(Voice actor) Mr.Chris Koprowski

Tomioka Hachimangu in the Koto ward, Tokyo, has strong ties with sumo. The connection began when kanjin sumo, predecessor of grand sumo, was held in 1684. In addition to having a Yokozuna sumo wrestlers’ monument with past Yokozunas’ names engraved, it has an Ozeki sumo wrestlers’ monument with past Ozekis’ names engraved, and a monument dedicated to wrestlers with over 50 consecutive wins with their names engraved. Originally, the position of Yokozuna did not exist in the sumo world. The word Yokozuna derives from talented sumo wrestlers being allowed to wear a rope made of black and white silk twisted together in the past. Later, those who were allowed to wear the rope from among the sumo wrestlers in the position of Ozeki, the top rank in the sumo world, became known as Yokozuna. Then, Yokozuna became a license system and were chosen from the Ozeki sumo wrestlers. The first Yokozuna is Shiganosuke Akashi. Shiganosuke was born in Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke province (now Tochigi prefecture). The year he was born in unknown, but it is said that he started kanjin sumo in Edo (now Tokyo) as the founder by around 1624. Shiganosuke is said to have been 251cm tall and weighed 180kg (approximately 8’3” and 396 pounds). He was the most powerful man and was legendary in numerous fights and contests of strength in Osaka and Nagasaki. His strength became known in all of Japan. At the time, each feudal lord patronized powerful persons and sumo wrestlers that they could brag about, and had heavyweights fight each other in sumo. Shiganosuke also fought against the feudal lords’ in-house sumo wrestlers, but never lost a match. His strength became known to the then-Emperor. At the time, there was a sumo wrestler named Nio Nidayu whose strength was said to be unequaled. Nio Nidayu and Shiganosuke were the Ozekis of the east and west. So, the Emperor wanted to meet the No. 1 sumo wrestler in Japan and decided to have Shiganosuke and Nio Nidayu fight in Kyoto. The Shiganosuke was 251cm tall, and Nio Nidayu’s height is said to have been around 227cm. People expected it to be a white-knuckling fight where two giants clashed. The Emperor personally watching something is called “tenran.” Winning right in front of the Emperor is the utmost honor. Both Shiganosuke Akashi and Nio Nidayu staked their lives on the approaching tenran match.