Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu left Japan for the United States on Tuesday to promote a sumo wrestlers' visit to Las Vegas scheduled for October.
Asashoryu, who claimed his 11th career tournament victory in Osaka last month, will help promote the tour by holding press conferences in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Las Vegas on Thursday and San Francisco on Friday.
Sumo elder Takasago, chief spokesman of the Japan Sumo Association, and former grand champion Musashimaru, who hailed from Hawaii, are also on the promotion trip with Asashoryu.