Sumo wrestler Asashouryu, a Mongolian national who has attained the highest rank in sumo, Yokozuna, is a major star in Japan. During May and June, Asashouryu and his Takasago 'stable' of colleague wrestlers were in Mongolia for training.

On 1st June, Children's Day in Mongolia, a children's sumo wrestling contest was held, and the six winners received school backpacks (or randoseru in Japanese) from Asashouryu. The event was widely reported in the Japanese press, raising awareness of the backpack campaign.

JOICFP and Kuraray Corporation have been collecting used backpacks that Japanese children have finished with, which are then reconditioned for use by children in developing countries. In August 2006, an additional 500 backpacks will be donated to Mongolian children through JOICFP's counterpart, the Mongolian Family Welfare Association.

Asashouryu with the six lucky winners