In Memoriam] “Crying over crotch splitting…” Former Yokozuna Akebono’s passing reminds us of the “structure of bullying in the sumo world,” as he had revealed.

Taro Akebono, the first foreign yokozuna in sumo history, had passed away at the young age of 54.

He made his first appearance in the ring in the spring tournament of 1988. He became popular for his rivalry with the brothers Takanohana and Wakanohana, who were introduced to the sport at the same time, and a four-seater seat with souvenirs cost more than 400,000 yen.

One of the people who helped spark the sumo boom was Akebono, the 64th yokozuna.

He and Takanohana had a lifetime record of 21 wins and 21 losses, and Akebono and Wakanohana had a record of 18 wins and 17 losses, so the power relationship was truly 50-50. The history of their fierce battles is still told today.

He also won 11 championships. He apparently played basketball at a university in Hawaii, but dropped out after three months because he did not get along with his coach. He was scouted by the Togoseki Oyakata (former Sekiwake, Takamiyama), who recognized his large frame.

He became yokozuna in 1993 and retired in 2001. He remained with the Japan Sumo Association as Akebono’s stablemaster, but left the association in November 2003 to pursue a career in martial arts.

I once asked Akebono, who had become a professional wrestler, about the problem of bullying of his disciples, which was a major issue at the Sumo Association at the time. Akebono replied

When I first became a rikishi, I couldn’t do crotch splits very well, so when I practiced with my legs spread out beside the ring, the rikishi would climb on me one after the other. It was so painful that it brought tears to my eyes. But I was told that if I couldn’t clear it, I would get hurt, so I cried as I did it.”

He said.

When a rikishi fell out of the ring, we were told that a rikishi who had not done his crotch split would be seriously injured, and everyone was desperate to do it.

He also said that the intensity of the practice was a problem for the wrestlers. However, he also said that the intensity of the training was causing bullying problems.

Takanohana said, “He was a yokozuna who had earned the title by practicing that hard. Takanohana must have had an unyielding outlook on life, no matter how many times he fell short, as he described it.

He was a man who had a strong sense of life, and as Takanohana described it, he had a “hundred folded and unyielding outlook on life,” and he was determined to persevere. I may have come to Japan from Hawaii in an environment that was against me, but there was no place I could return to.

Akebono-san spoke with a potty-mouthed smile.

The reason why strong rikishi are no longer possible is because of the age of bullying that comes with rigorous training.

I will never forget this.

I will never forget Akebono’s unbelievably kind side.

She even handed over the prize money she received for her match with Takanohana to a homeless man she didn’t know on the same day. This was rumored to be the reason why he was told by the Sumo Association that he had no sense of money and could not have a stable, but in fact we do not know.

After switching to martial arts, he was called “Akebono who could not win,” and was scorned as “Makebono. However, Keiji Mutoh, the professional wrestler who brought him into professional wrestling, said

Keiji Mutoh, the pro-wrestler who brought him into the world of professional wrestling, said, “I am a genius, but Akebono is the real genius.

I am a genius, too, but Akebono is a real genius.

He said, “I used to be a sumo wrestler, so I can ukemi in the front, but I can’t ukemi in the back.

I can do front ukemi, but not back ukemi,” said Akebono. Some people involved in the martial arts say that Akebono was “training hard day after day” as if recalling his days as a rikishi.

Akebono was one of the founders of the brilliant sumo boom, along with Wakaki. He was a man of record and memory. ……Gassho.