The sun., 1907-08-29
GREAT HITACHIYAMA HERE
HIS WEIGHT 3JO POUNDS. 80 M
EARNS THE TITLE.
Wrestler who 10 Champion NJ Champions I'M
Japan Arrives to study American Meth
Ots -Esxplains why He Has the Title
of YOzOkuna Besides All Hls Others.

Ous-fNptnms why BIC Has tne Ettie
Of YOzOkuna Besides All His Others.
Hitachiyams, who is now ciassed as the
champion Of champions Of Japanese wres-
tiers. arrived at the Grand Central Station
yesterday afternoon and was received
Enthusiastically by the local Japanese.
HitachIyama and his followers are stopping
at the Nippon Club on West Eighty-fifth
street, although the Astor House was to
have been his hotel.
Hitachiyama lie a son OF Samurai and he
is noted AZ the best educated among the
wrestlers; besides. he is the leader OF the
Sumo Society and is the favorite wrestler
OF many prominent statesmen OF Japan.
He left Japan with the expressed purpose
Of acquainting himself with American
athletic games. He IL not likely to engage
In any contest with American wrestiers
or boxers. but he may show the methods
Of Japanese sumo by oontesttng with ms
company which came with him. He ar
rived In Seattle last Thursday on the kaga-
maru and left last Saturday for New YORK.
Weighing $50 pounds, short OF stature
and directly contradicting American ana
European ideas OF good build as an athlete,
Hitachiyama .ypifies the belief OF his coun-
trymen In perfection. @The champion "a
a monument Of plain. everyday TAT and
sufficiently aisters In demeanor totpresent
little that is favorable fpy commeAt when
judged from the American veypShht.
says one Japanese.
The wrestler gave an interview TO the
Japanese reporters In this city translated
as follows: II came to this country In
compliance with the advice OF PROMINENT
men in both public and private ahairs OF
Ian arnnl nf fha particular DTOlTeSS
attained In the athletic field and OF the en-
couragement given to the physical training
by Americans above all other nations OF
the world. This led me TO come TO ths
country before go TO any other countries.
l also expect to take trip to Europe later
On and il would be a greatest honor 20 me
IL should be able to receive a series of
trainings under the prominent athletes
Of different nations.
Il was born in 1874 and am the eldest son
of Talsanari Ichigl Of Mito Clan, enjoying
the distinction OF samurai class. Our
feudal lord 10 a tributary OF the Iokugawa
Shotgun. who held the sceptre OF the feudal
government.
81 began my sumo career at the age OF
II and have devoted all my time since then
20 the study and practice. In 1908 ! was
honored with the title Of Yokozuna, In ad-
dition 10 the championship Of the Sumo.
An explanation Of the Yokozuna may not
be out OF place. A festival was held on
May 20, according to the old calendar,
sos A. D., in honor OF the God Of Sumiyoshi
Shrine at Naniwa, now Osaka. when the
occasion was celebrated by an exhibition
of sumo.
"A wrestler by the name OF Hajikami, :,
OF the Province Of Omi. won the best OF the
day with his superior craft. and finding
no one who dared to challenge him for the
supremacy he caused the rope, or sacred
thread to he taken down from the Tori.
the arch dedicated to the shrine, and placed
il around his waist. declaring that he would
surrender the victory in favor of one who
could touch his rope.
"Yokozuna. which literally means rope
at side.' originated in this historic fact
Subsequently in a wrestling match held
in 1890 to commemorate the festival OF god
at Shitaya-Shiwomachi.Y Yeddo. now Toxic,
a wrestler named Shiganosuke Akashi
proved himself the foremost victor and was
allowed TO show a mark OF distinction by
wearing Yokozuna in addition to the cham
pionship, which he obtained. The Yoko-
yuma henceforth has been inherited up
to the present time. In which have the honor
TO be entitled the nineteenth in success
sion"