Konishiki On Finding Success After Sumo, His 40 Years In Japan, Future Projects, David Lee Roth, The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. & More
One of the most recognizable figures within Japan for decades, Konishiki moved to Japan from Hawaii to pursue sumo in the early 1980s. A top-ranked sumo competitor for over a decade, Konishiki was a top-level champion for periods within 1989, 1991 and 1992. Away from competition, Konishiki regularly starred in commercials, international advertising campaigns and television programs, offering a fun personality that no other sumo competitor of the time one could offer up.
After retiring from sumo, Konishiki branched out and found fame as a full-time entertainer, while also devoting himself to philanthropic efforts. He has released albums, collaborated with other musicians (e.g. Rimi Natsukawa, L-Burna), appeared in films (e.g. Check It Out, Yo Chekeraccho!!, The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift), hosted children’s programming (e.g. NHK’s Nihongo De Asobo) and DJ’ed (e.g. FM Yokohama’s Kony Island). All the while, Konoshiki has worked as a cultural ambassador between Japan and other countries, with plans to release a long-awaited autobiography within the next year.
On May 9, 2022, I had the pleasure of speaking with Konishiki via Zoom, as embedded below. Beyond his multi-faceted career and future plans, we spoke about his 40 years in Japan, how he came to know Van Halen’s David Lee Roth, his history with other famous Samoans including the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., and his current involvement within sumo. More on Konishiki can be found here, here and here.
About the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
Related Posts
Soul Songstress Nao Yoshioka Drops New Single “Wave” →
Vanessa Lachey On Allegra Hives, Hawaii, Career Goals & More →
Japan’s ‘The First Take’ Brings Emerging Artists to a Global Audience With Special Livestream Event →
