Naruto Oyakata-personal stories from people who knew him

[Kintamayama 45,374]

I received this from Lynn Matsuoka the artist:

I've been traveling and was just stopped mid-track when the emails came in about Naruto Oyakata. It was hard to breath for a minute, as it is when someone so meaningful and part of the fabric of your life, your past, dies. Especially when there is unfinished business.

There is a wonderful picture of Yokozuna Takanosato sitting on the back of my 1,000cc BMW motorcycle about 1980, wearing a yukata with a huge bath towel wrapped around his head, fresh from the ofuro after Keiko. He had asked me for a ride around the block. When I get home I will find it and post it on my website. I have some beautiful paintings of him as well as he allowed me to sit next to him in the dressing room during the various honbasho and on jungyo for years.

I was fortunate to know him well before he became Yokozuna, often sharing chanko and conversation with him at the heya despite my feeble knowledge of Japanese at that time. He was exceptionally bright and well read, almost too much so for the world he lived in and I wondered if he suffered much because of that. When he was making his run for Yokozuna, I sat next to him after many Keiko sessions as he methodically cracked 8 raw eggs in a row, tossing the white and eating the yolk ( or was it the other way around- I don't remember but it must be in his books on the subject) explaining that this was part of his personally designed regimen to overcome the debilitating effects of the diabetes he suffered, and climb the ranks. He told me that his shisho Futagoyama said, after 'Sato ( as his friends called him) was diagnosed with diabetes, "well, I guess you'll have to quit sumo, as you'll never go up in the ranks now". But that was not for 'Sato. He told me he'd done a ton of research on this disease and he was determined to overcome the disease and become Yokozuna. He had no doubts about being successful. He then proceeded to become Sekiwake and the rest is history. He said he was disappointed that his shisho was so negative and short sighted about him.

As Katrina relates, Takanosato had many stories then, as he did later on as Oyakata. One was about exactly how he became a rikishi, the story of his recruitment. He said that Futagoyama Oyakata appeared in Aomori looking very impressive with an expensive gold Rolex, bearing wonderful gifts, telling glorious stories of far-off Tokyo. The stories so impressed the young country boy that he agreed to go to Tokyo with the Oyakata to spend 3 days at the heya to check out the SUMO life there. He told me he had every intention of taking advantage of this free trip to the big city, and then going right back back home. He was going to be a farmer. However, as soon as he arrived in Tokyo he began to receive letters from all his Aomori neighbors, saying how proud they were that he was going to become a rikishi, wishing him well and pledging their support. He said he realized then he could indeed not return home, as he would shame his family if he didn't go on to be the rikishi they all were expecting. So he had to stay.

I remember one conversation we had at the Osaka keikoba, sometime late 70's, as he cracked and ate his raw eggs before having chanko. There was a group of foreign visitors that day and one man in particular was acting a bit outlandishly in his estimation, standing up and pointing to the rikishi in the ring, commenting to the others in something less than a hushed voice.

'Sato commented that "that guy is some wierdo" as he had no idea of Keikoba etiquette. I went over to that guy and talked with him to check out the group and found out that he was the famous fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, whose fashion show I was going to later that day. The Yokozuna then invited me to lunch (Chanko) and I got permission to bring my new friend, the fashion designer. He was a hit, as he loved the crazy things they served that I couldn't touch- the fried tiny crabs that looked like spiders (shudder) and fish eyes... Oscar passed all the usual get-the-gaijin food tricks with flying colors and they totally loved him. I introduced him to the gorgeous Daio zeki at the same heya and they became friends as well.

(I wound up going as Oscar's guest to the fashion show that day and we became good friends. Indeed, he made my wedding dress and came to my wedding when I formerly married Iwatora zeki in Tokyo in 1980).

The unfinished business between myself and Naruto Oyakata involves an art piece he wanted from me, that I had hoped to get done for him at some point. I have feared for years tho that as a diabetic, it was dangerous to allow himself to become so heavy. I was heartbroken to hear of his death, but not surprised.

There was so much drama at Futagoyama in those years, but Sato was involved in only his own. Magaki Oyakata, the former, adorable Wakamisugi, then Yokozuna Wakanohana 2nd, OMG, that is another, long chapter.

Lynn Matsuoka

the SUMO artist

Web sites : http:// www.traditions.jp

& www.hamptonsartist.com

Tel USA 808-479-5966 / NY studio 631-537-5237

[shumitto 418]

You could have omitted her phone numbers. Anyway, good to hear those stories.

[Kintamayama 45,374]

You could have omitted her phone numbers.

Just copied as is without noticing . Anyhow, we have quite a few of those on our signatures, like me for example.

Edited November 8, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,374]

From Katrina Watts:

Naruto Oyakata was a very special person. He was full of curiosity about the world and eager to share his knowledge with whomever would listen.

Naruto beya was one of my favourite heya to visit from the time when when I first stood outside in the cold morning air in Osaka peering through the window of the keikoba, to being invited inside, to being given the place of honour next to the Oyakata, to, in my later years, having the Oyakata shout " Bring Katrina the chair!" such as it was, a strange chairlike apparatus set on the tatami, about 6" high but with arms and a back to it, offering welcome support and making it easier to get up after keiko was over.

My friend, Jinan, and I used to call the Oyakata "Big Brother" because that was the way he seemed to us in relation to his deshi. I was shocked by the allegations of violence as I never once saw him raise his hand and rarely even his voice to a deshi during keiko, though he was well known as being very strict and having high expectations of his deshi both in performance and personal conduct. His method during keiko was close scrutiny and explanation. In many heya the oyakata watches keiko with the occasional comment and the occasional whack with a bamboo cane. In some places the Oyakata, if he comes, barely watches, reading the sports newspaper instead. Not so Naruto. He watched everything and frequently stopped his boys to explain a point, very often using a couple of deshi as models. This was very valuable to me as an observer as I could hear and see what he was trying to get the rikishi to do. Sometimes, I'll admit, he stopped everyone to tell a story, particularly to relive one of his dohyo triumphs. He would begin a loud "Err...." or "Ano..." and the training rikishi would freeze to devote all their attention to the Oyakata as he began, "When I beat ....zeki in the ...basho of 19.." As the stories were often long they would lower their barbell holding arms or straighten their backs but they kept their positions until the explanation or anecdote was finished and then, like automatons when the switch has been thrown, went straight back to the exercise they had been doing.

He was quirky. One morning during keiko someone was thrown off the dohyo and banged into an unsuspecting fellow rikishi who was not looking. All stop for a lecture! The oyakata gave them a talk about needing to be both predator - always looking for the opening to attack - but also like a prey animal - constantly aware of what was happening around them. He got two deshi and made them get down on all fours on the dohyo to demonstrate his principle, explaining that prey animals have eyes on the side of the head so they can see and be aware of everything. Leaving the two boys in position, the Oyakata took the analogy to a higher level comparing the rikishi to a pilot. It may have been a morning when marine colonel, Phil Van Etten, was there which made him think of it, but he explained that a pilot, while doing one task, was constantly aware of the lights and dials, the movements of the plane, the sound of the engines. He wanted his rikishi to be like that always aware of everything around them, not just what they were doing at the time. Very graphic and certainly stuck in my mind!

His explanations of technique, defence and attack were invaluable to me in my efforts to understand sumo without the advantage of ever having done it. Probably the teacher in me was drawn more to this hands on, talked through method of training as well.

The Oyakata suffered from diabetes and was very conscious of food and nutrition. I heard he wrote a best selling diet book after his retirement, but as he seemed to constantly get bigger, I don't think he followed it himself. He was very involved in the food preparation at the heya, made tsukemono pickles and tutored the boys in how to make the udon and ramen noodles from scratch, even made sausages. Naruto beya's chanko was varied and there always a wide variety of side dishes. In particular in Tokyo at the heya in Chiba, many unusual but delicious creations appeared. This special fish from here, that special vegetable from there, many wonderful things from the Oyakata's home in Aomori, prepared with care and skill. It was like dining at a top class restaurant!

Afterward the Oyakata would like to chat about anything and everything. He had a vast library of reference books and, at home, would often shout to his wife, "Oi, bring that book about ...." and the Okamisan would appear with the requested book on potatoes or Chinese history or the origins of ramen. He carried an electronic encyclopaedia for quick reference so he could look up any topic that came up to confirmp or expound his theories. He showed his deshi films he thought were of value, some Hollywood classics among them, in movie nights in the big living room - though he admitted many of them fell asleep. He took the whole heya on a trip to pre-Olympic Beijing and hired rickshaws (the mind boggles) to take them through the narrow streets of the hutong to get an understanding of Chinese culture, before it disappeared.

On the NHK news from Monday night, which I watched at 5:30 am this morning on Australia's SBS channel, a tearful Magaki Oyakata spoke of his great friend. One of my favourite stories (heard a few times) was the one of his recruitment in Aomori by Futagoyama Oyakata, the first Wakanohana. Naruto and Magaki were teenage boys at the time, who had come to the attention of Futagoyama as likely prospects. They were called to an interview where they met the famed yokozuna and were given a spiel about the advantages of becoming sumowrestlers. "There's treasure in the dohyo." they were told by Futagoyama who was wearing huge diamond cufflinks and a big diamond stud tiepin on his tie, which was made from a small crocodile. Naruto said he was transfixed by the crocodile hanging down Futagoyama's chest skewered with the glittering stone. Neither boy had ever been to Tokyo and the lure of such an adventure and the promise of riches won them over and they set off together on a path which would take them both to yokozuna.

Magaki Oyakata was much more of a star and was even given the name of the stablemaster, Wakanohana, becoming the second yokozuna of that name. Naruto took much longer to achieve his success and was popularly called "Oshin Yokozuna" because of the patience and determination he showed in his struggle to reach the rank of yokozuna. There was a long running serial drama popular in Japan and Australian and possibly in many other countries, following the trials and tribulations of a woman called Oshin. Naruto, or Takanosato as he was then, did not make yokozuna till nearly 30, but he had struggled on through illness and setbacks to achieve his goal and earn the respect of the Japanese people.

He told me many stories about his early life as a rikishi and the many great bouts and hard fights he had won. I liked his stories about the sumo world as they gave me a better understanding into how things work. The stable taking all the prizes of the yusho winner for example, was made clear by his story of his wife ringing up the local rice merchant the day after Takanosato's yusho to order rice and getting an astounded reaction because one of the prizes was bales of rice. All that went to the heya.

Naruto Oyakata was fortunate to have married a wonderful woman. His Okamisan was a flight attendant for JAL when they met. She is an elegant, intelligent, generous woman who must be devastated by this sudden loss. They have two children, Takuya and Tomoko. Tomoko is still at university, but I think Takuya may have graduated now. He didn't want to do sumo but played baseball at university. Tomoko is studying Chinese. They also have a crazy dog, Perro, a fiercely faithful shiba with the strange and sudden frenzied habit of chasing his tail, which caused Takanoyama some embarrassment and consternation when he was on dog walking duty in his early days at the heya.

The rikishi at the Narutobeya will also be shocked and lost. They will know that the Oyakata would have wanted them to go on and do their best. How sad though that the Oyakata will not see his first Ozeki. Kisenosato will try even harder to achieve this goal from respect for his master and I hope he will succeed.

I am very saddened by the Oyakata's death. We were practically the same age with our birthdays a month apart and I realise now that I missed sending him a card this year. Yet another reminder to value our friends and loved ones while we have the opportunity.

I value all that Naruto Oyakata taught me, way beyond sumo, and the friendship he and his family have shown me. May he rest now in peace.

Katrina

Edited November 8, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Naganoyama 5,942]

Two great contributions. Thanks!

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

These stories very much remind me of my early days of watching the English sub-channel of NHK sumo broadcasts. The commentators endlessly emphasizing how everything sumo was sunshine and flowers, and everyone was just so gosh darn nice you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled onto a wonderful Disney production. Even in death, I don't think we should gloss over or omit uncomfortable or unfortunate characteristics, events, or to steal a phrase...teachable moments. Perhaps the NSK would like us to, but in the end it does a disservice to sumo and its supporters. RIP Naruto oyakata, and condolences to his loved ones, deshi and friends. Please don't bury the past, but use this time of loss to reflect and learn from it.

[Fay 1,677]

These stories very much remind me of my early days of watching the English sub-channel of NHK sumo broadcasts. The commentators endlessly emphasizing how everything sumo was sunshine and flowers, and everyone was just so gosh darn nice you'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled onto a wonderful Disney production. Even in death, I don't think we should gloss over or omit uncomfortable or unfortunate characteristics, events, or to steal a phrase...teachable moments. Perhaps the NSK would like us to, but in the end it does a disservice to sumo and its supporters. RIP Naruto oyakata, and condolences to his loved ones, deshi and friends. Please don't bury the past, but use this time of loss to reflect and learn from it.

very well said! (Showing respect...)

[Babaryutaikai 1]

From my own posts to the mailing list:

Katrina can speak better to this than I can (which she has), but he was a good friend to both of us and, irrespective of the recent hazing news, we always saw him to be a good mentor and quite kind to his deshi. An example: when Takanoyama first arrived at the heya and didn't care much for the house chanko, Naruto and his okamisan went out of their way to be sure that he was introduced to the sumo diet slowly by having the cook prepare European food for some time. (Actually, Wakanosato, Takanowaka and Takanotsuru were pretty happy about this.)

If you went to the Kokugikan and occasionally saw a very large man sitting in the last row by the broadcast booth, that was him. I never could comprehend how, with his weight fluctuations - mostly VERY heavy since he couldn't seem to stay slimmed down - - he was able to maneuver the steep steps to get all the way to the top.

I remember when Katrina and I spent time with him and his wife in their private quarters at the heya, how many times we tried to get away from his long stories by saying that we wanted to go back to Tokyo to watch this or that rikishi? I think he knew what we were up to because we rarely made it back on time. I remember,

too, how he loved cheese from all over the world. I was always afraid that I'd get caught at Japan customs with a particularly smelly wheel I brought one year.

I know the boys in the heya will miss him very much, not to mention his bereaved widow and kids and his many, many friends and fans.