Pioneering sumo great Konishiki marks 40 years in Japan

TOKYO -- Former ozeki-ranked sumo wrestler Konishiki, now a TV personality, marked the 40th anniversary of the day he touched down in Japan from the United States on June 18, recalling that he arrived with no knowledge of his adopted home.

"Forty years ago, I arrived at Narita (airport) knowing nothing. I'm glad I came to Japan and became Japanese. From now on, I would like to work to make the culture of sumo known to the world," Konishiki, 58, said before an anniversary party held in Tokyo.

He was the first foreign-born ozeki and became a fan favorite for his pushing style of sumo -- making the most of his over 200-kilogram physique -- and his cheerful character.

In his life as a rikishi, he said he could not get his first "maezumo" preliminary bout among unranked wrestlers out of his mind. "I was embarrassed and scared. My opponent suddenly jumped out, and I was startled, so I just bumped into him. If I'd lost that match, today's 40th anniversary would not have happened," he said.

Originally from Hawaii, Konishiki was scouted by Hawaii-born former sekiwake-ranked wrestler Takamiyama (Daigoro Watanabe), the first foreign-born rikishi to rise above the second-tier juryo division. Konishiki then made his way to Japan in June 1982.

Konishiki swept the sumo world with his overwhelming power, and after the summer tournament of 1987, he became the first foreign-born wrestler to be promoted to ozeki. He won his first championship in the Kyushu tournament in 1989, and captured a total of three championships in the top makuuchi division.

He became a Japanese citizen in 1994, and retired after the 1997 Kyushu tournament. He then retired from the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) after the fall tournament of 1998, and now works as a TV personality, performing music and appearing on TV.

About 300 people attended Konishiki's party, including Watanabe, JSA head Hakkaku (former yokozuna Hokutoumi), Masaru Hanada (former yokozuna Wakanohana) and stablemaster Musashigawa (former yokozuna Musashimaru).

(Japanese original by Hironobu Murakoso, Sports News Department)