New Sumo Wrestling Star FILIPINO-JAPANESE WINS BIG, BEATS HIGHEST-RANKED SUMO

By Manny Piñol

Filipino-Japanese Sumo Wrestler Takayasu Zeki shocked and delighted Japanese wrestling fans when he defeated Number 1 ranked Yokuzuna Kakoryu in the on-going Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, Japan.

The outstanding performance of Takayasu Zeki, Takayasu Akira in real life whose mother, Bebelita, is a Boholana raised in Davao del Sur, was reported by his cousin, lawyer Israelito Torreon, in a post in his Facebook page last night.

Here is Atty. Torreon’s post:

“A great news for Filipinos. Our very own Filipino-Japanese Takayasu Zeki amazed the sumo-wrestling world today when he soundly defeated the number one ranked-Yokuzuna Kakoryu in the ongoing Tokyo sumo-wrestling tournament. Takayasu Zeki is currently ranked as Ozeki or the second highest rank in the highest Makuuchi Division of the sumo-wrestling world while Kakoryu is a Yokuzuna or the highest ranked sumo wrestler in the world. An Ozeki defeating a Yokuzuna is therefore a great news not only in Japan but also to those who seriously follow the exciting and fascinating world of Sumo-Wrestling. The feat of Takayasu Zeki is made more news-worthy knowing that he is half-Filipino, her mother-Bebelita Takayasu having hailed from Davao City and the Island of Bohol.”

Here is a wikipedia item on the new Sumo Wrestling Superstar:

“Takayasu was born and raised in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother.[1] He was a catcher on his junior high school baseball team and expected to play for his high school club as well, but his father encouraged him to take up sumo, having noticed his physical resemblance to fellow Ibaraki Prefecture native Kisenosato.[4] Through his father’s recommendation he joined Kisenosato’s Naruto stable (now Tagonoura stable) upon graduating from junior high school.[4] Takayasu ran away from the stable several times due to the severe training, but on each occasion his father persuaded him to return.”

Takayasu’s big victory makes him the first Filipino-Japanese Sumo Wrestler to reach the highest rank in the country’s favourite sport.

Last year, following a big victory Takayasu Zeki and his parents expressed the desire to share the 28-year-old Sumo Wrestler’s success with the Filipino people.

They are asking for an opportunity to call on President Rody Duterte, a Davaoeño like his mother.

(Here is the video footage of Takayasu Zeki’s spectacular victory against Yukuzona Kakoryu in Tokyo yesterday, downloaded from the page of Atty. Israelito Torreon.)