japan today: Big man, big heart

["Rowan" <rowan@juryo.com>]

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=newsmaker&id=64

Big man, big heart

Chris Betros

http://www.japantoday.com/dbfiles/newsmaker/jt459_0;50;37;01.38.jpg
Former sumo wrestler Konishiki PHOTO BY LINDSEY POWELL 

TOKYO ^× Former sumo wrestler Konishiki can't believe how fast the last 20 years have gone by.

It was in 1982 that the Hawaiian began his journey in Japan's sumo world, an odyssey that would take him to the sport's second highest rank of ozeki before he retired in 1997 after 1,117 bouts, including 733 wins, in the top division. After retirement, his life got even more hectic with numerous TV and commercial appearances, so that he is now one of Japan's most recognizable personalities.

More importantly, the 38-year-old Konishiki, who goes by the Japanese name of Yasokichi Shioda, is involved in a host of charitable activities, not the least his Konishiki Kids, because he says it is a way of not forgetting his roots.

"If I hadn't gone into sumo, I probably would have ended up on the wrong side of the tracks back home," says Konishiki who is 100% Samoan. "I was born and raised in Nanakuli, a poor area in Oahu. Many people there live on welfare and it's a hard life, not the Hawaii you see on TV. I had one pair of shorts and one shirt for the whole year but it didn't really bother me because we were as happy as anybody who had money. We learned to live off the land with what nature provided us."

Recruited by fellow Hawaiian wrestler Jesse Kuhaulua (now stable owner Oyakata Azumazeki), the former Salevaa Atisanoe came to Japan to wrestle as Konishiki and quickly became immersed in the rigid world of sumo. But he never forgot his value system.

"There is no price you can put on family and friends," he says, playing with his golden retriever Maru as he talks. "I made up my mind to do something for my community one day."

With the help of foreign companies, the Konishiki Foundation was established in 1997. Each year since, the foundation has brought 35 underprivileged children from Hawaii to Japan for cultural exchange.

"The idea is to give them more opportunities outside their own community and give them hope to follow their dreams," he explains. "I learn a lot from the kids, too. Their enthusiasm encourages me to try harder to survive life's hardships."

Konishiki speaks so sincerely that it is not surprising he is in demand as a spokesman for many worthy causes, among them children's and environmental issues. "If the timing is right, I'll do anything charitable," he says. "Working with kids is most important. Common sense can't be taught in books."

In between his charity work, Konishiki is kept busy with TV and event appearances, as well as commercials for products ranging from cars to home appliances. "I like doing the ads, even if they use me in funny ways. I won't go crazy and run naked but I'll do whatever they need to a point," he says. Work takes him overseas at least once a month.

Does he ever have any time to himself? "Sure, I go to the movies all the time. I go in just before the movie starts and sometimes I might spend the whole day in the theater, watching three movies," he says. He also likes interacting with fans on his home page (http://www.konishiki.net).

Music is another favorite pastime for Konishiki who has released two CDs (kind of hip-hop), with a third, titled "Konishiki Simply," due out next month to celebrate his 20 years in Japan. "It's a variety of Hawaiian and adult contemporary music. It's a version of whom I am."

Sumo still piques his interest. "I have no ties to the sumo association but I am close to my former stable. A lot of us retired wrestlers go out and talk."

The sport is clearly suffering in popularity, which Konishiki attributes to a lack of superstars, competition from J.League and the success of Japanese baseball stars in the U.S. who get more press nowadays.

"But you know, sumo is really popular overseas. I was in Turkey a couple of months ago and they had a sumo wrestler doing a Pepsi commercial. Foreign wrestlers are the best thing that ever happened and they shouldn't stop it. A lot of Koreans, Mongolians and Taiwanese want to be sumo wrestlers."

But why not "white" guys? "They see it as two almost naked guys prancing around. If they study the sport, see what it's all about and look into its history, then they would see it as more of a challenge," Konishiki says.

Konishiki's biggest challenge now is controlling his weight. During his sumo days, he reached 296 kilograms. He has slimmed down a bit by walking and swimming a lot, and he has monthly checkups.

"I eat a lot of fish and vegetables instead of my old King Kong style diet of steak, rice, steak, rice. I'm alright in Japan but I pig out when I go to Hawaii. I guess I have a choice between dying happy by eating everything I like or taking it slow."

July 1, 2002