RE: Question about Retired rikishi's diet

["Joshua A. Reyer" <jreyer@grn.mmtr.or.jp>]

> The raw data showed a life expectancy about 5 years less than that
> of the average Japanese male.  However, there were a couple of
> anomalies.  Several died quite young from hepatitis complications
> (not surprising), and several died from fugu poisoning (bizarre -
> is fugu a common ingredient in chanko? and do untrained rikishi
> prepare it?)

According to Kojima Teiji's book "Sumoshi uraomote" (Sumo History - Front to
Back), fugu chanko is actually forbidden.  But because it's such a tasty
delicacy, rikishi have been known to secretly make it.  This was once
discovered by an oyakata, who suddenly stuck his geta sandle into the pot.

Josh Reyer