Taikai Tsutomu

Taikai Tsutomu - 大海 力 (born May 30, 1971) is a former American professional sumo wrestler from Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii. He made his debut in September 1989 and wrestled for Azumazeki stable. His highest rank was jonokuchi 39 and he retired in November 1989.

## **Early Life**

George Leiola "Ola" Rowan was born on May 30, 1971, to Randolph and Janice Rowan, and is of Hawaiian descent. He grew up with two brothers, Randy and Chad, the latter who became the first Non-Japanese Yokozuna.

He was always athletic and participated in baseball and American football for majority of his childhood. Due to his stocky build he was the perfect candidate for sumo and was recruited by ex-sekiwake Takamiyama, another Hawaiian. However, Ola was still in high school and was too young to join Azumazeki stable, so Takamiyama recruited his older brother Chad in hopes for Ola to follow. During his time at Kailua High School, Ola played American football and also participated in wrestling and judo. After graduation from high school, Ola joined Azumazeki stable alongside Nathan Strange (future Hidenokuni) and Troy Talaimatai (future Ozora).

## **Career**

He was given the shikona "Taikai" (大海) which meant big ocean. He made his debut in September 1989 and had a strong showing in maezumo (pre-sumo). He was placed in jonokuchi in the following tournament, but pulled out on the first day of the tournament. This proved to be his only tournament as his retirement was announced after the tournament.

## **Retirement from Sumo**

Unlike his older brother, Ola has always been rebellious and had discipline issues with his stablemaster. He would often get into fights with other rikishi and did not have the right temperament for the sport's hierarchical culture. Akebono took some distance from the situtation, in the sense of not displaying any favoritism towards his brother on the grounds that every rikishi must succeed on his own merits and follow the same rules as everyone else. Ola apparently misconstrued this as a lack of support from his brother and had a falling out with him. As a result he ditched the first four days of the November 1989 tournament and none of his stablemates or family members knew where he was. Ola finally made contact with his mother by phone and it turned out he was hanging around with yakuza in Shikoku.  He was recalled back to his stable and given his marching orders to return to Hawaii. He was put on the plane from Fukuoka the following day.

Upon returning to Hawaii, he ended up on the wrong side of the law and was jailed on multiple occasions due to drug-related charges. As of 2011 he is incarcerated at the Halawa Community Correctional Facility due to non-violent drug related charges.

## **Record**

### **Division Results**

* **Total:** 0-1-6/1 (2 basho)
* **Jonokuchi:** 0-1-6/1 (1 basho)

## **Gallery**

Taikai gets measured upon joining professional sumo (c. 1989)Taikai in maezumo (c. 1989)Taikai (in the back) as a tsukebito
(c. 1989)

## **Sources**

* Taikai Tsutomu Rikishi Information
* Mark Panek - Gaijin Yokozuna (2006)
* Honolulu Advertiser, *Brothers Head for Big Time* by Ferd Lewis
* Honolulu Star Advertiser - Inmates lose weight, call prison food inadequate