The upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament marks 50 years since Takamiyama (Jesse Kuhaulua) became the first-ever foreign-born winner of the Emperor’s Cup.
That milestone event stood unmatched for 17 years — that is, until Konishiki’s victory in 1989 kick-started an era of regular foreign winners, which later morphed into total dominance by non-Japanese wrestlers with the arrival of the Mongolians.
Although Japanese rikishi have made a comeback of sorts in recent times, it’s still 19 years and counting since a wrestler born in this country has emerged victorious in central Japan.