Konishiki Yasokichi

Quick Facts

Full Name	Konishiki Yasokichi
Occupation	Rikishi
Date Of Birth	Dec 31, 1963(1963-12-31)
Age	61
Birthplace	Oahu
Country	United States
Birth City	Oahu
Horoscope	Aquarius

Konishiki Yasokichi Biography

Konishiki Yasokichi is one of the most popular and richest Rikishi who was born on December 31, 1963 in Oahu, Oahu, United States. Konishiki Yasokichi (小錦八十吉 , Konishiki Yasokichi, born Saleva’a Fuauli Atisano’e; December 31, 1963) is a Hawaiian-born Japanese-Samoan former sumo wrestler. He was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach ōzeki, the second-highest rank in the sport. During his career he won the top division championship on three occasions and came close to becoming the first foreign-born grand champion, or yokozuna, prompting a debate as to whether a foreigner could have the necessary cultural understanding to be acceptable in sumo’s ultimate rank. At a peak weight of 287 kg (633 lb) he was also at the time the heaviest wrestler ever in sumo, earning him the nicknames “Meat Bomb” and “Dump Truck”.

By late 1991 Konishiki was a strong yokozuna candidate. He had overcome his injuries and showed much more consistency. Yokozuna Chiyonofuji and Ōnokuni had both recently retired, and Asahifuji and Hokutoumi were struggling with illness and injury. Konishiki took advantage by winning two championships (his 2nd and 3rd overall) in November 1991 and March 1992, with a record in the last three tournaments of 38 wins and 7 losses. However, he was denied promotion to yokozuna, with the chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee, Hideo Ueda, announcing, “We wanted to make doubly sure that Konishiki is worthy to be a grand champion. Therefore, we decided to wait for another tournament.” Another member of the committee, Noboru Kojima, said in an interview that Konishiki did not possess hinkaku, a word derived from hin meaning “grace, elegance and refinement.” His remarks were given the headline, “We Don’t Need a Foreign Yokozuna” by a newspaper. The New York Times subsequently quoted Konishiki as saying, “If I were Japanese, I would be yokozuna already.” The Japan Sumo Association demanded an apology. Konishiki held a press conference in which he tearfully denied making the remarks, insisting that one of his personal attendants had impersonated him, but the damage had been done. The media furor hampered his preparations for the forthcoming tournament which resulted in a mediocre 9–6 record. Konishiki never came close to promotion again.

In 2000 Shinichi Watanabe, director of Excel Saga and Puni Puni Poemy, created an anime series called Dotto! Koni-chan, in which Koni, the protagonist, is a fat child who strongly resembles KONISHIKI.

In January 2004 he married his girlfriend of two years, former medical worker Chie Iijima. He had previously married former model Sumika Shioda in 1992, but they divorced amicably in December 2000.

Early in his career, under the instruction of his first stablemaster, Konishiki was primarily oshi-sumo specialist, preferring pushing and thrusting techniques such as oshi-dashi and tsuki-dashi that would win the bout as quickly as possible. Following his knee problems in 1988 and 1989, his balance suffered and as his weight continued to increase he began to change his style, preferring to bide his time by grabbing the opponent’s mawashi and rely on his huge weight advantage to wear them out. By 1992 he was winning virtually all his matches by yori-kiri (force out), and his lack of ability to change tack once he had been sidestepped was one of the concerns raised by the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee when he was up for promotion. His peak weight of 285 kilograms (628 lb) recorded in March 1996 was the heaviest ever for a sumo wrestler until surpassed by Ōrora in 2017.

Konishiki Yasokichi Net Worth

Konishiki Yasokichi is one of the richest Rikishi from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Konishiki Yasokichi 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Atisano’e entered sumo in July 1982 at the age of 18, recruited by another Hawaiian-born wrestler, Takamiyama of the Takasago stable. A promising student at the University High School in Honolulu, he initially wanted to be a lawyer and was also offered a music scholarship to Syracuse University. His father had regular work with the US Navy but had to support eight children. Atisano’e regarded Takamiyama as a local hero and found the opportunity to join sumo too good to resist.

He made his debut in the top makuuchi division in July 1984, and in the following tournament in September he defeated two yokozuna, Chiyonofuji and Takanosato, and was runner-up with a 12–3 record. He was promoted to komusubi for the first time in May 1985 and sekiwake in July 1985. However, he suffered an injury to his coccyx (caused by a stool collapsing underneath him) and had to sit out all the next tournament. In May 1986 he suffered another injury, this time in competition, during a bout with Futahaguro. Konishiki came back strongly from this setback and three consecutive double figure scores in 1987 earned him promotion to ōzeki.

Konishiki retained his ōzeki ranking for 39 tournaments over more than six years, but he eventually lost it in November 1993 after two consecutive losing records. However, he continued to compete in the top division as a maegashira for another four years. Now weighing over 600 pounds (270 kg), he was very susceptible to belt throws and slap downs by lighter and more agile opponents. Even though he enjoyed less success, he became progressively more popular with Japanese fans due to his continuous fighting spirit, distinctive bulk and amiable personality. In November 1997, he faced demotion to the second jūryō division and announced his retirement after 15 years in sumo. In addition to his chronic knee problems he had been suffering from gout and a stomach ulcer. He said that in spite of his setbacks “I’m glad that I’ve continued with sumo, because I’ve learned a lot from sumo, and I’ve also learned the Japanese language and life style.” He had spent 81 consecutive tournaments in the top division and won 649 bouts there.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Konishiki Yasokichi height 6 ft 0 in Konishiki weight 633  lbs & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Konishiki Yasokichi Dating?

According to our records, Konishiki Yasokichi married to Chie Iijima , Sumika Shioda. As of December 1, 2023, Konishiki Yasokichi’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Konishiki Yasokichi. You may help us to build the dating records for Konishiki Yasokichi!

Due to his potential he was given the name Konishiki, after the 17th Yokozuna, Konishiki Yasokichi I (see List of yokozuna) who came from the same training stable at the end of the 19th Century (during the Meiji period in Japan) and Konishiki Yasokichi II (a komusubi in the beginning of the 20th century). Atisano’e was the sixth “Konishiki” in history, though he was the third to reach the top division. He rose to the privileged sekitori ranks in just eight tournaments, a remarkably rapid rise.

Facts & Trivia

Konishiki Ranked on the list of most popular Rikishi. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Konishiki Yasokichi celebrates birthday on December 31 of every year.

Top Facts about Konishiki Yasokichi

1. Konishiki Yasokichi was born in Hawaii in 1963.
2. He became a professional sumo wrestler in Japan in 1982.
3. Konishiki weighed over 600 pounds during his career.
4. He won the Emperor’s Cup three times between 1987-1991.
5. Konishiki was the first non-Japanese-born wrestler to reach ozeki rank.
6. He retired from sumo wrestling in 1997 and became a TV personality.
7. Konishiki has appeared on several Japanese variety shows and dramas.
8. In recent years, he has focused on promoting Hawaiian culture and tourism.
9. He opened a restaurant called “Chanko Honolulu” in Waikiki, Hawaii.
10. Konishiki is known for his charismatic personality and sense of humor.

Where is Konishiki now?

A naturalized Japanese citizen, Konishiki continues to live in Japan where he recently released his 10th album.

Who is Konishiki wife?

Wife

Is Konishiki a Samoan?

Where are Konishiki and Musashimaru from? Former ozeki (the second highest rank in sumo wrestling) Konishiki was introduced in the sumo ring as being from Hawaii. His parents are actually from Samoa , however, and he was born after they emigrated to Hawaii.

Who is the king of sumo?

Konishiki Yasokichi
Weight| 287 kg (633 lb; 45.2 st)
Career
Stable| Takasago
Record| 733–498–95

How did Ushio get his scars?

On the day he battles Hyo, Ushio gets four temporary scars on his right eye from Tora’s claws , who attempted to kill Ushio while he was asleep. After fighting Juro, Ushio receives a cross-shaped scar on his forehead that remains visible for the rest of the series.