More commonly known as Konishiki
wrestler, born Salevaa Atisano'e
on the island of Oahu
on December 31, 1963
. After graduating from high school, he was scouted by oyakata
Takasago, and entered the dohyo
for the first time in 1982. He moved quickly through the sumo ranks, becoming juryo
in September 1983, nyumaku
in July 1984, sekiwake
in November 1984, and ozeki
in May 1987.
He retired after the November tournament in 1997, having racked up quite a record: 733 wins, 498 losses, and 95 draws, in 81 tournaments as a makuuchi and 39 tournaments as an ozeki.
By that point, he was a celebrity in both Japan and the United States. He appeared in Japanese commercials for Sanyo and Daihatsu, and in American commercials for Visa. He wrote two books in Japanese, Naked Konishiki and Konishiki's Diary, both of which became best-sellers. He even released a gangsta rap album called Konishiki KMS, where his six-foot, six-hundred-pound frame gets a goatee and a Snoop Dogg-inspired hairstyle.