Former sumo Grand Champion Hakuho returned to his homeland, Mongolia, for a visit for the first time since becoming a Japanese citizen and retiring last year. He told NHK he wants to build ties between the two countries.

Hakuho flew to Mongolia on Monday. It was his first homecoming in four years. Hakuho set many records before retiring last year. He won 45 tournaments, the most ever. He is now a sumo stable master.

In Ulaanbaatar, many fans turned out to welcome him home. Hakuho visited his home for a long-awaited reunion with his mother. His father, a Mongolian wrestling star, died four years ago. Hakuho was finally able to tell him he had retired.

On Tuesday, he met with Mongolia's president. Hakuho told the president he wanted to work to bring Japan and Mongolia closer.

Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh told the former grand champion that everyone in the country is proud of him. Khurelsukh asked him to nurture younger generations to become a sumo star like Hakuho.

Hakuho invited the president to his retirement ceremony next year and vowed to build bridges between the two countries through sumo.