The greatest yokozuna in the annals of Sumo with Ukrainian roots Koki Naya (Taiho) died of heart failure in hospital in Tokyo on January 19, 2013 at the age of 73.
21 January 2013 09:35
Feeling deep mourning, the Embassy of Ukraine in Japan expresses condolences and words of support to relatives and friends of the legendary and famous Sumo champion Koki Naya (Taiho). //
Koki Naya was born in Sakhalin. His father was a native of Kharkiv region of Ukraine Markiyan Boryshko and his mother was Japanese. At birth the boy was given the name Ivan.
Yokozuna (Sumo grand champion) Taiho was an unmatched legend in Japan, as his 32 Emperor’s Cups championship wins in a Sumo career that started in 1956 and lasted until 1971 remains unbeaten even today.
Taiho Koki is still taken as an example to young athletes as a model of hard work, diligence and dedication. For the world of Japanese sumo his death is a great loss.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Japan shares the sadness and pain of the irreparable loss.
19 January, 2011 President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych awarded Koki Naya the Order of Merit III Degree for developing Ukrainian-Japanese humanitarian relations and promoting the image of Ukraine.
He also awarded by the honorary distinction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
