Konishiki speaks during a news conference as his wife Chie looks on at Shonan Kamakura General Hospital in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, on December 23. (©KYODOO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [ODDS and EVENS] Konishiki Receives Gift of Life for Christmas
Christmas arrived early for former ozeki Konishiki, a popular sumo wrestler in the 1980s and '90s: The gift of life.
And Konishiki's story is a reminder that small (and big) acts of kindness reaffirm our shared humanity.
Konishiki, who turns 61 on December 31, needed a kidney transplant. For months, the Hawaiian native's health was deteriorating.
At a news conference on Monday, December 23 at Shonan Kamakura General Hospital, he described how bad his condition was.
"I was told [by my doctor], 'You'll die if you get on a plane,' and my heart was only functioning at about 15 percent," Konishiki was quoted as saying by Nikkan Sports on the day he was discharged from the hospital.
Coming to grips with the reality of kidney failure and his desire to remain an active sumo ambassador forced Konishiki to make an important decision: to receive a kidney transplant.
But from whom?
The love of his life, his wife Chie, became the organ donor.
"Now most of my work is doing sumo shows overseas," Konishiki said, according to Nikkan Sports. "If I start getting dialysis, I won't be able to work. My wife always told me to have a transplant operation. She is not 'by my side,' but 'in my life.' I am grateful to my wife, [and] I will give her lots of love."
Konishiki Battles Health Problems
Konishiki, who competed along with fellow stars Chiyonofuji, Takanohana, Wakanohana and Akebono, among others during a dynamic era for Japan's national sport, topped the scales at 287 kg (633 pounds) during his career. At the time, he was the heaviest rikishi of all time.
Since his retirement in November 1997, Konishiki has lost a considerable amount of weight. He currently weighs about 150 kg. But he has not been immune to health problems, having been diagnosed with glomerulopathy.
The University of Miami Health System website provides an overview of glomerular diseases. "[They] affect the glomeruli — the tiny blood vessels that filter blood in your kidneys," reads a portion of the reference page. "When glomeruli are damaged, it disrupts the balance of protein, waste, acids, and other substances in your blood." Chronic kidney failure can occur because of this health problem.
Konishiki has had kidney problems for eight years, according to various media reports. Recognizing the gravity of this life-threatening problem, he had a comprehensive medical checkup in August 2024 to determine if he could receive an organ transplant.
And he received the OK to proceed with a transplant.
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
