Konishiki - "Unbalanced"

[madorosumaru 7]

Some members have inquired in the past as to what rikishi do once they retire from the dohyo. According to Ichinoya's Takasago pages, a group of rikishi and Konishiki recently attended a dinner show performed by fprmer makuuchi Daishi at Tan&Go's Dining. Daishi is now a multi-talented singer with a repertoire that includes sumo jinku, enka, and opera aria. Tan&Go Dining, owned by former-sekitori Hoshitango, is similarly multifaceted, being billed as a sports bar/restaurant serving Japanese and South American fusion cuisine.

When it comes to complexity, Konishiki takes the cake and lots of it since he is still huge. He is a popular "talento" that often appear on Japanese TV and in June, he is holding a concert called "Hawai'i Time."

In addition, he is the owner of unbalance, a restaurant located near the Tokyo Dome which is even more mixed-up than Hoshitango's place. OK, ready now . . . unbalance is an elaborate dining complex that serves traditional Japanese (washoku), sushi, and Hawaiian dishes in rooms with appropriate decor that include Konishiki's sumo memorabilia. A guest can have an appetizer of sushi, some chanko nabe as soup, followed by Hawaiian barbeued spare ribs. A nice parfait with tropical fruits can top off the wildly "unbalanced" meal which, of course, is enjoyed while watching the floor show of hula dancing and an occasional Konishiki appearance as a singer. Oh yeah, plenty of beer, shochu, sake, wine and "umbrella drinks." Between courses or on the way to the rest room, a diner can stop by the gift shop for Konishiki souvenirs. Coupons available!!!

[ilovesumo 12]

Unbalanced- that's the art of eating ;-)

[Fay 1,677]

Sounds perfect.

And after your stay in Tokyo you'll be the spitting image of Konishiki ;-)

[Cammy 0]

In addition, he is the owner of unbalance, a restaurant located near the Tokyo Dome which is even more mixed-up than Hoshitango's place. OK, ready now . . . unbalance is an elaborate dining complex that serves traditional Japanese (washoku), sushi, and Hawaiian dishes in rooms with appropriate decor that include Konishiki's sumo memorabilia. A guest can have an appetizer of sushi, some chanko nabe as soup, followed by Hawaiian barbeued spare ribs. A nice parfait with tropical fruits can top off the wildly "unbalanced" meal which, of course, is enjoyed while watching the floor show of hula dancing and an occasional Konishiki appearance as a singer. Oh yeah, plenty of beer, shochu, sake, wine and "umbrella drinks." Between courses or on the way to the rest room, a diner can stop by the gift shop for Konishiki souvenirs. Coupons available!!!

Sushi, chanko nabe, and Hawaiian BBQ...that sounds really good...other than I am not sure about sushi and BBQ...I guess you would be unbalanced. ;-)

[Kintamayama 45,487]

And last night, a party was held in yumitorikishi Ouga's honor at the same establishment. It turns out Ouga was Konishiki and Mitoizumi's (Nishikido Oyakata) tsukebito in the past as well as Toki's. The Oyakatas were both there to celebrate his promotion, as were former Umenosato (Mitoizumi's brother), and former rikishi

南富 (An American??)、志免錦、角田 (Sumida?). Who? These last three seem to be guys who only reached the lower ranks, yet the net is full of references to them so..

You tell me.

Edited April 18, 2006 by Kintamayama

[Kaikitsune Makoto 209]

I always wonder about these massive rikishi who maintain their weight more or less years and years after retirement even though the muscle mass surely goes down a lot since they don't do keiko regularly anymore and certainly don't need to be in shape. There are many 130kg normal civilians who don't have any athletic background and are mostly fat but with rikishi like KOnishiki, I wonder what the case is. Or Azumazeki-oyakata nowadays or Naruto-oyakata. If Konishiki is still around 250kg, he has even more fat now than before as muscles have gotten smaller. I bet Musashimaru has lost a lot of power too but he seems to be very big still.

[Asashosakari 19,606]

former rikishi

南富 (An American??)

I found a Hawaiian named Nanfu mentioned in this ten-year old SML post, ranked in high Makushita.

[Jonosuke 28]

former rikishi

南富 (An American??)、志免錦、角田 (Sumida?). Who? These last three seem to be guys who only reached the lower ranks, yet the net is full of references to them so..

You tell me.

Well I don't remember any rikishi name 角田 but I know Nobuaki Kakuda who is with K-1, and the only guy Akebono beat in K-1.

Both 南富 (Nanfu) and 志免錦 (Shimenishiki) are former Takasago Beya rikishis.

Nanfu followed Konishiki and he wasn't a bad rikishi either reaching all the way to Makushita 1. Just as he was about to reach Juryo and sekitori, there was some family tragedy (I don't remember exactly what as I don't believe it was really disclosed) and went back to Hawaii. If I recall he was at Musashimaru's Danpatsu ceremony a while ago.

Shimenishiki spent most of his time in Jonokuchi - perhaps reaching the bottom ranks in Jonidan few times. He suffered a serious bout of diabetes and lost his sight. He used to be a Chanko master at Takasago Beya when he was active and was even thinking of opening up a restaurant. He had to give up that dream when he lost his vision and decided to take up a nationally recognized license as a masseur. He transformed his fighting spirits on the dohyo to achieving the goal by saving every little yen he earned and studied long hours and worked even longer hours. He finally was able to open up his little clinic in Saitama Prefecture (I believe) but he still has to do a kidney dialysis three times a week.

Edited April 18, 2006 by Jonosuke

[Kintamayama 45,487]

Well I don't remember any rikishi name 角田 but I know Nobuaki Kakuda who is with K-1, and the only guy Akebono beat in K-1.

Both 南富 (Nanfu) and 志免錦 (Shimenishiki) are former Takasago Beya rikishis.

Nanfu followed Konishiki and he wasn't a bad rikishi either reaching all the way to Makushita 1. Just as he was about to reach Juryo and sekitori, there was some family tragedy (I don't remember exactly what as I don't believe it was really disclosed) and went back to Hawaii. If I recall he was at Musashimaru's Danpatsu ceremony a while ago.

Shimenishiki spent most of his time in Jonokuchi - perhaps reaching the bottom ranks in Jonidan few times. He suffered a serious bout of diabetes and lost his sight. He used to be a Chanko master at Takasago Beya when he was active and was even thinking of opening up a restaurant. He had to give up that dream when he lost his vision and decided to take up a nationally recognized license as a masseur. He transformed his fighting spirits on the dohyo to achieving the goal by saving every little yen he earned and studied long hours and worked even longer hours. He finally was able to open up his little clinic in Saitama Prefecture (I believe) but he still has to do a kidney dialysis three times a week.

Fantastic. Thanks as usual!! As for the first guy, he is a former Takasago rikishi. Could well be Kakuda,as he is famous today somehow.

[sekitori 492]

I always wonder about these massive rikishi who maintain their weight more or less years and years after retirement even though the muscle mass surely goes down a lot since they don't do keiko regularly anymore and certainly don't need to be in shape. There are many 130kg normal civilians who don't have any athletic background and are mostly fat but with rikishi like KOnishiki, I wonder what the case is. Or Azumazeki-oyakata nowadays or Naruto-oyakata. If Konishiki is still around 250kg, he has even more fat now than before as muscles have gotten smaller. I bet Musashimaru has lost a lot of power too but he seems to be very big still.

I saw Konishiki in October in Las Vegas and he still appears to be as big as he was when he competed. Since he is no longer a competitive athlete, I have no doubt that while his weight may not have changed much, he certainly has lost a great deal of muscle mass. In other words, he's probably a lot fatter than he was when he retired. The same situation would be true for many rikishis who don't stay active after retirement. They carry around a lot of fat which has now become useless but their percentage of muscle has gone way down. And if they do lose weight by diet alone without exercise, that weight loss will include both muscle and fat. Most of these guys have a huge amount of muscle while competing. After they've retired, the object is to keep as much of it as possible while primarily losing fat.

As everyone knows, people who carry around a lot of excess fat are at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other medical problems. I wonder if there are programs for retired rikishis to follow to help them return to healthier weights and fat percentages. It was sumo that caused them to become as large as they were and I think it's the duty of the NSK to help them become as healthy as possible when they are no longer active--if they choose to do so.

[Jonosuke 28]

I wonder if there are programs for retired rikishis to follow to help them return to healthier weights and fat percentages.

Yes, it's called 'Takanohana Diet". I heard he has gone down to less than 12% bodyfat. He has never been as thin as he is now in his entire life.

[sumolady 0]

I always wonder about these massive rikishi who maintain their weight more or less years and years after retirement even though the muscle mass surely goes down a lot since they don't do keiko regularly anymore and certainly don't need to be in shape. There are many 130kg normal civilians who don't have any athletic background and are mostly fat but with rikishi like KOnishiki, I wonder what the case is. Or Azumazeki-oyakata nowadays or Naruto-oyakata. If Konishiki is still around 250kg, he has even more fat now than before as muscles have gotten smaller. I bet Musashimaru has lost a lot of power too but he seems to be very big still.

Musashimaru said in an interview that he keeps fit by riding his bicycle around town (he does not own a car) and working out with "the younger guys." As you observe, he is still huge, but now gets more aerobic exercise than he did as a rikishi. Given that he is being conscientious in caring for his own personal fitness, I'd be curious to know how much he has to eat to maintain that size. :-P

[sekitori 492]

I wonder if there are programs for retired rikishis to follow to help them return to healthier weights and fat percentages.

Yes, it's called 'Takanohana Diet". I heard he has gone down to less than 12% bodyfat. He has never been as thin as he is now in his entire life.

In addition to dieting, Takanohana must also be staying in excellent physical condition. It's very difficult if not impossible to get under 12% bodyfat by dieting alone. The combination of diet and exercise seems to be working very well for him. I'm curious to know what his diet consists of. Besides eating less, of course. Besides working out at Takanohana beya, does he do any additional exercise?

The problem with many diets is not necessarily losing the weight itself. It's developing a life style including exercise that maintains the weight loss. I would guess that the Takanohana Diet is fairly severe and would not be very easy for many people to follow and maintain once the weight is gone. Takanohana is extremely strong willed and a diet and exercise program that is successful for him might not work nearly as well for people who are not--like most of the rest of us.

[Kintamayama 45,487]

IBesides working out at Takanohana beya, does he do any additional exercise?

I'd say he worries a lot. That can really drop your weight.

[madorosumaru 7]

Here is a snippet of an interview of Fujishima Oyakata (former ozeki Musoyama) by Ozumo magazine which took place around October 2005, nearly a year after his intai from active sumo.

I(nterviewer): What are you doing health-wise these days?

F(ujishima): After my intai, I thought I would lose some weight by cutting down on food intake. Then from about a month before my intai zumo, I felt, since I have to put on the mawashi one last time, I needed to put some weight back on [to look presentable]. I started to eat normally again and, now, that has become the routine. Even after dampatsushiki, I am still eating that way.

I: How much do you weigh now?

F: 155 kg. I've lost about 20 kg from when I was active. It's just that I am not quite pleased in the way I lost it.

I: What do you mean by that?

F: I just lost a lot of muscle mass. I am going to the gym, but I've lost a lot of weight off my hips and thighs. I realized for the first time how incredibly intense sumo keiko is.

I: There is a saying in sumo that "When a rikishi loses weight off his hips, it's time for intai."

F: That is very true. The reason a rikishi's hips would appear smaller before his retirement is he stops doing that much keko. I noticed before my intai zumo that I've lost a lot off my hips, so I started doing dozens of sit-ups a day while carrying a rock. As a result, I started getting lower back pains. (Laugh) I thought, "Damn, I am in really bad shape,"

I: What is your target weight?

F: Around 120 kg. I don't have to battle [on the dohyo] anymore. There are lots of problems when you're big. For instance, clothes . . . food. You sweat a lot too. (Laugh) Well, it's hard to lose it all at once. I plan to do it gradually.

I: Takanohana Oyakata has lost so much weight he doesn't even look like he used to be a sumotori.

F: Even during his active years, Takanohana Oyakata had a strong will and appeared rather stoic in demeanor. I think that's how he did it. If he came out with a book on dieting, it'll probably be a best-seller. (Laugh)

[ . . . some talk of leadership and rikishi development . . .]

I: Isn't it better to wear a mawashi and lead by example, especially right after intai--even for health reasons?

F: The average Joe doesn't do much exercise in the first place, so he doesn't necessarily have to [after he retires]. (Laugh) But for those who were involved in sports, not just sumo, if they stop too suddenly, their bodies would go out of whack. We used to do a lot of physical activities and then drank and ate accordingly.

I: If someone stops exercising after intai but continues to eat and drink as before, that can't possibly be good for his health.

F: He'd get sick. I know I would drop dead in no time. (Laugh) That's why, in addition to putting on a mawashi and lending my chest, I go to the gym and, recently, even play a bit of golf. I try to walk as much as possible.

* * * * *

As mentioned in posts above, Musashimaru has told people in intervews that he gets enough exercise lending his chest, etc. However, people from Musashigawa Beya have disclosed in various interviews over the past year that everyone at the heya is worried about Maru's weight. He apparently doesn't do nearly as much lending of his chest as he claims.

[sekitori 492]

Here is a snippet of an interview of Fujishima Oyakata (former ozeki Musoyama) by Ozumo magazine which took place around October 2005, nearly a year after his intai from active sumo.

Thank you. I found it to be quite interesting. Musoyama is making a good effort to keep himself healthy and he's going about it in a very sensible way. I wonder he's doing now, about six months after the time of the interview. I hope he continues to get closer to his goal by staying active and losing weight slowly but steadily.

[Jonosuke 28]

Just a few more things about Takanohana.

I remember seeing a TV program looking back on his career and there was a segment that showed a video his wife took of him while he was working out trying to come back from the knee injury. As he did not want to be seen, he constructed his own personal gym in his house (I think it was one floor of their apartment or condo) so he could work out without having to go outside.

The gym had a series of weight equipment but it's more like a circuit training he did. He was seeing going from one station to next without hardly taking a pause for hours. He has a strong discipline and mental will so I can believe he has lost so much weight in such a short time and if he is still doing the circuit training he used to do then he is incredibly fit now.

He was also shown eating a chanko but he was only eating veggies and no rice. His wife Keiko published a cook book a while back so she knows a thing or two about healthy recipes as well but I understand he follows strict Japanese food diet mainly consists of fish, soy products like nattos (actually his favorite is natto spagetti) and veggies. He avoids carbo, sugar and high calorie food according to an article published a year or so ago.

[Fay 1,677]

Just a few more things about Takanohana.

He was also shown eating a chanko but he was only eating veggies and no rice. His wife Keiko published a cook book a while back so she knows a thing or two about healthy recipes as well but I understand he follows strict Japanese food diet mainly consists of fish, soy products like nattos (actually his favorite is natto spagetti) and veggies. He avoids carbo, sugar and high calorie food according to an article published a year or so ago.

I'm glad he still loves chocolate - at least he told me so in january.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Looks like KONISHIKI will have a bit part as a beachside cafe operator in a Japanese movie - "Chekeraccho!!".