Re: Good old days

[jpurcell@us.ibm.com]

This is essentially correct.  For more detail see Robert Whitings recent book.
Tokyo Underworld.

Best regards,

John J. Purcell

 E-mail: jpurcell@us.ibm.com

---------------------- Forwarded by John Purcell/Warren/IBM on 08/02/99 10:53 AM
---------------------------

"Kenny" <kbennett@yha.att.ne.jp> on 07/31/99 06:10:49 AM

To:   sumo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu, "W.P.T. Bellgamin" <biblebell@biblebell.org>
cc:
Subject:  Re: Good old days





I think Rikidozan might have been ranked as a Sekiwake at one time (he was
born in what is now north korea, but was adopted and grew up in or near
Nagasaki or Sasebo).  He apparently had coached Wakanohana  in the late 40s
when Wakanohana was still a low-ranked rikishi.

Rikidozan later quit sumo (quite abruptly from what I hear, he may have even
cut off his own chon-mage/top-knot) and later became one of the "founding
fathers"  (if not THE founding father) of japanese professional wrestling.
In his pro-wrestling days (1950s-1960s) he was very popular.

He was reportedly killed during an encounter with yazuka types in the
early-60s (1963?) due complications from knife wounds.

kaishakunin in kanagawa


-----Original Message-----
From: W.P.T. Bellgamin <biblebell@biblebell.org>
To: sumo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu <sumo@brooks.statgen.ncsu.edu>
Date: Saturday, July 31, 1999 16:21
Subject: Good old days


Many years ago I traveled often to Japan.  In those days there was a rikshi
named Rikidosan (spelling?) who was, I recollect, of Korean ancestry.  Does
anyone know the highest rank that fellow attained, and whatever happened
him?