Two rikishi from Hawaii pioneered sumo's internationalization. We zoom in on legends Takamiyama, the first foreign rikishi to win a top-division tournament, and Konishiki, the first foreign Ozeki.

and wrestles under the pseudonym of Takamiyama (“High-View Mountain”). He is the first foreigner with no Japanese blood to be promoted to makuuchi—sumo’s big leagues. In all Japan ...

With sumo wrestlers unable to engage in regular ... Hawaiian Azumazeki, who is also known as sekiwake Takamiyama, is famed for being he first stable head of non-Japanese origin.

It was the time when Takamiyama, who is from Hawaii, was a trailblazer in the raised ring. He became the first foreigner to win a grand sumo top division championship in 1972. The JSA did not make ...

We follow the epic lives of sumo legends who made it from humble beginnings in Hawaii, to becoming the first foreigners to rise to the highest ranks in sumo. Starting with Takamiyama who paved the ...