Chanko-nabe with KONISHIKI at Japan Festival 2013

KONISHIKI will be at the Festival all day Saturday and Sunday and entry to the festival is free. Stop by to talk to him in person and to learn more about Sumo. In addition there will be many other Japanese cultural demonstrations and activities.

On Saturday from 11-1, Konishiki will be making his special chankonabe, a type of Japanese stew commonly eaten in vast quantity by sumo wrestlers as part of a weight-gain diet. Suggested donation is $5 per bowl. 100% of the profit will go towards Konishiki Kids Foundation, in which the money will be used for supporting the children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Konishiki Yasokichi, born as Saleva’a Fuauli Atisano’e in Hawaii to Samoan parents, moved to Japan at age 18 to become one of the most beloved foreign-born wrestlers in the modern sumo history. With his fierce fighting style and the 6 feet 1, over-600-pound physique towering over nearly all other wrestlers, Konishiki quickly gained popularity in the 80s and 90s. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of ozeki, the second highest rank in the sport.

After retiring from sumo in 1997, Konishiki began to turn his talents to music, which had been his passion since his youth. He soon became very successful in his new career in the Japanese entertainment industry; releasing albums of Hawaiian music, appearing on commercials and winning numerous TV awards. Today he is best known as the host of “Nihongo de Asobo (Let’s play with the Japanese language),” a popular children’s TV show.

Konishiki is also known for his dedication to children’s charity. His organization, Konishiki Kids Foundation, has been raising money to help the children affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.