A Rare Night of Drinks With Oyakata Oyama! Honjamaka’s Hidehiko Ishizuka Reveals His Fascination With Sumo

Sumo is a sacred sport

Hello, everyone. Am I the only one who sincerely wishes that shaved ice would come raining down from the sky? This is Hidehiko Ishizuka.

This time, I would like to write about something I love dearly: professional sumo wrestling. My first encounter with sumo was when I was in elementary school. It began with watching sumo broadcasts on a 16-inch television. The yokozuna were simply incredibly strong, and whenever one of them occasionally lost, cushions would come flying through the arena. Kitanoumi had a large backside and thighs, with glossy skin, and his physique looked like that of a traditional May Festival doll.

Then came the “Waka-Taka era.” Two brothers whose father was former ozeki Takanohana entered their father’s stable, transforming their relationship from father and sons into that of stablemaster and wrestlers. Eventually, they both became yokozuna. They even defeated Chiyonofuji, the wrestler who had driven their father to decide to retire. At the time, Waka-Taka gave people dreams and hope. I imagine many people became sumo fans because of Wakanohana and Takanohana.

But the appeal of sumo is not limited to wins, losses, or storylines. Former yokozuna Takanohana often says, “Sumo is a sacred ritual.” Sumo is not simply a sport; it is a religious ritual. In fact, there are several sumo events dedicated to the gods, such as the Ise Jingu Grand Sumo Tournament and the Yasukuni Shrine Grand Sumo Tournament. I have never heard of an “Ise Jingu MMA Tournament” or “Yasukuni Shrine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament.”

And then—about 25 years ago, when I was appearing on a morning television talk show, I received a fax.

It said:

“I was at a Shinkansen platform with my mother, who was sitting in a wheelchair, when a sumo wrestler came along and, knowing that she was a huge fan, picked her up. After that, my mother became able to stand again.”

In other words, sumo is a sacred ritual, and sumo wrestlers themselves are like gods. I think everyone has probably seen scenes like this a few times: a mother holding her baby encounters a sumo wrestler on the street and asks, “Please hold my child so that they will grow up strong and healthy.” They are practically gods at that point.

There are even mothers who, for some reason, mistake me for a sumo wrestler and spot me and say, “Please hold this child.” Every time, I make sure to ask, “Um, I’m not a sumo wrestler, is that okay?” before holding the baby anyway. I hope the little ones grow up strong and healthy.

Going out for Yakiniku with Oyama Oyakata

After becoming so captivated by sumo, about five years ago I was finally given the opportunity to have a meal with a sumo wrestler. It was former komusubi Hokutofuji of Hakkaku Stable. I absolutely love professional sumo, but it was my first time having a meal with a sumo wrestler, so I actually went and withdrew some money from an ATM beforehand. (Laughs)

At his request, we went to a yakiniku restaurant in Roppongi. I tend to worry about things, so I arrived early. Then I heard a sound like a huge Japanese drum: “THUD! THUD! THUD!”

When the door opened, there stood Hokutofuji, 184 cm tall and weighing 159 kg, bowing at exactly the same angle as when he steps onto the dohyo. The sound I had heard earlier wasn’t a Japanese drum—it was his footsteps.

I had the pleasure of sharing drinks with him several more times after that. Regardless of the season, he would work up a sweat, drink Calpis mixed with milk before having any alcohol, and neatly line up the empty sake bottles on the counter after finishing them.

I could go on and on about things like how I thought he was picking his teeth with a toothpick, only to realize he was actually eating a kushikatsu skewer—but above all, he is an extremely well-mannered person. He finished his career with 424 wins and 368 losses. This May, at the age of 33, he underwent his ceremonial hair-cutting ceremony. He says he gave it everything he had and has no regrets.

Hokutofuji, now known as Oyama Oyakata. I hope you will continue to send strong and well-mannered wrestlers onto the dohyo.

From the September 25, 2026 issue of “FRIDAY”