Filipino-Japanese sumo wrestler featured on ‘ Rated K’

Masunoyama Tomoharu with his mom

Filipino-Japanese sumo wrestler Masunoyama Tomoharu will surprise his Filipina mother Maria Christine with a dance of gratitude via “Happy Surprise,” a segment of the popular variety show “Totsugeki! At Home!” that airs on NHK, Japan’s public broadcaster.

The performance will also be featured on May 25 on ABS-CBN’s “Rated K.”

The Filipino-Japanese sumo wrestler is very popular in Japan, and is especially loved for his smile.

He was born on Nov. 1, 1990 in Sakae, Chiba, Japan. When his parents divorced, her mother brought her to the Philippines where he finished junior high school. Because her mother was working so hard to make both ends meet, Masunoyama decided to return to Japan when he was 14 to resume training as a sumo wrestler.

Masunoyama joined the Chiganoura sumo stable and made his professional debut in 2006. He went on to endear himself to the public and the press and is now considered a rising star in the sport. He is always grateful to his mother for raising him. He sends her money, and hopes to one day buy her a house.

NHK is Japan’s sole public broadcaster. Funded by Japanese households, it has a reputation for impartial, high-quality programming. NHK reaches about 50 million households with four nationwide TV channels.

In collaborating with ABS-CBN, NHK said, “We regard ‘Happy Surprise’ as the very first success we achieved on the long track. We are having collective and intensive discussions for extending our cooperation

further. Just wait until you’ll see our second big surprise.”

Ms. Linggit Tan, ABS-CBN business unit head, said the collaboration with NHK will enable ABS-CBN to expand and penetrate the Japanese market.”Television is a global medium and we need to explore other things we can for TV and for Filipinos. NHK, as a public broadcaster, wants to showcase Japanese culture,and most especially, show their appreciation for Filipinos.”

Filipino-Japanese sumo wrestler featured on ‘ Rated K’

Source: Mb.com.ph (May 26, 2014 at 11:20AM)

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