– Otakorp, Inc. is delighted to welcome sumo stars five-time U.S.Champion Kelly Gneiting and Pro Sumo Champion "Yama" (heaviest Japanese human ever!) asfeatured performers and guests of our summer events. The athletes will participate indemonstrations and actual sumo matches as part of the expanded programming at the OtakonMatsuri as well as throughout Otakon 2014. They appear courtesy of USA SUMO, whoseinteractive demonstrations are both entertaining and educational, in line with Otakorp Inc'seducational mission."These guys were a big hit at Otakon Vegas, and we knew we had to bring them out east. Makeno mistake, these guys are the real deal; so not only will you learn to appreciate the sport ofsumo, they're actually a lot of fun to watch," said Jim Vowles, Director of Guests & IndustryRelations.Gneiting is a five-time champion who's competed in USA Sumo for the last 12 nationalchampionships. He is a 13-time U.S. representative at the World Sumo Championships/Gamesand a five-time U.S. Sumo Champion. At the World level, in 2006, he lost a medal match (thirdplace) to Poland. In 2009 he advanced to the quarter finals (top eight) at the World Games inTaiwan (with 50 competitors). He has run three marathons, weighing over 400 pounds, and holdsthe Guinness World Record as the "Heaviest Human Being to Complete a Marathon."Making a rare U.S. appearance, all the way from Japan, is iconic sumo figure Yama, whoseprofessional sumo fighting name is Yamamotoyama. At 6'4," 601 pounds, he is not only thelargest Japanese sumo wrestler ever, but he is actually the largest Japanese human, as well!Yama has been practicing sumo for over 20 years. After winning numerous university sumochampionships, he reached professional sumo's highest division ("makuuchi") in only two years,the second fastest pace in history.USA SUMO promotes the sport of sumo wrestling in the U.S. and throughout the world, throughdemonstrations, lectures, and appearances. For more information, visit usasumo.com The Otakon Matsuri kicks off the weekend with an outdoor festival from noon until 9 p.m. onAugust 7 at the Baltimore West Shore Park, down by the Inner Harbor and the Maryland ScienceCenter. The Matsuri, a free event open to all, will involve music, games, food, a Yukata contest,and a sumo demonstration by Kelly Gneiting and Yama.Otakon 2014 will be held August 8-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD.ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its twenty first year, Otakon is an annualcelebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings offans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeperunderstanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga,video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore,Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 34,000people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000 turnstile attendees).Otakon is a membership based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based,501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture,primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaidstaff – we are run by fans, for fans.For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2014, see www.otakon.com/