Honoring the contributions of Takamiyama Daigoro to Sumo and to United States-Japan relations.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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).

Will the gentlelady yield?

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.

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.

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.

I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.

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. 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

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.