Why You Don't See Hawaiian Sumo Wrestlers Anymore

In the 1990s, Hawaiian-Americans dominated the Grand Sumo Wrestling in Japan. But it seemed like they disappeared as fast as they came into the sport. Why are there no more Hawaiian sumo wrestlers around? What happened to them? In this video, I compiled the answers I found on the web explaining the absence of Americans, specifically Hawaiians, in Grand Sumo Wrestling.

It's an open fundraiser to get tickets to the Kokugikan! Hakkeyoi!

Footage featured in this video:

Sumo East and West Documentary

Sumo by Catherine Hyland

P.S. I rambled at the last bit of the video and it was all off-script so pardon the weird grammar, mispronouncing words etc. Although I probably do that even when I'm reading my scripts too. Haha. It's difficult difficult lemon difficult. #sumo #sumowrestling #hawaii

[Sumostew]

since there have been a lot of comments mentioning the "race" aspect - I think many had misunderstood what I said which is "There are conspiracy theories that the Japan Sumo Association BANNED the RECRUITMENT OF AMERICANS for absurd racist reasons" which means the Japan Sumo Association had never placed TARGETED bans on SPECIFIC countries or races.

In my research, there are rumours circulating that the Sumo Association had disallowed Americans SPECIFICALLY to join professional sumo because of what Akebono has done with his career after retiring from sumo (a.k.a. go into wrestling etc). There is no evidence that the JSA placed any bans for recruitment in America SPECIFICALLY.

But as Konishiki himself had mentioned in my interview with him, a lot of the foreign sumo recruits did not put any effort into assimilating themselves into Japanese culture and formed their own groups inside their stables. This posed a serious problem as sumo is a significant tradition in Japan, and sumo wrestlers need to have a deep understanding of the sport they represent. As a reaction, the JSA created the 1 foreigner per stable ruling (foreigners with Japanese citizenship do not fall into the category of foreigners). Is that xenophobic? It's really a hard call - cultural preservation is the priority in sumo not just selling tickets or popularity. 🤔

[cltmck]

The NFL is probably the biggest reason outside of Takamiyama no longer recruiting. Pacific Islanders, and specifically Samoans, are massively over represented in the NFL. They are 40x more likely to make an NFL roster than non-Pacific Islanders. It's just a better move to go that route...and you don't have to learn a new language and adapt to a foreign culture that often treats foreigners as outsiders.

Also, combat sports are extremely popular in Hawaii and Pacific Islanders tend to do well in those as well.

[pirateofthepacific]

No worries I’m trying to become a sumo wrestler and I’m Hawaiian, by the gods will I shall become a rikishi

[plihal]

Sumostew with another banger video that answers a question that I always had but never thought of! And im still waiting for a Kaisei video and other rikishi spotlights, but nothing that cant be helped by watching Konishiki's videos!

[hippyjason]

The JSA limiting foreign born to 1 per stable is untimately, the _real_ reason.

[Ganbarizer]

Idk, I'm still not fully convinced that race and nationalism didn't play a role in the JSA limiting 1 foreigner per stable. They had no such rule before Jesse came along and it was only 100 percent Japanese born rikishi in the ranks. They're essentially saying, "there's too many foreigners in sumo and we need to limit how many can participate at any given time" with this policy. There's also no shortage of foreigners who are active in amateur sumo with hopes to become pro someday. Many are from Eastern Europe, Mongolia and the US. I'm totally with you on everything else, though.

[paulgundrum]

Great Documentary! Didn't know about the JSA's decision to only one foreigner per stable. That might ultimately hurt the sport (less Hawaiians, Eastern Europeans, Chinese, etc).

[zibberebbiz]

Thanks for another awesome video!

I was reading about another kind of pacific islander in sumo recently, the Tongans! I was so surprised to discover Haku, of pro wrestling fame, originally came to Japan as part of a group of young men sent by the king of Tonga to become rikishi. His stable got into some kind of leadership controversy and he was booted from sumo without even being involved, which led to him being recruited by All Japan Pro Wrestling, well known for taking in ex-rikishi like Genichiro Tenryu and yokozuna Wajima. He ended up being a legendary wrestler and his sons are carrying on his tradition in New Japan today, but it all started with sumo :)

[Schattenfaust]

Pretty funny that the Japanese can't win at their own sport and have to ban more than one foreign wrestler per stable so the top ranks aren't 100% gaijin

[Quadstriker]

Thank you for the video. I’m new this year to learning about Sumo and currently reading a biography of Akebono. This has helped fill in some blanks for me.

[RMLK]

I have some amazing insight. A friend of mine who trained in sumo years ago this and I asked him about it since he lives in Hawaii.
“I love and hate my time training for this because it was gone so soon and I never saw much progress especially since we stopped talking and training. I trained under Konishiki for a bit before we went to a new stable which was even smaller and it lasted all about 5 months, after the first we places closed down this was all that was left in our island so we made the best of it with a former Yokozuna around. He left and we had nothing but hopes, some of us flew to Japan to watch them fight and it was magically I cried watching it all and was blessed to meet Hakuho in person briefly after our translator informed people that we were there from Konishiki’s camp that to me was the highlight but once we got back the magic faded our stable master quit and everyone went separate ways. I became a security guard and tried to go to the NFL as an offensive lineman but nothing came from it so I went back lost weight and returned to security, I don’t look back at Sumo negatively since it was beautiful but it died out so fast and without warning thankfully I still keep in touch with some of my stablemates and bumped into Konishiki before he left. I wished things were different but that is the past and today is a new day”
After that we spoke for a bit and he seemed sad but having a family to support will do that he mentioned he still watches matches when able and still enjoys the sport and teaches his son from time to time but he is more interested in games so that’s all he mentioned.

[CapybaraMMA]

Awesome video! I went to high school with the football player in the lions jersey (guy on the left Tavi). His whole family actually went into rugby which is another thing that is pulling away Samoan’s, Pacific Islanders, and Hawaiians away from Sumo.

[oBuLLzEyEo]

I practically requested this video and its just been sitting on my watch later for a whole week+ I am just so used to adding things to my watch only to never watch them that I failed to realize not only was this video just what I was looking for but in fact the video I literally I asked for from Sumostew, awesome I feel obliged, kinda late and a little embarrassed...
Thank you and thumbs up...

[lordstumpy]

As a polynesian I highly commend your name pronunciations here, very well done!

[TerriblyNice_Not]

Let's be clear, it's not the main reason (and it's not a conspiracy) but the JSA is incredibly racist and actively discourages foreign born wrestlers. Just look at their treatment of Hakuho

[Heavywall]

Imagine if the MLB limited the amount of foreign born baseball players on each team.

[yy-hjbr]

Thank you for stuff like this. I took an interest in Sumo because New Japan Pro Wrestling tag champion Taichi incorporates Sumo into his style and that made me curious about the sport. Also a fellow countryman is a pro in Sumo. This channel is a really good resource for beginners, especially us non Japanese.

[js]

I think the #1 motivating factor is money. Why would someone want to pursue sumo as a professional when the paid ranks are so thin?

[Detroit_Desu]

Thank you so much for this great video Stew !!! I have always wondered this myself and I'm glad to finally know the reason why !!!

[etheth]

“Difficult difficult lemon difficult” made me laugh. Thanks for the video!