Mrs. Kaio sez: "I'm an Urakata"

[madorosumaru 7]

Ozeki Kaio has been married to the former Mitsuko Nishiwake since 1999. His wife is five years older and was a pro wrestler so the ozeki has frequently been described as being uxorious. Recently, a magazine interviewed Mrs. Kaio and here are some snippets from that chat.

Q: Kaio won 11 in a row and even had a chance for yusho in Fukuoka, his hometown. I understand you were watching him intently on television.

Mrs. Kaio: We were wondering what got into him. I don't think even he knew how he did so well. (laugh) I told him afterward, "Thank you for letting us have a wonderful dream even for a short time.

Q: Normally, you don't go to your husband's workplace but you did go to the Kyushu Basho just once.

MK: In 2004 when he missed out on tsunatori. I wanted to experience the fans' reactions. When I heard the "Kaio Call" before his bout, I got shivers down my back. Then, he defeated Asashoryu and tears just flowed out of my eyes. I felt totally satisfied just to have watched that one bout. I will always have an imprint of that moment in my mind.

Q: You were married in 1999. Until then, Kaio could not make it to ozeki, but he won his first yusho the following May and was promoted to ozeki in July. It must have been because of your presence and contributions.

MK: No. No. It was just my good luck to be married to him at that time.

Q: You have a reputation of being a tough lady with the ozeki an obedient husband.

MK: That's not the case in reality. He is a Kyushu Man and very strong-willed. I just flutter around him at his beck and call. (laugh)

Q: You've been married now for 12 years.

MK: His back, shoulder, legs . . . Our existence consists primarily of treatment and rehab. For the past few years, if we have an outing together, it is to the hospital or the clinic. (laugh) During recent basho, he went for treatment every night. He would come home after his bout and by the time he finished his dinner, he wouldn't even be able to get up. Sometimes, I would say, "Why don't you just stay home and rest tonight?" But, he insists on going. He would have treatment for 2 or 3 hours and come home around midnight. He says if he doesn't have those treatment sessions, his body would be stiff as a board.

Q: How do you feel when you see him like that?

MK: Sometimes, I feel really sorry for him. "Why does he have to go through all this?" It goes beyond normal logic. I suppose it is like what the mountain climber says: "Because it is there." For the ozeki, it is because "the dohyo is there."

Q: It is your job to drive him to keiko and to the hospital. You even drive him to Osaka and Nagoya because he wouldn't be able to tolerate the train ride.

MK: My life revolves around the ozeki's body. I wake up in the morning with the thought: "What is his physical condition today?" Everything depends on that. Where he takes his nap, his sleeping position . . . all that could affect his back. I don't know how many times we have changed our mattress. There must be a pile somewhere. (laugh) It turns out that a thin futon is the best for him. Also, he can't walk much without feeling pain so we rarely go out. It's almost like his sole hobby is "Rehab" and my hobby is "Kaio." (laugh)

Q: The fans have been so thoroughly behind the ozeki.

MK: When it comes to sumo, I don't think of him as my husband. On the dohyo, he is "Kaio-zeki"--someone totally different. In the past, I would think, "I must make him do this or do that." But, these days, it's more like: "Whatever way I can be of service." You may think I am just saying that but I really feel that he doesn't belong to me alone and that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anything happened to him.

Q: The fans want him to continue as long as possible.

MK: At this point, I don't think even he knows when he should hang it up. (laugh)

Q: I remember interviewing you soon after your marriage and you told me Kaio-zeki proposed by saying, "I will take care of you for life so I would like you to dedicate your life to me."

[Harry 67]

Thanks so much for that!

[Mikiro 0]

I really appreciate your posting this interview.

[Umigame 82]

Thanks for the translation, and also thanks for expanding my English vocabulary! I had to hit the dictionary find out the definition of "uxorious". :-(

[Orion 431]

Thanks for the translation, and also thanks for expanding my English vocabulary! I had to hit the dictionary find out the definition of "uxorious". :-D

It's a word I've known since my schooldays -- but I wouldn't have chosen it here. It means 'spoiling your wife (to a ridiculous extent)' rather than 'fond of your wife'. But it was a great translation that really brought the interview to life!

Orion

[Asashosakari 19,216]

It's a word I've known since my schooldays -- but I wouldn't have chosen it here. It means 'spoiling your wife (to a ridiculous extent)' ...

I thought that's what madorosumaru was going for, i.e. the age difference and her puroresu background implying that she's the one wearing the pants in the marriage, with the interview itself showing that it's a bit more layered than that.