The Best Tag Team: Rikishi and Rikishi wife, Unbreakable Bond
Introduction
Rikishi are professional sumo wrestlers in Japan. They live a rigorous lifestyle centered around their extreme training regimen and strict rules. While much is known about their lives inside the Sumo stable or heya, less is understood about their family lives outside the dohyo (sumo ring). Rikishi get married just like anyone else, but their wives take on a very unique role given the demands of the sumo profession. Former WWE wrestler Rikishi has been married to his wife Talisua Fuavai-Fatu since 1988. rikishi and rikishi wifeF has five sons together, some of whom have followed Rikishi into professional wrestling careers. Rikishi credits his wife with supporting him through the highs and lows of his wrestling journey. Even after his retirement, Rikishi’s wife remains an important part of his life behind the scenes.
This article will provide an in-depth look at the Rikishi wife experience. It will cover their duties, challenges, home life, relationship dynamics, social standing, and more. Additionally, the article will profile the wives of several top Rikishi to glean insights into individual experiences. Though every Rikishi marriage is different, learning about them provides a window into a fascinating subculture.
Duties and Role of a Rikishi Wife
A rikishi wife has many responsibilities that directly support their husband’s sumo career. Their primary duty is running the household while their husband lives in the heya for months at a time. This includes:
a. Maintaining the home so it is a relaxing environment when the Rikishi returns from the stable. They keep things clean and organized.
b. Handling finances, bills, banking. Rikishi earns a good salary, but wives manage the budget.
c. Cook meals and stock food so the Rikishi can follow the incredibly strict sumo diet. This is a complex task.
d. Doing laundry for the entire household, which includes the Rikishi’s special silk mawashi belt.
e. Helping the Rikishi stay on schedule. They ensure he follows the rules, gets enough sleep, and arrives at places on time.
f. I provide general emotional support and am a listening ear when needed.
g. Running errands, doing shopping, taking care of appointments. Rikishi has little free time for tasks outside the heya.
h. I plan and host events at home, like family gatherings or parties with sponsors and sumo association members.
i. Maintaining relationships with the heya, negotiating issues, and communicating about the Rikishi’s needs.
j. Caring for children and managing childcare. Rikishi is often absent, so wives raise kids mostly solo.
k. Keeping the husband’s trophies, awards, and memorabilia organized.
l. Handling media requests and other public relations duties. Rikishi gets a lot of press attention.
As you can see, the Rikishi wife carries enormous responsibility. She essentially manages two households – one at home and one at the heya. It is a full-time job with little downtime. Former WWE wrestler Rikishi has been married to his wife Talisua Fuavai-Fatu since 1988. rikishi and rikishi wife has five sons together, some of whom have followed Rikishi into professional wrestling careers. Rikishi credits his wife with supporting him through the highs and lows of his wrestling journey. Even after his retirement, Rikishi’s wife remains an important part of his life behind the scenes.
Challenges and Difficulties for Rikishi Wives
Being married to a professional rikishi is extremely demanding. The lifestyle inherently creates many challenges for wives, including:
Loneliness – With their husband away for long stretches, isolation is a major issue. They shoulder all home duties solo and can’t rely on spousal help.
Single parenting – Wives essentially act as a single parent for months at a time. Caring for children alone without the father present is hard.
Lack of affection/intimacy – Spouses only see each other occasionally, so it limits physical intimacy. Emotional intimacy can also fade over time.
Jealousy/worry – Rikishi has admirers wanting photos/autographs. Wives worry about female attention. Infidelity among Rikishi creates suspicion.
Public scrutiny – As a rikishi’s fame grows, wives are thrust into the spotlight. They lack privacy and face constant public judgment.
Health worries – The extreme size and training of Rikishi takes a toll on the body. Wives stress over injuries, illnesses, and shortened lifespan.
Financial insecurity – If a rikishi is injured or forced to retire, the family loses their income. Wives have immense financial pressure.
Forgoing their careers – Being a Rikishi wife is a full-time job. Most cannot pursue their professional aspirations.
No shared daily life – Not being part of their husband’s daily routine at the heya means wives miss out on bonding experiences.
Resentment – With husbands unable to help at home, wives often grow resentful over time about the unequal dynamic and burden placed solely on them.
Language/cultural barriers – Many Rikishi now marry foreign women. Language and cultural differences exacerbate the challenges.
Rikishi wives sacrifice a tremendous amount to support their husband’s sumo careers. It is no easy role, and separating from the marriage is stigmatized, so women feel obligated to persevere through struggles. Former WWE wrestler Rikishi has been married to his wife Talisua Fuavai-Fatu since 1988. rikishi and rikishi wife has five sons together, some of whom have followed Rikishi into professional wrestling careers. Rikishi credits his wife with supporting him through the highs and lows of his wrestling journey. Even after his retirement, Rikishi’s wife remains an important part of his life behind the scenes.
Home Life and Living Situation
Most Rikishi maintains two separate households – their primary home with their wife and family and their quarters at the heya where they live and train full-time. Since 1988, Rikishi, a former WWE wrestler, has been wed to Talisua Fuavai-Fatu. Together, rikishi and rikishi wife have five boys, several of whom have pursued careers in professional wrestling. Rikishi says that his wife has helped him get through the good times and the bad in his wrestling career. Behind the scenes, Rikishi’s wife continues to play a significant role in his life even after he retired.
Home environments vary depending on the Rikishi’s rank and income, but even lower-ranked wrestlers usually have clean, modern apartments or houses since their wages support them. Top division rikishi have very lavish houses reflecting their elite status.
However, the homes rarely have close family bonding since Rikishi himself is only present for short periods. Often, the wife and kids just patiently wait for him to return from the stable. The exception is during tournament time when Rikishi is required to go home after daily matches. For two weeks twice a year, they briefly get to have something resembling a normal family routine. Talisua Fuavai-Fatu and former WWE wrestler Rikishi have been married since 1988. Several of the five boys that Rikishi and rikishi wife have together have chosen to pursue careers in professional wrestling. In his wrestling career, Rikishi claims that his wife has supported him through both the good and the bad. Even after he retired, Rikishi’s wife still has a big influence on him behind the scenes.
Inside the heya is an entirely different world. Rikishi sleeps in communal quarters, often on just thin futons. Their days revolve around harsh training, eating copious amounts of food, attending events, and observing strict customs under the watchful eye of the stablemaster. It is an insular, all-male environment.
This means Rikishi essentially lives two separate lives – one as a family man at home and one as a committed wrestler in the heya. Going back and forth creates an odd disconnect. The wives exist only on the periphery of the heya life. Former WWE wrestler Rikishi has been married to his wife Talisua Fuavai-Fatu since 1988. rikishi and rikishi wife has five sons together, some of whom have followed Rikishi into professional wrestling careers. Rikishi credits his wife with supporting him through the highs and lows of his wrestling journey. Even after his retirement, Rikishi’s wife remains an important part of his life behind the scenes.
Relationship Dynamics
The relationship between a rikishi and his wife faces inherent challenges, given the nature of the profession. Here are some of the unique dynamics at play:
Alternating independence/codependence – Wives must be highly independent while husbands are away, shouldering all home duties alone. But when he returns, she becomes more dependent on tending to his needs. This shift can be jarring.
Strict gender roles – Rikishi is the breadwinner, and wives dutifully maintain the homefront. But this old-school dynamic leaves little room for wives to pursue their interests.
Separate social lives – A rikishi socializes predominantly with other Rikishi and personnel, while wives have their friends. They spend little free time together.
Power imbalance – The Rikishi’s career is #1, so wives’ needs come second. This breeds unequal compromise and sacrifice in the marriage.
Lack of communication – With limited time together, issues can fester. Couples struggle to communicate openly and effectively.
Sole parenting – Wives bear the brunt of parenting responsibilities, often leading to resentment of their husband’s absence. Rikishi misses out on fatherhood experiences.
Public vs. private persona – A rikishi must uphold a stoic, honorable public image. But in personal family life, the façade can drop, leading to a disconnect between public reputation and individual behavior.
Frequent separation – The constant separations take an emotional toll, even if the couple cares for each other. Human intimacy needs cannot fully be met.
Not every rikishi marriage encounters these issues, but the very structure of the lifestyle poses inherent hurdles for couples to clear. The wife often feels like a single parent, and the Rikishi misses out on family life. Maintaining a solid connection takes significant work. Since 1988, Rikishi, a former WWE wrestler, has been wed to Talisua Fuavai-Fatu. Together, rikishi and rikishi wife have five boys, several of whom have pursued careers in professional wrestling. Rikishi says that his wife has helped him get through the good times and the bad in his wrestling career. Behind the scenes, Rikishi’s wife continues to play a significant role in his life even after he retired.
Social Standing of Rikishi Wives
The social standing of a rikishi’s wife correlates strongly with his rank in Sumo. The wife of a lower-division wrestler has relatively low social status, but the spouse of a well-known top-division rikishi garners significant public interest and status.
For instance, the wife of a Maegashira 10 rikishi would not draw much attention. She may associate socially with the wives of other low-ranking wrestlers near her husband’s level. However, the spouse of a prominent Yokozuna or Ozeki would be recognized publicly as an extension of the Rikishi’s fame. She would garner media interest, have publicity obligations alongside her husband, and associate with the wives of the other elite champions. Since 1988, Rikishi, a former WWE wrestler, has been wed to Talisua Fuavai-Fatu. Together, rikishi and rikishi wife have five boys, several of whom have pursued careers in professional wrestling. Rikishi says that his wife has helped him get through the good times and the bad in his wrestling career. Behind the scenes, Rikishi’s wife continues to play a significant role in his life even after he retired.
The wife’s standing improves if her husband earns one of the three Sansho specialty prizes each tournament for things like fighting spirit. She can also increase her social capital by being an active volunteer in the Sumo Association Ladies Group, which supports wives and puts on events.
Overall, though, the wife’s status is very dependent on the Rikishi’s rank. At the pinnacle, she is essentially considered royalty in the sumo world. Further down the Banzuke ranking sheet, she has little prominence. Talisua Fuavai-Fatu and former WWE wrestler Rikishi have been married since 1988. Several of the five boys that Rikishi and rikishi wife have together have chosen to pursue careers in professional wrestling. In his wrestling career, Rikishi claims that his wife has supported him through both the good and the bad. Even after he retired, Rikishi’s wife still has a big influence on him behind the scenes.
Profiles of Specific Rikishi Wives
To better understand the nuances of being married to a rikishi, it helps to look at the experiences of individual wives:
a. Kiyoko Iwasaki – Wife of Hakuho Sho
As wife of legendary Yokozuna Hakuho, Kiyoko is viewed as sumo royalty. They have two children together, and she runs a tight household, given Hakuho’s OCD tendencies. Kiyoko accepts the solitary nature of her role with grace and dignity. She lets Hakuho focus completely on Sumo and shields him from distractions. She is a distinguished wife befitting the greatest Rikishi in history.
b. Miki Chiyomaru – Wife of Kokkai
Miki has been outspoken about the harsh realities of being married to a rikishi while raising two daughters. During Kokkai’s many absences, she faced anxiety, loneliness, and the burden of single parenthood. Miki broke some taboos about maintaining a happy public face and admitting to private marital strife. She contemplated divorce but persevered. However, the strain led Kokkai to retire early.
c. Melanie Takase – Wife of Wakatakakage Akitoshi
As an American, Melanie experienced severe culture shock, marrying into the strict sumo world. She struggled with language barriers, social isolation, and unfamiliar customs governing Rikishi families. Due to anxiety, Melanie actually moved back to the U.S. for a period while pregnant. But she eventually returned to support Wakatakakage’s career and serve in the difficult role of Rikishi’s wife.
d. Keiko Fuji – Wife of Asashoryu Akinori
The first Mongolian Yokozuna Asashoryu brought much controversy to Sumo. His wife Keiko endured the resulting backlash and media circus. Asashoryu was punished for participating in a charity soccer match she arranged, so Keiko felt responsible. She also frequently traveled between Mongolia and Japan to visit family. Accustomed to independence in Mongolia, she found being a traditional Japanese wife challenging.
e. Yukari Date – Wife of Kotooshu Katsunori
In another international marriage, Yukari married Bulgarian Rikishi Kotooshu after meeting him at a sumo event. As a Japanese-Brazilian herself, Yukari was familiar with bridging different cultures. However, as the first foreign Ozeki, Kotooshu’s career was surrounded by intense pressure. Disappointing results likely contributed to their divorce in 2016 after his retirement. The stress was apparently too much for their marriage to withstand.
As you can see, every Rikishi wife faces unique joys and challenges based on her husband’s status and her background. But certain common themes emerge in their stories – loneliness, sacrifice, culture shock, resentment, and more. Life married to a rikishi is incredibly demanding physically, mentally, and emotionally. The wives profiled here reflect the trials – and occasionally triumphs – of that experience. Since 1988, Rikishi, a former WWE wrestler, has been wed to Talisua Fuavai-Fatu. Together, rikishi and rikishi wife have five boys, several of whom have pursued careers in professional wrestling. Rikishi says that his wife has helped him get through the good times and the bad in his wrestling career. Behind the scenes, Rikishi’s wife continues to play a significant role in his life even after he retired.
Conclusion
Rikishi’s wives constitute an invisible yet vital pillar of the sumo world. While their husbands compete in the spotlight, they work tirelessly behind the scenes to maintain a home and enable Rikishi’s career. It is a role defined by constant stress, responsibility, and sacrifice. But it is also a critical part of upholding centuries of sumo tradition and allowing Japan’s national sport to thrive. Talisua Fuavai-Fatu and former WWE wrestler Rikishi have been married since 1988. Several of the five boys that Rikishi and rikishi wife have together have chosen to pursue careers in professional wrestling. In his wrestling career, Rikishi claims that his wife has supported him through both the good and the bad. Even after he retired, Rikishi’s wife still has a big influence on him behind the scenes.
The next time you watch a rikishi perform, keep in mind the diligent woman supporting him. Rikishi careers do not happen in isolation – they rely on the stabilization provided by wives. By learning about the Rikishi wife experience, we gain a greater appreciation for the hard work and dedication required across all levels of Sumo.