{"id":420,"date":"2012-10-18T10:37:22","date_gmt":"2012-10-18T10:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/?p=420"},"modified":"2012-10-18T10:37:22","modified_gmt":"2012-10-18T10:37:22","slug":"konishiki-the-gentle-giant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/?p=420","title":{"rendered":"konishiki the gentle giant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
konishiki the gentle giant<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Konishiki, The Gentle Giant<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Sumo Champion to Cultural Ambassador<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie<\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Statistics<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Birthplace:<\/td>\nOahu Island, Hawaii<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Birth Date:<\/td>\nDecember 31st, 1963<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Height:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/td>\n6\u20191\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight:<\/td>\n600 pounds+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Given Name:<\/td>\nSalevaa Fauli Atisanoe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sumo Name:<\/td>\nKonishiki(named after former Yokozuna Yasokichi Konishiki)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Name given as Stable Master:<\/td>\nSanoyama Oyakata<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Japanese Name:<\/td>\nYasokichi Shioda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Former Wrestling Stable:<\/td>\nTakasagobeya<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrestling Debut:<\/td>\nJuly, 1982<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wrestling Retirement:<\/td>\nNovember, 1997<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Highest Rank Attained:<\/td>\nOzeki (Champion)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The intimidating stance . . . the piercing stare . . . the tremendous strength and power . . . these are the traits that made Salevaa Fuauli Atisanoe one of the most formidable wrestlers in the sport of Sumo. Hailing from the Hawaiian island of Oahu, the colossus who is most widely known by the name Konishiki, was recruited by former Hawaiian Sumo Wrestler Jessie Takamiyama at the age of 18. After graduating from high school, he moved to Japan where he adopted a grueling lifestyle and fought incredible odds to rise to the top of the sport of Sumo. Becoming the first Hawaiian-born wrestler to reach the position of Ozeki (Champion), Konishiki refused to fall prey to the Japanese media despite the controversial denial of his promotion to the ultimate rank of Yokozuna (Grand Champion). Konishiki had clearly left his mark in the history books of Sumo wrestling, not only as one of the first foreigners to excel in the sport of Sumo, but as a champion wrestler who had attained 733 wins prior to his appointment as Stable Master and eventual retirement from the sport in 1997.<\/p>\n

When Konishiki announced his retirement, many wondered what would become of the Hawaiian Sumo Wrestler who had opened Sumo\u2019s doors to the West.\u00a0 Rather than becoming a faded memory and a blurb in the history books, the \u201cretired\u201d Konishiki once again adopted a grueling lifestyle and schedule and fought incredible odds to rise to the heights of stardom.\u00a0 Konishiki has become one of the most popular foreign celebrities in Japan with regular appearances on variety and game shows as well as in television commercials and advertisements for such companies as Suntory, Sanyo, United Airlines and most recently Visa back in his native homeland of the United States.\u00a0 From fierce fighter to gentle giant, Konishiki is once again scaling the ranks of another profession. In March 2000, Konishiki debuted his remarkable vocal talents with his first CD and is hoping to top the charts with his second CD entitled \u201cSimply . . .\u201d which is soon to be released.\u00a0 What\u2019s more, in mid-July, Konishiki will make his acting debut in \u201cSakura\u201d, a popular NHK television drama series.<\/p>\n

While carrying out a hectic schedule of public appearances on television, he has managed to make time in his busy schedule to visit public schools, hospitals, lodging homes and community centers.\u00a0\u00a0 Konishiki has managed to keep his goal of helping to make the world a better place foremost in his list of priorities. In 1997, Konishiki established the \u201cKonishiki Kids\u201d Foundation to provide the children of the Waianae Coast of Oahu a chance to experience the Japanese culture that has been an inspiration to Konishiki for the past 20 years.\u00a0 It is for his work in community service that he was recently granted the Ambassador\u2019s Award distinction by Newport Asia Pacific University of Hawaii.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TJ recently interviewed Konishiki to find out what the biggest kid on the block is up to.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0 So you\u2019ve made it to the top as a professional athlete, and now as a TV celebrity.\u00a0 What\u2019s next?
K:<\/strong> Giving back to the community is the most important thing I can do. The kids are what it\u2019s all about. They need someone they can look up to — someone who is doing something with their life. That is why I work so hard in the other areas of my life so that I can lead by example. I came from a rough neighborhood and many of the kids I grew up with wound up in prison. It\u2019s a shame to see the wasted potential. Even if I can make just a little difference, I\u2019ll be happy. If I can save just one kid, it\u2019s all worth it.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Tell us about your family?
K:<\/strong> Well, I had four brothers and four sisters and I was the second youngest out of all nine children.\u00a0 My older brothers and sisters were born in Samoa, and only the last three of us were born in Hawaii.\u00a0\u00a0 We had a very hard working dad who came to Hawaii to get a better education for his family.\u00a0 He wasn\u2019t afraid to try and he never let his lack of English stop him from trying.\u00a0 Now, he\u2019s in his seventies, but he\u2019s still kicking. He\u2019s a\u00a0 very strong man \u2013 both physically and spiritually.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0What was it like growing up in a big family?
K:<\/strong> My childhood was very rough, but coming from a big family was good, because I had older brothers and sisters to look out for me when my dad wasn\u2019t around. We were very close-knit.\u00a0 We did everything together \u2013 whether it was going to church or just hanging out on the beach.\u00a0 That\u2019s how Dad wanted it.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Well it seems your parents did a good job in raising you.\u00a0 Were they strict?
K: <\/strong>You better believe it.\u00a0\u00a0 Samoan people are very traditional and have respect for their elders.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t get in trouble in school \u2013 not because I was afraid of the teachers but because I was afraid of what my father would do to me when I got home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0So you came from a traditional Samoan family.\u00a0 Do you speak the language?
K:<\/strong> Yes, of course.\u00a0 Thanks to my parents, I speak the language and I know my culture. I plan to teach it to my own children so that they will be able to understand where they came from.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Oh, so you plan on having your own family?\u00a0
K:<\/strong> Yeah, in the future.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0You seem to have great respect for your father.\u00a0 What\u2019s the most important thing that you learned from your father that will help you as a parent?
K:<\/strong> Family values.\u00a0 You see, the way it works is, it starts at home.\u00a0 You gotta teach the kids strong family values.\u00a0 Those values go out to the community, the state, the country and hopefully – eventually the world.\u00a0 If you wanna make a difference, you gotta start with the kids and you gotta start in your own back yard.\u00a0 That\u2019s what I\u2019ve been trying to do with the Konishiki Kids.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Tell us about the Konishiki Kids Foundation.\u00a0\u00a0 How does the program work?
K:<\/strong> I started this program in the Waianae area where I grew up.\u00a0 So far, we have brought 175 kids to Japan over the past five years.\u00a0 I want to give them an experience outside of their normal surroundings \u2013 an opportunity to experience a different culture and see a different way of life.\u00a0 Most of all, I want them to realize how important it is to have a dream. The Konishiki Kids get to fly to Japan, visit Disneyland, museums, watch Sumo tournaments, make friends with Japanese kids, ride the bullet train, and experience all that Japan has to offer through all kinds of activities.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0What motivated you to start the Konishiki Kids program?
K:<\/strong> Well, the idea came from my experience in high school.\u00a0\u00a0 You see, I went to a high school affiliated with the University of Hawaii.\u00a0 It was the best thing for me because by catching the bus downtown I got to see an environment outside of my own small community.\u00a0 I got to meet a lot of people that were very different from me \u2013 all with different backgrounds. I learned to appreciate my own people and at the same time respect others.\u00a0 It was very deep, man. I wanna give the Konishiki Kids the same opportunity that I had.\u00a0 I want them to know that there is a whole other world out there.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Obviously, you can\u2019t bring over every single Hawaiian kid.\u00a0 How do you choose?
K:<\/strong> I wish we could bring them all.\u00a0 This is the hardest part of the whole thing.\u00a0 Each year we bring 35 six-graders, five representatives from each of the seven schools along the Waianae Coast.\u00a0 After reviewing five areas, including grades, work habits, an essay on the meaning of Aloha, a questionnaire, etc. we select representatives from each school to become Konishiki Kids.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0I noticed a picture of Musashimaru with the Konishiki Kids.\u00a0 Do you get along well with the other Hawaiian wrestlers?\u00a0
K:<\/strong> Oh yeah.\u00a0 Musashimaru is the only local boy left, so we support him.\u00a0 He\u2019s a very nice guy \u2013 low key, outgoing, humble and very funny, but at the same time, very shy.\u00a0 Akebono and Musashimaru are like my younger brothers.\u00a0 I took care of them when they first got in.\u00a0 So now when we talk, they get to buy my dinner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0I listened to your first album and really like it.\u00a0 How seriously are you taking your singing career?
K:<\/strong> To me, my singing career is really just a hobby.\u00a0\u00a0 I believe that singing comes from the heart.\u00a0 If you sing from the heart, the sound just comes.\u00a0 It\u2019s all about loving what you do.<\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong>\u00a0Thinking back, if you had a chance to do it all over again, would you have chosen to have stayed in Hawaii, or are you happy here?
K:<\/strong> I have no regrets.\u00a0 I enjoy myself wherever I am.\u00a0 That\u2019s my philosophy.\u00a0 Go happy \u2013 go easy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

konishiki the gentle giant Konishiki, The Gentle Giant From Sumo Champion to Cultural Ambassador By Dr. Anthony Al-Jamie \u00a0 Statistics Birthplace: Oahu Island, Hawaii Birth Date: December 31st, 1963 Height:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u20191\u201d Weight: 600 pounds+ Given Name: Salevaa Fauli Atisanoe Sumo Name: Konishiki(named after former Yokozuna Yasokichi Konishiki) Name given as Stable Master: Sanoyama Oyakata Japanese […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-link-issue"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.tokyojournal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}