Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, episode 577, The Kings of the Ring, Part 4.

When Takamiama won his first U-show, his first tournament victory back in July 1972,

the occasion was historic for a couple reasons.

It was, of course, the first, and so far as I know know only time the words of then-President Richard M. Nixon

were read atop the dojo, at least so far.

Though actually it wasn't the only presidential run-in that Takamiyama had during his career,

in 2009 after he retired from coaching, he received a statement of congratulations from then-president

Barack Obama.

So I suppose Takamiyama is one of the rare sources of genuine bipartisan consensus in the

United States political arena.

Must be the sideburns.

Beyond the presidential nature of the occasion, however, Takamiama's win raised an obvious question.

He was the first non-Japanese citizen to manage a Ushō in Makauuchi, Sumo's top division.

Presumably, he wouldn't be the last.

And that, combined with the fact of Japan's rising standard of living, which meant fewer and fewer young boys were pursuing careers as rikshi,

raised the specter of a future where the pinnacle of what is by most imaginings the most Japanese sport possible

would be dominated by non-Japanese people.

In particular, it suggested that one day the Japan Sumo Association and its attached to

Yokosuna Deliberation Council would have to consider elevating someone who was not Japanese,

but who had attained the required skills and pedigree, to the rank of Yokozuna, the highest

rank one can attain in Sumo.

That someone wasn't going to be Takamiama, frankly.

...