King of wrestlers Saki Yoshida

A sumo wrestler left a great name behind him in long sumo world history.
The sumo wrestler came from Africa. His debut was big news among Japanese people. It was not unusual to have sumo wrestlers had foreign countries because from Hawaii, Mongolia and other countries had already succeeded, such as Konishiki, Asashoryu, Hakuho or Kotooshu. However, Japanese people had never seen an African sumo wrestler before. Not only sumo fans but other people's eyes were focused on that remarkable new sumo wrestler.
My grandmother was one of the ardent sumo fans. I was not very interested in sumo, but the effect from her was big. Every day, at 4 o'clock p.m. when I came home, she was always watching TV. I couldn't do anything about the channel. It had been a family rule since I was born.
One day when I came home, I heard my grandmother shouted. "Oh, Grandmother is so excited. She must be watching the sumo on TV again," I thought. And I said, "I am home."
"Oh, hello, Saki. Look at this. Today is the debut of the African wrestler. Of course you know him?"
"Yeah, I saw the news on TV the morning. Did he win?" I asked.
"He is just going to have a match. Please do not be surprised. His first opposition is Asashoryu! What a wonderful match!" My grandmother was heated.
"OK. I see, I see. Please enjoy looking the match." I was not very interested. I went up stairs and went into my room.
"Oh! That was unbelievable. He got it! He won the Asashoryu." I could hear it from the riving room.
Next morning, the first news on TV and the first page of the sports newspaper was about the match. It was very natural because Asashoryu was the champion of sumo wrestler so far. He never lost the match in that year. "New champion appeared named King from Africa." All media said like that. King was a hero in a flash. My grandmother looked like so happy. She said "I am the first fan for him. I knew that he is going to win before his match. He will be strong more and more and I am sure that he is going to change the history of sumo world."
"Yes. I think he is strong. I am interested in him more than before." I answered.
From King's first game, every his game was focus on very much by all Japanese. He kept winning the every game from then on. At first, King was highly thought of by Japanese media. However, some Japanese media reversed their opinion oppositely. Their say was that King was from Africa, so He is naturally stronger than Japanese. It is fair or not. Some Japanese of little minds made a climate like this. Some people think that sumo is Japanese national sports, so there will be no Japanese champion anymore in the future if more and more foreign sumo wrestles appeared. King is not only sport news. It expanded a one of the social news. I have been interested in foreign countries since I was young, and I belong to a department of World Englishies of Chukyo University to study English. Therefore I don't like that idea. I think it is so nice that many foreigners know Japanese sports. I feel happy by foreigners do Japanese national sports in Japan. One day, I watched TV with my family at evening. The sports news of that day was about sumo again. I was irritated that topic. I asked my family. "I don't like that some Japanese say King is unfair because he is from Africa. What is a problem? What do you think?"
My mother said "I think it is good thing. In these days sumo is not so popular sports in your generation, but now young people have some interests in sumo. King cheers Japanese sumo world. I want to support him."
"Yeah, I agree with your idea." I replied.
"But I think his physical ability is naturally better than Japanese. If any Japanese who can knock down King don't appear, I feel bored." My father said.
"Um, How about you?" I asked my grandmother.
"I love sumo, so I don't care that where the wrestler is from. I like strong sumo wrestler, and I think everyone can do any sports." My grandmother laughed.
"Oh, you don't care about it." My grandmother's answer was unexpected for me. Perhaps I had a stereotype that old people tend not to stand off that situation. "You are the best fan of sumo, aren't you?" I smiled happily.
Several months later, King's glory was lasting. That King won many much was ordinary thing for me and media. I was not interested in sumo so much again. I was interested in golf rather than sumo in November because Ryo Ishikawa who was 17 years old golf player won the much. He was the youngest pro golfer in Japan, so the media focused on him very much. It meant a popular sports player was changing so quickly.
One morning, the thing happed that let me remember King. I saw the news and newspaper took a big his picture. A word next to his picture was... "AIDS". I could not understand what they were saying at first. However, I got it. King had HIV. I have never seen person who has HIV among my family, friends or even popular people so far. I knew the AIDS but it was not close problem for me. There was no reality. However, I had some information because I had a class about AIDS several times at school. Then I read a newspaper or magazine. It was so terrible. All of them were criticism articles to King. "It will be difficult for King to continue to play sumo. We are so sorry to him." In news on TV or news paper was saying about it softly. However, some weekly magazines were saying heavily, "He brought HIV in Japan from Africa. He has to be banished from sumo world and also Japan."
I went to school. My friends were talking about the news about King as I expected. One of my friends said, "I was very surprised very much. Is it OK to play sumo? Sumo wrestlers knocked together against each other. They are almost naked bodies. It is dangerous for infecting with AIDS." "Maybe, anyone will be infected with it by just touching. I think it is all right." I said.
However, my friend said, "But if I were other sumo wrestler I do not want to have match with him. I am sorry about him, but I am afraid of it." Some of my friends agreed with it. But I was not comfortable with their idea. Of cause, I could understand what they were saying, but... something is wrong. I thought I wanted to know about AIDS more and we have to understand it clearly.
When I came home, I watched TV. As usual, my grandmother was watching sumo. However, her face look was not usual. I could catch her sad feeling. "What is the matter?" I asked.
"Oh, Saki. King is not coming up. Maybe he is going not to take part in a match." She said.
"Why? Is the cause his disease which was reported in the morning?" I asked.
"Yes. Maybe. I do not know that well. What was it? Did he have to do that?"
"It is AIDS." I just replied.
I started research about AIDS from that day. I researched about it on internet or something. I knew a lot of things. For example, people do not be infected with AIDS by daily life. For example, we can use same cloths, toothbrush toilet seat and chopsticks. We can go in a pool or bathroom together. HIV does not infect by air cough, sneeze, tears and sweat.
How about King? He still did not be allowed to play sumo. In that situation, many people who were understand AIDS well did not silent. I had understood AIDS, so I knew that there was no problem to have match with King. As a result, I could not put up with treatment to King from Japanese society.
However, a month later, unexpectedly King appeared on the sumo wrestling ring with Asashoryu. "What are they going to do?" Many Japanese focused on them in front of their TV. Asashoryu's popularity had revived while King did not have a match, so some audience who did not have right knowledge worried about they were standing on the same place very closely. I showed someone's face with fear like "Please do not have a match with King." I could not expect what he is going to do, but I had a little expectation.
Asashoryu only said, "I change your prejudice in front of you! You were very wrong. Please look at this!" They started having a match. King was crying, but he played very hard. Then King won. It was very silent in the sumo hall. Asashoryu rose up from the sumo wrestling ring and said to all audiences, "Did you see everything? What happened? Nothing happened to me. That King has HIV is true, but what is the matter? Why do you change your reaction to him so terribly? I disappointed to some Japanese. I am sorry to say that haughtily though I am not Japanese. However, please understand King. I believe you because I know many Japanese are very kind to us. Please let King continue to playing sumo. King loves sumo very much."
It was still silent in the hall, but a person clapped his hand. More and more people clapped their hands to King and Asashoryu. Some of them moved and cried.
I was so moved and tears were running on my face. I was impressed by Asashoryu's kindness and courage. I was happy that King was helped and supported by a good sumo wrestler.
The next day, King held an interview with his stable master. My grandmother kept her eyes glued to the TV and me, too.
The first words which King said were "I am sorry about holding the interview was too late. Today, thank you for coming. I am going to tell the truth for all your question."
His stable master said, "When you ask King some questions, please do it after careful consideration."
A reporter asked the first question. "When did you notice that you had HIV? Why did not you notice it before you have sumo match?"
King applied, "The time I knew that I have HIV was when my grade of sumo match was getting better. I was shocked, and I thought I could not continue to playing sumo. However, I was toughed about AIDS from my doctor, and then I knew that it was possible to continue to do sumo. I had to tell everyone by myself when I knew that. I am really sorry. I was afraid of your reaction, so I could not tell the truth. I was afraid of losing my fan. I am sorry."
One of the reporters asked "What do you think about Asasyoryu? He changed your situation and he gave you a chance again."
King said, "I appreciate him very much. He was my biggest rival and my friends. While I could not have a match, he encouraged me. I could have hope that I can play sumo again thanks to him. If he was not here, I will not here, too."
"What did you feel about Japanese? What do you want to say to Japanese fans?" Another reporter asked.
"Well, at first, I was shocked by your reaction. I felt a kind of discrimination because of my illness. I can understand your feeling because I know you are thinking that AIDS is not usual in Japan. AIDS is a disease of some developing countries like my home country. However, it is wrong. I am sure I am African, but AIDS is not because I am from Africa. In Japan, more and more people have AIDS. My AIDS will not change, so I have to live with this disease forever. I accepted my disease, so I am happy if you think suffering people who have HIV in Japan by my AIDS. I still love Japan. I want to continue sumo here. Can you accept me having AIDS?" He replied and asked at the end of his comment. He added his comment, "I love Japan and I love sumo. This thought will not change. Thank you very much."
Many reporters clapped their hands. At the same time, a lot of Japanese who were watching TV were moved. I was so happy and I respected King. I thought he was very strong not only sumo. He had courage and a strong mind.
The next morning, the first topic was about King in all the newspapers and TV news. "King is a real star! He is a real champion!" They were saying like that. King's comment moved the Japanese. I thought many Japanese made change their opinion by King. It was natural. Everyone who was looking his interview absolutely their view to King changed dramatically. Then, AIDS sometimes was featured by TV news, so a lot of people who had wrong idea to AIDS could understand AIDS correctly.
I went to school. I talked about AIDS with my friends. One of my friends who said that sumo was dangerous for infecting with AIDS said. "Did you see the King's interview yesterday? I noticed I had wrong idea abut AIDS. Sumo wrestlers having sumo match by using their naked body, so I thought AIDS infected to other sumo wrestlers. I was so sorry to King. I discriminated against King though I did not have right knowledge. I was ashamed."
"At first, many people who do not have right knowledge tend to think like that. It was not your fault. We had to know understand AIDS before we were young. I thing we need education of AIDS at school more." I replied.
"Yes, I agree. I want to know AIDS more and people who are suffering from AIDS now. I want to do something that I can do." Another of my friends said.
I was happy and surprised that my friends changed their mind and they were interested in AIDS. Moreover, they said they wanted to do something!
I said, "I am happy to hear that. First of all, we can familiarize the right knowledge about AIDS to many different generation people. The situation will really change just by every Japanese have right knowledge." We talked again and again. I thought our friendship became more deeply by thinking about AIDS tighter.
All King's revivals match, there were many sumo fans in the hall. My grandmother and I got tickets on that day, so we were not in front of TV today. My grandmother was so excited because she could see real King in front of her. The cheer to King was so big. His strength did not decline. He won the match like many fans expected. He made them satisfied. It was a first time for me to see sumo in the hall. I could enjoy very much. I did not feel that King has AIDS. I like him more.
For five years King stayed the champion in sumo world. However, he was becoming thin. It was easy to see on TV. King was small compared with other sumo wrestlers. I worried about him so much. It was same with my grandmother, my friends and all sumo fans. However, he continue to do sumo wrestling ring. It made all sumo fans worried. Moreover, King tended to lose the match. However, this time all fans did not change their reaction. They kept their eyes on King so warmly. They wanted King not to play sumo very hardly. Some of fans wanted King to take a break. One day, King came on sumo wrestling ring as usual. The match was against Asashoryu. At first, King threw salt, but Asashoryu did not move. Asashoryu was likely to abstain the match with King. Asashoryu did not want King to do sumo anymore because King was getting weak. It was easy to say if everyone see King.
"What are you doing?" King asked.
"I do not have a match with you, King." Asashoryu replied.
"Why? I can do it. I am not strong like few years ago, but I want to play with you."
"No, I can not." Asashoryu said strongly.
However, King did not give up. He said as he crying. "I wanted this to be my last game. I really understand my condition because AIDS is mine. I want to choose you for my last match. You are the best sumo wrestler who I have respected since long time ago and now. Please have a match with me. This is my last wish."
"Well, I see. I will have it. Please promise me that you will do your best. " Asashoryu said.
"Thank you very much. I appreciate it."
All the fans in the hall were staring at them and breathless. The match started. They understood that King was easy to lose. Asashoryu did not go easy on him. He did his best, too. As they expected King lose the match. He did not stand. Asashoryu helped King quickly. King was carried a hospital.
The next morning, it was reported that King was so weak, he wanted not do sumo again. Many Japanese were shocked.
We never see King on TV. I thought King gave Japanese a chance to know about AIDS. He was unusual sumo wrestler in Japan because he was black, so Japanese discriminated him at first. However, we were taught very important thing by King. AIDS was not such a big problem. We can live together peacefully. I never forget King, the greatest sumo wrestler in Japan.