Jesse Kuhaulua
Takamiyama one of
By Ben Henry
sumo’s iron men
Special to the Star-BulletinSUMO'S Jesse "Takamiyama" Kuhaulua did the unthinkable and bridged two countries with a bad history of good relations -- the United States and Japan.
When Kuhaulua became the first foreigner to win the revered Emperor's Cup in 1972, he captured the world's attention.
An ambassador read President Nixon's congratulations following the watershed victory, marking the first time English words were muttered to a sumo audience.
For a foreigner to have broken into the centuries-old Japanese sport with such vengeance is a feat, considering the Japanese isolationist tradition.
During his illustrious career from 1964-1984, he reached sumo's third-highest rank -- sekiwake -- and owned numerous records, including a streak of 1,231 consecutive matches. At the time, baseball's Cal Ripken Jr. was two years into his longevity streak.
Kuhaulua has paved the way for others from Hawaii. His protege Akebono, Waimanalo's Chad Rowan, was the first foreigner to reach sumo's highest rank of yokozuna. Recently retired Konishiki, or Salevaa Atisanoe of Nanakuli, was Kuhaulua's recruit. A third Hawaii wrestler, Musashimaru, or Fiamalu Penitani of Waianae, recently became a yokozuna.
Today, there are more than 20 Hawaii-born athletes in sumo's ranks.
