Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, episode 578, The Kings of the Ring, Part 5.

One of the remarkable things I learned about Akebono's career as I researched more about

his life was the extent to which his success owes very little, from what I've seen, to his

ostensible instructor.

Akebono spent his entire career at Asmase Sekhibea, run by Takamiyama,

like him, a Hawaiian-American wrestler, someone who had scouted Akebono to come to Japan and compete.

And yet, it's pretty clear the men just didn't get along. Akebono, from what I've read, honestly, really seems to have hated Takamiama and actively

resented him for much of his career.

Which is interesting, because I don't know about you, but that's more or less the exact opposite

of what I expected going in.

I mean, come on.

Two people, same background, one older, one younger, the older one, scouting younger one to come to this new place on the other side of the earth to compete just like he had when he'd been younger.

It's a cheesy sports movie that almost writes itself.

You can almost hear the dialogue and the climactic final moment when they finally come to understand each other and bond over their shared experiences

and their love of the game. Except that's not even close to what happened, for a few reasons.

First, remember, initially Takamiama didn't even want young Chad Rowan, the future Akebono.

He wanted the younger brother, George Rowan, better known by his nickname

Ola. Akebono was just a stepping stone, proof of concept to the Rowans that their younger

son, who was shorter than Akebono but just as strong and had a less top-heavy build

as a result that was better for Sumo, could be entrusted to Azamaseki-Bea.

And Takamiama did eventually get Ola Rowan, who would come to Japan in the summer of 1989,

just after finishing high school, and inherit his brother's old Shikuna, Taikai, the broad ocean.

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