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Hawaii Beat
Retired sumo wrestler Konishiki said Sunday he has filed for divorce from his wife of nearly nine years, but said there is no scandal involved and the couple remains on friendly terms. Split decision:
Konishiki says divorce
is amicableWakanohana leaves sumo
By Ron Staton
Associated PressKonishiki spoke at a news conference in a Hawaii Prince Hotel room across the hall from the ballroom where he and the former Sumika Shioda were honored at a lavish reception in March 1992, about a month after their marriage in Tokyo.
He said he decided to talk to the media to clear up any misunderstanding.
He said he would have preferred to hold the news conference in Japan, but held it in Hawaii because he is here to spend the Christmas and New Year's holidays with his family. He said he will return to Japan early next year.
He apologized for the "commotion" the divorce has caused. He asked the media to go easy on his wife, saying it is painful knowing what she is going through with all the media attention.
Sumika, a former model, has been a very homey and very humble person and not the person portrayed by the media, he said. He credited her for helping him become successful. He retired from sumo in November 1997.
Konishiki, known in Hawaii as Salevaa Atisanoe, said he filed for divorce on Dec. 9.
TOKYO -- Former yokozuna (grand champion) Wakanohana retired from the sumo world today, ending his job as a coach for younger wrestlers. Retired champion
leaves sportAssociated Press
Wakanohana retired as an active sumo wrestler in March and became Fujishima "oyakata" or sumo master.
The masters continue to belong to the Japan Sumo Association, the sport's ruling body, and work as coaches and ringside judges.
"I wanted to learn various things in my second life," said Wakanohana, whose real name is Masaru Hanada. "It was hard making a decision."
The popular Wakanohana, who already appears often on TV in commercials as well as as a sportscaster, can continue doing both.
It is fairly unusual for a former yokozuna to abandon the sumo world.