Sculptor of late yokozuna Taiho's statue erected in Russia

Sculptor of late yokozuna Taiho's statue erected in Russia

SAPPORO, Japan - Sculptor Toshio Kamada, shown in this file photo taken on Aug. 18, 2014, regards the 2.3-meter-tall statue of the late Japanese sumo legend Taiho he produced as a milestone in his career. He visited the grand champion's birthplace in Poronaysk in Russia's Far Eastern region of Sakhalin in August to attend an unveiling ceremony for the statue.

Statue of sumo legend Taiho erected in birthplace in Russia

Statue of sumo legend Taiho erected in birthplace in Russia

PORONAYSK, Russia - Photo taken Aug. 15, 2014, shows a ceremony to unveil a bronze statue of the late Japanese sumo legend Taiho in his birthplace Poronaysk in Sakhalin, eastern Russia. Toshio Kamada (far R), the Japanese sculptor who created the original mold was in attendance.

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

AKITA, Japan - Photo shows sculptor Toshio Kamada unveiling a wooden model he has carved for a statue of the late sumo great Taiho (1940-2013), whose real name was Koki Naya, in the village of Ogata in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2014. After being cast by Kamada, the bronze statue of Taiho, who held sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, is expected to be donated around August 2014 to Poronaysk on the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin, Taiho's birthplace.

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

Wooden model for Taiho's statue

AKITA, Japan - Photo shows sculptor Toshio Kamada unveiling a wooden model he has carved for a statue of the late sumo great Taiho (1940-2013), whose real name was Koki Naya, in the village of Ogata in Akita Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2014. After being cast by Kamada, the bronze statue of Taiho, who held sumo's highest rank of yokozuna, is expected to be donated around August 2014 to Poronaysk on the Russian Far Eastern island of Sakhalin, Taiho's birthplace.

Sculptor of late yokozuna Taiho's statue erected in Russia

Sculptor of late yokozuna Taiho's statue erected in Russia

SAPPORO, Japan - Sculptor Toshio Kamada, shown in this file photo taken on Aug. 18, 2014, regards the 2.3-meter-tall statue of the late Japanese sumo legend Taiho he produced as a milestone in his career. He visited the grand champion's birthplace in Poronaysk in Russia's Far Eastern region of Sakhalin in August to attend an unveiling ceremony for the statue. (Kyodo)

Statue of sumo legend Taiho erected in birthplace in Russia

Statue of sumo legend Taiho erected in birthplace in Russia

PORONAYSK, Russia - Photo taken Aug. 15, 2014, shows a ceremony to unveil a bronze statue of the late Japanese sumo legend Taiho in his birthplace Poronaysk in Sakhalin, eastern Russia. Toshio Kamada (far R), the Japanese sculptor who created the original mold was in attendance. (Kyodo)