Former sumo Grand Champion Hakuho will return 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 will fly 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, Hakuho to visit his home for a long-awaited reunion with his mother. His father, a Mongolian wrestling star, died four years ago.