Re: Married Rikishi

[Stephen Allanson <sallanso@huachuca-sec1.army.mil>]

From: Yugo Yodogawa <yyy@CSUA.Berkeley.EDU>
>Subject: Re: Married Rikishi
>
>> From: "Patrick Mathieu" <PATRICKM@MARTLET1.Lan.McGill.CA>
>> A couple of questions about married rikishi.
>> First: What percentage of them are married?  Although I have
>> tremendous respect and admiration for the rikishi, their sexual
>> allure escapes me.
>
>Sexual allure isn't the only reason people marry, you know... :)
>
>As of last basho, 19 of the 40 wrestlers in Makuuchi were married.  Their
>names:
>
> 1. Wakanohana
> 2. Kotonishiki*
> 3. Akinoshima
> 4. Takatoriki*
> 5. Tochinowaka*
> 6. Kushimaumi
> 7. Kotoinazuma
> 8. Tomonohana*
> 9. Daizen
>10. Kirishima*
>11. Kitakachidoki*
>12. Misugisato*
>13. Konishiki
>14. Asahifuji*
>15. Kotobeppu
>16. Tokitsunada
>17. Wakashoyo
>18. Takamisugi
>19. Kotogaume
>
>* indicates children

Yugo:  #14 says Asahifuji - Is this correct?  Also, I believe at least some of
the marriages are arranged.  You still find some arranged marriages in modern
Japan.  I think the upcoming marriage of Kotonowaka to Taiho's daughter may be
such a case(???).  By the way, thanks for the info.

>
>> Second: I think I am correct in saying that the rikishi live in their
>> heya.  What about married rikishi?  Do they live elsewhere, or are
>> provisions made within the heya for couples?
>
>As far as I know, married rikishi move out of the heya into their own
>personal abode.  I can't imagine a married couple living in a heya.
>-yugo
>

As far as the rikishi moving out of the heya after marriage, I believe they 
move out when they can afford it.  I think this happens when the rikishi
becomes a rikishi, i.e., when he gains Juryo status.  In the case of 
Tomonohana, he moved into the heya when he quit teaching to become a sumo
wrestler and after he started collecting a salary he moved back home with his
wife and family.  There were several specials on Japanese TV about the married
rikishi.  The married guys are a curiosity in Japan also I think, because they
can be so big and I wonder how they can take care of themselves.  For instance
who takes care of Konishiki at home?  Did his Kobito move with him?  I'm sure
his 100 pound wife can't take care of all his needs.  On the other end of the
spectrum the more normal sized rikishi can probably lead an almost normal life
out of the heya.

Cheers,
SteveA.