as "yokozuna" and "Kashiwa's pride." He passed by the ramen shop, crepe shop, and bowling alley that he had been familiar with since his high school days.

"I'm so happy I can't say anything. I always thought of it as my home in Japan. Thank you," said Hoshoryu. Looking back on the rickshaw, he said, "It was embarrassing. I'm glad it didn't break. I'm glad it brought back so many fond memories."

As he prepares for the Spring Tournament (first day March 9th at Edion Arena Osaka), he said, "The support has given me strength. I'm really glad I was able to win the January tournament." The parade is run by about 70 Kashiwa City employees and about 80 police officers. At the start of the parade, there was an incident where his uncle's name was mistakenly announced instead of "Yokozuna Asashoryu," but he responded with a wry smile and a tilted head. He was smiling throughout the parade, waving to the people along the route.

Yumiko Okada, who taught him Japanese when he was studying, also rushed to the sidelines. She currently lives in Kyoto City, but was deeply moved, saying, "This skinny kid has grown so much."

Hoshoryu looked delighted when people called out to him, "Byamba," after his real name, Sugaragchaa Byambasuren, just like in his high school days. When he was reunited with Okada, he said, "I'm so glad you came all the way from Kyoto."

The mayor of the city, Kazumi Ota, encouraged Toyonoryu, saying, "As a hometown of Japan, I want to continue to support Hoshoryu." Hoshoryu once again expressed his gratitude for the support, saying, "The 47th Yokozuna was Kashiwado. I read the numbers backwards and it was also thanks to the support of Kashiwa City that I was able to become the 74th Yokozuna. I look forward to your continued support."