Minaminoshima Takeshi

Minaminoshima Takeshi - 南乃島 勇 (born June 26, 1955) is a former Tongan professional sumo wrestler from Tongatapu. He made his debut in November 1974 and wrestled for Asahiyama stable. His highest rank was makushita 37 and he retired in September 1976.

## **Early Life**

Growing up on the main island of the South Pacific island-kingdom of Tonga, Falevai attended Tonga College and was classmates with future stablemate Tonga Fifita who also joined professional sumo alongside him. At the age of 19, he was part of a group of six teenagers and young men sent by the King of Tonga to Japan to study Sumo.

## **Career**

After moving to Japan in 1974, he competed under the shikona of Minaminoshima (南乃島) which means southern island. He had a strong start to his professional sumo career and produced five straight winning records which sent him to his career-high rank of makushita 37 by his sixth tournament. In his fifth professional tournament, he took the sandanme yusho by defeating six-year veteran Saito in a playoff by oshidashi (push out). However, Minaminoshima struggled in the makushita division and fell back down to sandanme by March 1976.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

### **Controversial Dismissal**

Minaminoshima's stablemaster, ex-maegashira Futaseyama, died suddenly in 1975 and he and his Tongan stablemates were caught up in a succession dispute between former maegashira Ryuo and the man who eventually became the new head, former komusubi Wakafutase. They sided with Futaseyama's widow, who preferred Ryuo to take over, and were ultimately dismissed by the Japan Sumo Association. As a result of the controversy sumo officials had to fly to Tonga to explain themselves to the country's king, Taufaʻahau Tupou IV.

### **After Retirement**

After returning to Tonga, Falevai was recruited to become a police officer by the King of Tonga. He spent 34 years in the police force, working on various different islands in Tonga. During his time in the police force, Falevai also captained the Tongan rowing team which consisted of 42 members. The team went on to compete and win several championships throughout the Pacific. He also stayed in the sumo scene and led the Tongan team at the Junior Sumo World Championships in Tokyo in 2000. He also achieved the bronze medal in the 1996 open weight division at the Sumo World Championships at the age of 41.

Falevai and his wife currently work as a church service missionaries in Hawaii.

## **Personal Life**

* He is married to Ma’unga Falevai. The Falevai’s have eight children; seven boys and one girl. Many of their children are graduates of Brigham Young University–Hawaii. The Falevai's currently reside in Hawaii.
* Falevai’s second son, whom he named Minaminoshima Isamu, joined the Musashigawa stable in 2001 and also fought under the ring name of Minaminoshima until his retirement in September 2008.
* He returned to Japan in the 1980s to study at the YMCA Tokyo Japanese Language School.
* Falevai received the old stable’s placard and has since displayed it at the entrance of his birth home on Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga, as proof that he was a sumo wrestler in Japan.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 47-30/77 (12 basho)
* **Makushita:** 9-12/21 (3 basho)
* **Sandanme:** 22-13/35 (5 basho)
* **Jonidan:** 10-4/14 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 6-1/7 (1 basho)

### **Championships**

* 1 **Sandanme** Championship (July 1975)

## **Shikona History**

* Minaminoshima Takeshi (1974.11 - 1976.09)

## **Gallery**

Minaminoshima (left) joins professional sumo (c. 1974)Minaminoshima in maezumo (c. 1974)Minaminoshima and his stablemates in maezumo (c. 1974)Asahiyama oyakata trains the Tongans (c. 1974)Minaminoshima wins the sandanme yusho (c. 1975)Minaminoshima and his Tongan stablemates get topknotsMinaminoshima with the King of Tonga (c. 1975)Tongan sumo wrestlers protest their new stablemaster (c. 1976)The Tongan rikishi return to Tonga after their dismissal (c. 1976)Minaminoshima with his Asahiyama Beya sign
## **Sources**

* Minaminoshima Takeshi Rikishi Information
* Japan Times Article on Minaminoshima