This week: after Taiho, the floodgates open as more non-Japanese rikishi begin to enter the sport. One of them, Takamiyama, has a good but not great career. But two of the rikishi he recruits to train under him after retirement–Konishiki Yasokichi and Akebono Taro–will change sumo forever.
Sources
Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan
Culyer, P.L. Sumo: From Rite to Sport
Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport
An excellent article on Konishiki’s career by Chris Gould of Sumo Fan Magazine
New York Times coverage of the scandal around Konishiki’s remarks on potential yokozuna promotion
SumoDB entries for Takamiyama and Konishiki, for the stat nerds among you
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