President Katsav vs. sumo wrestlers
Japanese visitors choose not to deal with president, settle for demonstration of their art; during visit, wrestlers set to try and float on Dead Sea
The Japanese sumo wrestlers' visit to Holy Land continued Tuesday, and a day after their shopping spree in Tel Aviv, they arrived at the President's Residence in Jerusalem.
The 15 wrestlers, considered to be Japan's top sumo fighters, offered a basic demonstration of their art during their meeting with President Moshe Katsav. The president was very impressed by the Japanese culture, but has yet to confirm whether he plans to implement the exercises he learned during his moments of leisure.
President Katsav and his guests (Photo: Haim Tzach)
After the presidential meeting, the wrestlers headed back to Tel Aviv, where they were expected to visit the beach, where they will try and teach Israeli children a number of basic exercises.
The wrestlers' visit to Israel is scheduled to last one week. On Monday, apart from their visit to the Azrieli Mall and their meeting with Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog, they toured the Mount of Olives, the Western Wall, the Christian Quarter and other Christian tourist sites in Jerusalem.
Camels on high alert
On Wednesday, the wrestlers are set to perform in Caesarea, and at the end of their visit they will visit the Dead Sea and try and float over the water. Simultaneously, the alert level will be raised in the Negev's Nokdim Ranch, where the sumo wrestlers are planning to ride camels.
Honoring the president (Photo: Haim Tzach)
The wrestlers were invited to Israel by the Tourism and Foreign ministries, Israeli Ambassador to Japan Eli Cohen and the TUI company, as part of the friendly relations between the two countries.
Their total weight exceeds one ton (2,000 pounds), and in order to maintain their figure they consume a special diet, also being served to them in Israel, which includes a lot of proteins, rice, and meat.
