The Nagoya Basho in July marks 50 years since Takamiyama, as a rank-and-file sumo wrestler from Hawaii, became the first non-Japanese to win the top-division tournament in the city.
1972 was a pivotal year, as it was when Okinawa was returned to Japan and when Japan and China normalized diplomatic ties.
Takamiyama, who was promoted to sumo's third-highest rank of sekiwake after the victory, later took Japanese citizenship and adopted the Japanese name Daigoro Watanabe.
Here, Watanabe, 78, looks back at the 15 days of the tournament, which paved the way for the globalization of the sumo world.
A letter from Nixon
On July 16, 1972, the final day of the tournament, a historic moment occurred at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Ranked at maegashira 4, 28-year-old Takamiyama powerfully shoved another rank-and-filer, Asahikuni, out of the ring. He won the tournament championship for the first time at 13-2.
Today it is not rare for a foreign-born wrestler to win the championship, but 50 years ago it was a great achievement, as indicated by a congratulatory telegram sent by U.S. President Richard Nixon.
“I didn’t imagine I would win the championship. I wish I could go back. Those were the best days,” Watanabe, who was known by his own name, Jesse, when he was a wrestler, recalled with his familiar friendly smile.
He said an unusual event occurred during practice before the tournament.
“Only very occasionally, members of Dewanoumi stable came to our (Takasago) stable,” Watanabe said. “I could practice more, and the butsukari-geiko practice session went better than usual.”
Because members of the distinguished stable came to practice, he was able to build up his condition.
After the tournament started, Takamiyama won one match after another with his signature moves such as hidari-yotsu — putting the left hand under an opponent's right arm and grasping his mawashi belt — and tsukioshi, pushing and shoving.
He defeated wrestlers including Kiyokuni — an ozeki, the second-highest rank — and maegashira Kitanoumi.
On the 10th day, he lost against sekiwake Takanohana, bringing his losses up to two, but still kept the top position.
“I gradually got fired up,” Watanabe said.
Meanwhile, top-ranking wrestlers were not doing well. Kitanofuji, the only yokozuna and therefore the highest-ranked wrestler at the time, was absent from the tournament, while ozeki Daikirin pulled out halfway through.
The remaining two ozeki failed to reach double-digit wins, and sekiwake Mienoumi also dropped out.
Amid such upheaval, Takamiyama seized the opportunity, racking up five consecutive wins from Day 11 and winning the coveted Emperor’s Cup, nine years after coming to Japan at the age of 19.
He gained popularity with his trademark hoarse voice, thick sideburns and cheerful character, appearing in several TV commercials.
Even after he retired from sumo wrestling at the age of 39, he remained at the Japan Sumo Association, became a stablemaster named Azumazeki and trained Akebono — also from Hawaii — to become the first foreign-born yokozuna. He continued to contribute to the sumo world until he reached the association’s mandatory retirement age in 2009.
Today, the sumo world has wrestlers not only from Hawaii but from around the world, including Brazil, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.
High-ranking wrestlers include yokozuna Terunofuji from Mongolia and former ozeki Tochinoshin from Georgia.
Referring to foreign-born wrestlers pushing their way through, Watanabe said, “I was the first to win the championship. I’m glad that it led up to today.”
Watanabe, who turned 78 on June 16, said he treasures the memorable letter from Nixon.
He is still asked for autographs by fans. “It kind of feels strange,” he said of his lasting popularity.
Just like 50 years ago, it is difficult to predict who wins in today’s sumo tournaments.
“Regardless of whether they are Japanese or from a foreign country, it is the strong wrestlers who win. I hope they will keep it up,” he said.
Every time a tournament is held in Nagoya, he remembers the summer of 1972.
Foreign-born wrestlers
Many foreign wrestlers have followed in Takamiyama’s footsteps, exciting sumo fans with impressive strength and technique.
Konishiki from Hawaii, weighing more than 200 kilograms, defeated high-ranking wrestlers one after another at the 1984 Autumn Basho. He was referred to as the “black ship,” equating him with the vessels used by the U.S. Navy to force Japan to open its borders in the 19th century.
Fellow Hawaiian wrestlers Akebono and Musashimaru had many unforgettable matches in the 1990s, including those with well-known brothers Wakanohana III and Takanohana.
Mongolian wrestlers dominated the sumo world after 2000, with Asashoryu winning the championship 25 times and Hakuho a record 45 times.
European wrestlers, such as former ozeki Kotooshu from Bulgaria and Baruto from Estonia, also performed well.
Some had problems, with Asashoryu retiring after allegedly assaulting a man and Hakuho’s behavior regarded by some as lacking hinkaku — a sense of dignity and grace required for sumo wrestlers.
However, the globalization of the sumo world, which began 50 years ago at the Nagoya tournament, continues to this day, with foreign-born wrestlers winning the championship a total of 124 times in the last half a century.
This section features topics and issues from the Chubu region covered by the Chunichi Shimbun. The original article was published July 1.
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