Who is the most famous sumo wrestler of all time?
In terms of being seen by the greatest number of people, it’s hard to argue against either Byambajav Ulambayaryn or Ryuichi Yamamoto.
Both men went from ōzumo careers that ended prematurely to fame and success in Hollywood and the wider entertainment industry.
Ulambayaryn — commonly known as Byamba — appeared in the movie "Ocean's Thirteen," and was a regular sight in commercials and on TV shows before passing away in 2020.
Yamamoto, a former maegashira and the heaviest Japanese-born rikishi of all time, fought Keanu Reeves in "John Wick: Chapter 2" and appeared in music videos for One Direction and Ed Sheeran.
The two most-watched sumo-themed videos on YouTube feature Ulambayaryn and Yamamoto and have a combined 3 billion views.
Even with all that, it’s hard to argue that most people who have seen the work of either man would know them by name. Out of the few who do, it's likely that an even smaller number would be aware of what they achieved in either professional or amateur sumo.
In Japan, names like Chiyonofuji and Hakuho enjoy the kind of fame that transcends their sport, but beyond sumo fans, neither is well known internationally.
Fame is a difficult concept to quantify, but when success inside the ring is added to the amount of column inches and TV coverage received nationally and internationally — both while an active rikishi and after retirement — one name stands above all others: Konishiki.
Takamiyama may have been the first foreign Emperor’s Cup winner, and Akebono the first yokozuna born outside of Japan, but Konishiki’s impact on the sport — and especially its global profile — is hard to match.
Search for sumo images online and — even 25 years after his retirement — the Hawaiian legend will feature prominently among the results.
Whether holding Michael Jackson in his arms like a baby, chatting with Prince Charles and Princess Diana on a royal visit to Japan or making Mike Tyson look tiny in the ring, Konishiki was a massive, ever-present figure in foreign media content related to Japan in the 1980s and 1990s.
This weekend marks 40 years since the Hawaiian-born legend moved to Japan and joined sumo.
Speaking to Inside Sumo on June 10, Konishiki described the anniversary as “deeply emotional.”
The 58 year old, reminiscing about his four decades in this country, said: “It’s been a great journey, a great ride. A lot of great things happening. At the same time a lot of agony, a lot of sadness. Especially as a foreigner. Because we live so far away from family — a lot of stuff we’ve missed over the 40 years.”
Konishiki has spoken in the past of the pain of being away from home when loved ones have passed away. Despite his immediate impact and quick rise up the ranks, his early years in Japan were far from easy.
That his new life was going to be a challenge was quickly made clear to the 18-year-old — born Saleva'a Fuauli Atisano'e — when he flew into Narita International Airport and discovered that not only was there no one waiting to pick him up, but that he also lacked the money needed to pay the departure fee from the airport.
The future ozeki had to borrow cash from a fellow passenger and make his own way in Tokyo.
That initial hurdle would pale in significance, however, when compared to the challenges that followed.
In addition to the culture shock and pervasive violence of sumo life, Konishiki had to deal with constant and often overt discrimination from people both inside sumo and in positions of influence in the media and society.
At a time of heightened U.S.-Japan tensions, the decision not to promote him to yokozuna in 1992 reached the pages of The New York Times and took on the air of an international incident.
Five years later, Konishiki’s retirement would be covered by the same paper — a rarity for a sport virtually unknown outside Japan.
A quarter century on, the Honolulu native has a philosophical take on those times.
“The great people and the fucked-up people we’ve met over the years — everybody has added to my life, no matter if you’re good or bad," Konishiki said.
Stepping back and taking a broader look at his life in Japan is also how Konishiki approached writing an upcoming book about his life, slated for release in October.
“I don’t really care what I achieved in my career; it’s how you achieve it," he said. "What’s going on behind. What a person has to go through in their head and their heart to surpass some personal things.
"Your personal life is mostly the reason you do good or bad. The distractions you can avoid and the distractions you cannot avoid are the two big problems you have to deal with, and finding solutions to those problems has made me who I am.”
Konishiki’s post-sumo career — with starring roles on children's TV shows, guest slots in movies, music albums, live tours and even a range of BBQ sauces — is now a full decade longer than the time he spent fighting in the ring.
The gregarious former ozeki sees the entire thing as a continuous piece however, which is why the 40th anniversary of his arrival in Japan, rather than the 25th anniversary of his retirement, is the theme of his upcoming concert event on Sunday.
The high point of his fame may have passed, but Konishiki continues to defy age and injury with his energy and drive. Enjoying life more than ever, it’d be no surprise to see him add several new strings to his bow ahead of his 50th anniversary.
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