Hello and thanks again for tuning in to SUMO PRIME TIME. I’m Hiro Morita. The November Tournament is still a few weeks away but sumo training sessions never stops. This time, we visited Musashigawa stable to meet the former king of the ring Musashimaru from Hawaii who is currently the master of Musashigawa stable to check out how wrestlers there are gearing up for the November contest. It's our pleasuire to reintroduce him especially to our overseas audience, because he was a superstar in his heyday. I’m sure a lot of people remember his great achievements and are thrilled to see he’s still in great spirits and holding his own as a master. Formerly a Yokozuna, Musashigawa Oyakata shares his memories from his active days and talks about his ambitions in his current endeavor. He’s nothing but a wonderful man to be around and I can’t wait to see him produce combatants from his stable who compete in the upper divisions in the near future. Best of luck to Musashigawa Oyakata!! Now, here’s a reminder of the next grand sumo tournament which takes place in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan. The final tourney of the year will get underway on Sunday, November 12. The tickets are now on sale. For more information, please log on to the site below. sumo.pia.jp/en/sumo11.jsp
Interesting and almost a bit sad how he said he was never happy with his success. He never celebrated a yusho win, because he was always thinking about the next one. A fascinating insight into the mind of an athlete at the very very top of his game.
Yes,--I don't know much about sumo but from what I have learned (recently), to become Yokozuna is a huge achievement! So hope you can be proud Musashimaru! Major accomplishment to come from Hawaii and represent the U.S. so well as one of the very top sumo wrestlers in Japan
The same pretty much applies for any sport, not just Sumo. Winners don't let their most recent performance define them. In sports sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and sometimes it does. The key to success is having a firm foundation and continuing to use that foundation as the platform to correct mistakes and go forward. If you have no vision and no plan toward your goals you will surely fail. Winners don't rely on talent or luck to take them to the finish line, they rely on a strategic plan, basic core foundation, hard work and discipline to sustain them throughout their whole career. Where your career is headed is totally dependent on your foundation, your amount of try, and your work ethic.
"Sumo Prime Rib" - man you gotta love Musashigawa-oyakata. He holds a special place in my heart because he won the tournament in my birth month and year, he even won on that very day. Hope he can raise some Yokozuna on his own in the future!
So nice to see a slightly longer interview that goes beyond the basic platitudes the rikishi usually fill their statements with. More like this please!
Musashimaru was my first favorite Sumo rikishi! I watched him on ESPN growing up with my grandfather and brother in between Worlds Strongest man(which I still follow heavily) episodes. Don’t even think I was old enough to realize that he was a Yokozuna, just knew I loved his massive size and his teal belt which was always memorable lol. Instantly I fell in love with Japanese culture, Sumo culture, the ritualistic style of the sport, the fierce bouts between rikishi, all of it. My grandfather has been passed away for some time now but I continue to watch sumo with my brother often and Sumo will always have a special place in my heart! What’s not to love about Sumo?
Musashimaru is one of the greatest rikishi of all time. An amazing Yokozuna he always embodied the best in sumo! He is right by saying today many go for the Hatakikomi or even Henka and these are girls moves! Hope to see some great sekitori coming from Musashigawa beya in the future. Such a great guy. Nothing but compliments!
I got hooked on Sumo in the 1980s and 90s when the Hawaiian rikishi were at the top of the game in Japan. I've stayed hooked ever since. This was a wonderful interview with a man I have much admired. He was very shy at first, but relaxed as the video continued and his fun personality won out in the end. Loved it. Thanks!
Damn Hiro, getting some big names here. I love his composure and philosophy. No pretentiousness even though he achieved what many few have. Thanks a lot SPT for your work!!
I grew up watching him and the other Local Boys do sumo from the local news back home. They are the pride of Hawaiʻi. I see them now and I enjoy that him and Konishiki have that strong Pidgin still! I hope Akebono is next. Mahalo for showcasing the Hawai'i boys! -Proud Local Boy! 🤙🏽🤙🏽
Musashimaru is a top 10 all time wrestler who competed his whole career with two other top 10 all timers (Akebono and Takanohana) but there is barely any highlights, retrospectives, or interviews with him on youtube; so this is great and sorely needed
I found it interesting how he said you need to be mentally tough to be Yokozuna. Fast forward to today and you see how much emphasis hakahuho puts on being mentally tough. He’s constantly preaching it and trying to instill in his rikishi the importance of being mentally tough
Mushashimaru should know about that. When he was Ozeki, he had a huge mental block for along time. He would be right in contention until the finals days and then Takanohana or Akebono would walk away with the Basho. It wasn't until they started having major injuries when he started to win and get that confidence going strong that he was able to make the push to Yokozuna.
I always liked Mushashimaru. He’s from the same area of O’ahu as me and went to the same high school I did although he is a bit younger than me. I hope to meet him one day.
I was a Musashimaru fan in the 1990's. Happy to see him continue impacting sumo with his leadership and sumo philosophy. He made an interesting remark about how lack of practice and attempts to cut corners results in injuries. It appears injuries are more commonplace in later years, perhaps there is a connection.
It is first time to hear his English long interview like this. I now respect him so much as a person. He is great ambassador for Japanese culture! Just amazing!
Wow he is so full of wisdom words to live by!! Hope to see more interviews as he continues on his journey in life ❤love watching him practicing with his boys in his stable awesome…..
Great interview, Musashimaru is a legend and it’s good to hear him talk at length. The content of this channel keeps getting better. I hope Musashigawa beya gets a sekitori soon.
Brilliant episode! Love these behind the scenes interviews with Yokozuna! We were just in Tokyo visiting Ryogoku. Unfortunately didn’t get to see Musashigawa stable. Will definitely swing past next time!
It sounds sad to many that this guy never celebrated a tournament championship or had any happy moments during his career, but I find this to be the perfect embodiment of star athletes in general, not just sumotori. Winners don't let their most recent performance define them. In sports sometimes things don't go exactly as planned and sometimes it does. The key to success is having a firm foundation and continuing to use that foundation as the platform to correct mistakes and go forward. If you have no vision and no plan toward your goals you will surely fail. Winners don't rely on talent or luck to take them to the finish line, they rely on a strategic plan, basic core foundation, hard work and discipline to sustain them throughout their whole career. Where your career is headed is totally dependent on your foundation, your amount of try, and your work ethic.
I'm from Hawaii but during Musashimaru's time I rooted for Chiyonofuji. If I was a new wrestler I would be hesitant to join Musashimaru's beya because he lacked technique. Even in this interview he talks about pushing his opponent out of the ring. But good to see him 🌊🏝️🩴
I loved the jab to the latest ozekis and sekitori winning tournaments but cracking under pressure. Not everyone is made for the rank, and how true is that in this day and age
@@LauraJdogmom From the current sekitori, I would say NONE. Hakuoho, Atamifuji or Asanoyama may be way better yokozuna material if they stay fit and free from serious injuries.
I loved this good time when the hawaiian sumotori were engaged in sumo. Especially Akebono and Musashimaru have been my special favorites. Thank you for this insight!!!
I’m am a humble man above all things and this humbled me even more I had tears of excitement and happiness. It’s very hard to explain this feeling of “YEESSS! That’s what it’s all about musashi!!” It’s about loving what you do and focusing on what you do and you WILL ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL.
Oh, I'm excited for what he said...I am trying to coordinate a May trip for the Kokugikan and it would be amazing to make it over to Musashimaru's stable.
Absolutely loved this video on the great Hawaiian and 67th yokozuna Musashimaru. His has taken his legendary focus, stoic nature and determination forward from the Dohyto to coaching and its great to see him in good health and focusing on the growth of his stable. He is after all an all-star american athlete and you can see his native american competitiveness and athlete's spirit shine through despite all his years as a Japanese now. Wonderful, insighful interview. More please !! Thank you Hiro-san
In his prime Musashimaru possessed the near perfect sumo body in terms of size and strength. Early on he had to battle Akebono and Takanohana so in other times he would have won even more than 12 championships.
I remember standing next to Musashimaru at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival a few years ago. I'm not little, but he made me look like a midget.
Musashimaru is from American Samoa. He only moved to Hawaii when he was 10. Given that he moved to Japan at 18, it means he was in American Samoa longer.
You think years 0-5 count more than years 10-15 in determining cultural identity? Sounds a little adult baby kinky, not there I'm here to judge you for what you do in the sheets
Very interesting interview. You can see there's a lot going through this great athlete's mind. Yet, he has no regret for the path he has pursued. He praises the "simplicity" of his sport yet I sense he knows much about its complexity--physically, mentally, and emotionally.
He was my student back home in high school and was a gentle giant and so funny, but on the football field .... he was mean! Aloha from westside Oahu MK retired art teacher and WHS alumni. IMUA !
I don't EVER want to hear that these are simply two "fat guys" pushing each other around. This sport is steeped in ancient tradition going back to the samurai. In fact they share a similar code of conduct in there rankings. The training is brutal long and grueling. With respect, honor, and integrity champion are born. It's not a sport for everyone and truly only the strong will survive and have a lengthy career. Hopefully this rare insight into a sport that was often hidden away from the media until recently. In terms of allowing cameras inside dojos etc...Will now afford folks a newfound respect for what these men put themselves through to reach the top.
Can we please get some interviews with other rikishi, too? I'd really love to see Chiyoshoma since he doesn't get much interview time even in Japan, and it would be fun to see more Takayasu, too. Please keep up the great work!
WOuld love to see an update video on Akebono. I know information about his health is hard to come by and I'm sure his fans would love to see/get an update on him.
When Japanse rikishi are interviewed it is very often very stale conversation. Not sure why. But they are always very brief and without emotion. But this interview is great because its more articulate. I guess when he speaks english there is also les nuance lost than when a japanes rikishi speaks, and we westerners don't get a lot of it. Thanks!
"Kihon, kihon, kihon!" Musashigawa-oyagata echos the advice of so many of my budo sensei! Likewise, the advice of George Leonard in his seminal book "Mastery" (1991)! It's the so-called secret to success - there are no shortcuts, no magic bullets.
While seeing a really dominant pusher-thruster blast his opponent out of the ring can be fun, I usually find the belt battles and throws that many Mongolians excel at more interesting to watch. But this got me thinking: do stables typically train focusing on a single style (the one favoured by the oyakata in his active years)? I assume the bigger stables must be able to support wrestlers in both according to their disposition?
Damn, that’s some harsh slaps to reality - “they don’t have that nowadays… you don’t see a lot of technique in sumo. They’re trying to win the easy way”. I’m assuming that he’s the type who hates hatakikomi or worst of all, henka :)
Gentle Giants from the countryside Waimanalo, Nanakuli, and Waianae They are the champions, in a foreign land National heroes, famous idols in Japan Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki Akebono, Musashimaru and Konishiki They have traveled, thousand miles away Sometimes lonely, far away from family All have conquered, a dream that seemed impossible With dignity, they are Hawai'i sumotori Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
