[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6756-H6757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING SUMO WRESTLER TAKAMIYAMA DAIGORO
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 479) honoring the contributions of
Takamiyama Daigoro to Sumo and to United States-Japan relations.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 479
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro was born Jesse Kuhaulua in Maui,
Hawaii, on June 16, 1944;
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro entered professional Sumo, an
ancient Japanese sport with origins spanning over several
centuries;
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro was the first United States born
sumo wrestler and also became the first foreigner to win the
top division championship of Sumo in 1972;
Whereas upon his 1972 victory, United States Ambassador
Robert Ingersoll read a congratulatory message from President
Richard Nixon, marking the first time English words were
spoken at a sumo tournament;
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro competed in over 1400 matches,
established numerous records, and earned many awards over his
20-year career;
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro became the first and only
foreign born wrestler to become an oyakata, or training
master, by establishing a training stable for sumo wrestlers;
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro paved the way for Polynesian and
other foreign wrestlers to compete in this traditional
ancient sport including Saleva'a Atisano'e, also known as
Konishiki, who became the first foreigner to reach ozeki, the
second highest sumo rank, Chad Rowan, also known as Akebono,
who became the first foreigner to reach yokozuna, the highest
sumo rank, and Fiamalu Penitani, also known as Musashimaru,
who became the second foreigner to reach yokuzuna; and
Whereas Takamiyama Daigoro is retiring on June 16, 2009, at
the mandatory retirement age of 65: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) honors Takamiyama Daigoro's achievements to Sumo and
his contributions to enhancing United States-Japan relations;
and
(2) encourages the international community to recognize the
successes of Takamiyama Daigoro in Sumo.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Bilirakis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.
General Leave
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from American Samoa?
There was no objection.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in strong support of this resolution, recognizing the
contributions of Takamiyama Daigoro to the sport of sumo wrestling, the
most ancient sport in Japan, and to the U.S.-Japan relationship.
Mr. Speaker, June 15, 2009, marks the day before Takamiyama's 65th
birthday, when those in sumo must retire.
Over the course of this exceptional 45-year career, Takamiyama
Daigoro not only achieved great success as a sportsman but also built
enduring bridges between the United States and the people and the
Government of Japan.
Jesse Kuhaulua, that is his real Hawaiian name, known professionally
in Japan as Takamiyama Daigoro, was a trailblazer in the sport of sumo
wrestling in every sense of the word.
{time} 1500
He was born in the great State of Hawaii and became the first U.S.-
born wrestler to enter the sport of sumo in Japan. When he came to
Japan to enter the dohyo, the sumo wrestling ring, he was new to Japan;
and despite having no prior experience in Japan with sumo wrestling, he
quickly mastered the sport's physical and unique traditions. He also
mastered the Japanese language and the nuances of the Japanese culture.
Takamiyama competed in over 1,400 matches, winning 12 kinboshi or gold
stars, and 11 sansho, or special prizes. In 1972 he became the first
foreigner to win the Emperor's Cup, the top division championship in
the sport of sumo wrestling. After that victory, U.S. Ambassador
Ingersoll read a congratulatory message from President Nixon, marking
the first time English words were ever spoken at a sumo tournament.
Takamiyama Daigoro to this day is the first and only foreigner to open
his own training stable for sumo wrestlers. I urge my colleagues to
support the passage of this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of this resolution, which gives long overdue
recognition to the accomplishments of sumo champion Takamiyama Daigoro,
who won Japan's top division sumo championship in 1972. This native son
of Hawaii, also known as Jesse Kuhaulua, was the first foreigner to
achieve this distinction since competitive sumo tournaments first
appeared in the 16th century. Athletes have long been recognized as
goodwill ambassadors who can often promote international understanding
more effectively than professional diplomats. For example, 2 years ago
former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice named baseball legend Cal
Ripken, Jr. as a goodwill ambassador to expand the role of athletes in
diplomacy. Mr. Daigoro, who retires tomorrow from the professional ring
at age 65, has spent three and a half decades using his athletic skills
to promote understanding and friendship between the people of the
United States and the people of Japan. I, therefore, join Ms. Hirono
and my congressional colleagues from the Aloha State in supporting this
resolution, which offers congratulations and thanks to this outstanding
athlete for his remarkable record in sumo, for his role in diversifying
that which had previously been exclusively a Japanese sport, and for
[[Page H6757]]
his service as an athletic goodwill ambassador to our close ally,
Japan, for the past 37 years.
Happy birthday, Jesse. Thank you for your many accomplishments, and
good luck in your future endeavors.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to yield all
the time that she may want to consume to the chief sponsor of this
bill, my good friend, the gentlelady from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman for
yielding time and for being an original cosponsor of my bill, along
with my colleague Neil Abercrombie. I would also like to thank the
previous speaker for his very kind and knowledgeable remarks, and you
pronounced his name correctly, too, which is wonderful. Thank you.
H. Res. 479 recognizes the contributions of Jesse Kuhaulua, known
professionally as Takamiyama Daigoro, a trailblazer in the sport of
sumo wrestling. Maui born and a graduate of Baldwin High School in
Wailuku, Jesse made his debut as an aspirant in Japan's national sport
in the winter of 1964 in Osaka. At the time he knew little of the
Japanese language and the subtleties of the sport itself. In this
initial test, he wondered if his stay in Japan would be counted in
weeks or months. Today Takamiyama Daigoro will retire from a 45-year
long sumo career filled with historic milestones. This marks the day
before his 65th birthday when senior members of the sport must retire.
Takamiyama Daigoro was the first United States-born wrestler to enter
the sport of sumo. In 1972 he became the first foreigner to win the
Emperor's Cup, a top division championship in the sport. He was also
the first foreign-born wrestler to climb to sumo's third-highest rank
of sekiwake. Takamiyama also stands as the only foreigner to open his
own heya, or stable, in order to train future generations in the sport
after he stopped actively competing himself. Takamiyama opened the door
for others from Hawaii to join him in this most ancient of sports. This
group includes Saleva'a Atisano'e, also known as Konishiki, who became
the first foreigner to reach the second-highest rank of ozeki; Chad
Rowen, also known as Akebono, who became the first foreigner to hold
the highest rank of sumo, that of yokozuna; and Fiamalu Penitani, also
known as Musashimaru, who became the second foreigner to hold the title
of yokozuna. Today foreigners from other countries, such as Mongolia,
Russia and Georgia, have attained higher rankings and remarkable
acclaim in this most ancient of Japanese sports.
I urge my colleagues to support this recognition of Jesse Kuhaulua, a
true ambassador of the aloha spirit.
Mahalo nui loa.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Will the gentlelady yield?
Ms. HIRONO. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend and thank my good
friend, my colleague from Hawaii, for sharing with us her statement
concerning these outstanding athletes. It may be known to my colleagues
in the House, but just to give you an indication of what these
gentlemen look like--Takamiyama, he is about 6'4'', and he weighed 350
pounds at the height of his ability to do sumo wrestling; Konishiki,
who happens to be a relative of mine, weighed only 560 pounds, and he
was about 6'0'' in height; Akebono, Chad Rowens, is about 6'8'', and he
weighed almost 500 pounds and so was Musashimaru, both yokozunas, which
is the highest level of the championship in Japanese sumo wrestling.
Musashimaru, Fiamalu Penitani, was about 6'4'' and weighed almost 500
pounds as well. Don't be misled by the fact that these gentlemen may be
heavy. They say that in sumo wrestling, with one little push or shove
from one arm, they can literally hurt you. I've personally seen the
training that these gentlemen go through, about 6 or 7 hours a day, in
building their--and they have to do the splits. So believe it or not,
these gentlemen can do the splits just like you would in doing ballet
dancing, if you will, in terms of the conditioning and the ability that
they have to really strengthen themselves when they go to the mat and
conduct this ancient sport of sumo wrestling.
Again, I do want to thank my good friend, the gentlewoman from
Hawaii.
Ms. HIRONO. I would like to note in closing that a very famous
singer, who sadly has passed away, named Israel Kamakawiwo'ole wrote a
wonderful song about our Hawaiian sumo wrestlers, calling them gentle
giants.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I also want to note to the gentlelady that
Konishiki and I had prepared one of our relatives who was about 18
years old, is only about 6'10'', and he weighed 450 pounds. For one
whole year, we tried to get him into sumo wrestling; and unfortunately,
the Sumo Federation refused to allow more Polynesians to participate in
this ancient sport of wrestling.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I also want to again thank my good friend for
her sponsorship and the many sponsors of this important resolution.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 479.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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