[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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