Photo/Illutration Misako Konno, who has been appointed to the Yokozuna Deliberation Council (Photo by Takuya Isayama)

Actress Misako Konno is a huge fan of sumo, to put it mildly.

Her love of sumo paid unexpected dividends in spring when she was appointed to the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which is tasked with nominating wrestlers for the sport’s highest rank.

Konno joined the council, an advisory body to the Japan Sumo Association, with former Lower House member Yasuko Ikenobo. Screenwriter Makiko Uchidate was the only woman who served on the panel, which was set up in 1950, before the two.

A familiar face in TV dramas, films and plays, Konno, 61, talks nonstop when the subject turns to sumo.

“When I was a girl, I was determined to marry Wajima, Kitanofuji or Takanohana,” she said, referring to the popular wrestlers who dominated the dohyo as yokozuna, grand champion, or second-ranked ozeki during the 1970s.

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Tokushoryu is all smiles after winning the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January 2020. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Her current favorite is Tokushoryu, who now wrestles in the juryo division below the top makuuchi division.

“I am all for wrestlers with round bodies and charming smiles,” said Konno, known for her roles in “Shimaizaka” (1985), “Haha no iru basho” (2004) and other films.

Growing up in Tokyo with her grandmother, a sumo fan, a young Konno and her elder sister both took to the traditional Japanese sport.

Her family would be glued to the TV when sumo tournaments were being held.

She recalled that the entire family was thrown into an uproar when Taiho, one of the greatest yokozuna of all time, suffered a loss in 1969 after a winning streak of 45 bouts.

But Konno felt out of place at her girl’s junior high school. Classmates were enamored of volleyball, roller skating and women’s professional wrestling.

There was only one student in a different class with whom she could share her enthusiasm about sumo.

Her attachment to sumo never faded even after she started to carve out a career as an actress.

As a watchdog, the Yokozuna Deliberation Council has at times harsh words for yokozuna.

In 2020, the panel adopted a rare resolution of “caution” against yokozuna Hakuho and Kakuryu, who frequently sat out or did not finish tournaments due to injuries.

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Misako Konno (Takuya Isayama)

When she was tapped for the council post, Konno was concerned that she would be expected to do the same.

“As a sumo fan, I always thought yokozuna need to be protected more,” she said.

But Konno’s fears were laid to rest when Hakkaku, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association, explained that the council members are expected to “root for” sumo.

“I was relieved and happy to hear that,” she said.

Now, two women sit on the eight-member council for the first time in its 72-year history.

“That is not so important to me, but I believe I can offer viewpoints unique to women, such as those of ‘okamisan’” (spouses of stablemasters) and mothers of sumo wrestlers,” Konno said.

Mongolian Terunofuji is now the only yokozuna after fellow countrymen Hakuho and Kakuryu retired last year.

Konno is looking forward to the day when she will help nominate an ozeki for yokozuna.

“Anyone would be fine as long as they possess the three qualities of spirit, technique and physical strength,” she said. “It does not matter whether they are from Japan, Hawaii, Mongolia or Georgia.”

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