Facing Backward Podcasts

Facing Backward Podcasts

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Facing Backward Podcasts episodes

  • Episode 583 – The Men of Chivalry, Part 3

    This week: we take a look at the genre of the yakuza movie, or ninkyo eiga, which started off as a branch of the samurai film genre before becoming very much its own thing–and, for a decade  or so in the 1960s and 1970s, dominating the Japanese box office.

    Sources

    McDonald, Keiko Iwai. “The Yakuza Film: An Introduction.” in Reframing Japanese Cinema: Authorship, Genre, History. Eds. Arthur Noletti, Jr. and David Desser

    Schilling, Mark. The Yakuza Movie Book: A Guide to Japanese Gangster Films

    Anderson, Joseph and Donald Ritchie. The Japanese Film: Art and Industry, Expanded Edition.

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9910" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/chujitraveldiary-ito.jpg" alt="" width="255" height="200" />One of the few surviving stills of the 1927 Kunisada’s Travel Diary, the first yakuza movie.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9911" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMmMwODUzNDAtYmY1MS00MTgwLWIzYTMtNDdmNTg3NTQ0NmNkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMmMwODUzNDAtYmY1MS00MTgwLWIzYTMtNDdmNTg3NTQ0NmNkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_-200x300.jpg 200w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMmMwODUzNDAtYmY1MS00MTgwLWIzYTMtNDdmNTg3NTQ0NmNkXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />A poster for 1959’s Jirocho Fuji, one of the many Shimizu Jirocho films showing noble and good yakuza fighting against the callous and evil ones.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9912" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Shosetsu-Club-1963-May-2.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="210" />A still from Theater of Life – Hishakaku, with Tsuruta Koji on the right in his infamous ‘casual yakuza’ look.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9913" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1_PUlbfDE7BFEFK1LzEQf0jg-300x156.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="156" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1_PUlbfDE7BFEFK1LzEQf0jg-300x156.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1_PUlbfDE7BFEFK1LzEQf0jg-1024x533.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1_PUlbfDE7BFEFK1LzEQf0jg-768x400.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/1_PUlbfDE7BFEFK1LzEQf0jg.jpg 1400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />One of the many ways in which Battles without Honor and Humanity strays from the older formula of yakuza movies is a lot more use of guns, rather than nobly dismembering people with swords.
    42 min
  • Episode 582 – The Men of Chivalry, Part 2

    This week: we take a look at postwar samurai film/jidaigeki in order to understand better the trajectory of the most influential genre in the history of Japanese film. Why did jidaigeki, a staple of pre-1945 film, storm back with a vengeance to the big screen after the end of World War II? What makes post-1945 samurai films distinctive or unique? And what about their relationship to another archetype of international film: the American Western?

    Sources

    Desser, David. “Toward a Structural Analysis of the Postwar Samurai Film” in Reframing Japanese Cinema: Authorship, Genre, History. Eds. Arthur Noletti, Jr. and David Desser

    Anderson, Joseph and Donald Ritchie. The Japanese Film: Art and Industry, Expanded Edition.

    Galbraith, Stuart. The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune.

    Images

     

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9898" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pictakashi-shimura-in-seven-samurai-1954-300x231.webp" alt="" width="300" height="231" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pictakashi-shimura-in-seven-samurai-1954-300x231.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pictakashi-shimura-in-seven-samurai-1954.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />One of my favorite shots from The Seven Samurai. The noble heroes go into battle even as the rain draws attention to the doomed and tragic nature of their fight.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9901" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMGQ3ZjM0ODEtNTRhYS00NTE3LTg0OGEtOTRkNDQ2MzhjYWFlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_-211x300.jpg" alt="" width="211" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMGQ3ZjM0ODEtNTRhYS00NTE3LTg0OGEtOTRkNDQ2MzhjYWFlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_-211x300.jpg 211w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/MV5BMGQ3ZjM0ODEtNTRhYS00NTE3LTg0OGEtOTRkNDQ2MzhjYWFlXkEyXkFqcGc@._V1_.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px" />The poster for Inagaki’s 1962 Bandits on the Wind, another classic of nostalgic samurai drama.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9905" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b-300x169.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/a638d127c48bff2e519815ce9507962b.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />This still is from Seppuku/Hara-kiri, a classic anti-feudal jidaigeki. You can really see how the way it’s shot serves to change the relationship between the main character and the wider scene.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9903" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/harakiri-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/harakiri-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000-300x169.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/harakiri-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/harakiri-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000-768x432.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/harakiri-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A still from Joiuchi/Samurai Rebellion. You can really see the depth of field stuff at play here.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9904" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/images.jpeg" alt="" width="259" height="194" />Pictured: Mifune as Musashi in Inagaki’s Samurai trilogy, too focused on mastering his swordsmanship for petty concerns like women hitting on him.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9902" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/samurai18-300x233.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="233" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/samurai18-300x233.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/samurai18.jpg 552w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />The climactic battle for one of the three Samurai films–Musashi’s famous duel at Ganryujima.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9900" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/yojimbo-3-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/yojimbo-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/yojimbo-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/yojimbo-3.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Yojimbo embodies chanbara as a genre in many ways–most notably in the relationship between the antagonist (Tetsuya Nakadai, left) and protagonist (Mifune Toshiro, right).
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9899" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-300x125.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="125" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-300x125.jpeg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-1024x428.jpeg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-768x321.jpeg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-1536x641.jpeg 1536w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-2048x855.jpeg 2048w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Lone_Wolf_and_Cub_-_Baby_Cart_at_the_River_Styx-1600x668.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Lone Wolf and Cub would have some points to make about feudalism, but THERE’S NO TIME THOSE NINJA LADIES ARE ATTACKING THAT BABY CART
    And people say these movies aren’t art
    0 min
  • Episode 581 – The Men of Chivalry, Part 1

    This week, we’re starting a history of the most famous genre in the history of Japanese film: the jidaigeki, and its related genre of the ninkyo eiga. This week: what do we know about early jidaigeki, and how do they fit into the wider history of early Japanese film?

    Sources

    Spalding, Lisa and David Desser. “Period Films of the Prewar Era,” in Reframing Japanese Cinema: Authorship, Genre, History, ed. Arthur Nolletti, Jr and David Desser.

    Anderson, Joseph L and Donald Ritchie. The Japanese Film: Art and Industry (Expanded Edition).

    A great article on the benshi from the Japan Society

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9514" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Onoe-Matsunosuke-186x300.jpg" alt="" width="186" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Onoe-Matsunosuke-186x300.jpg 186w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Onoe-Matsunosuke.jpg 420w" sizes="(max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px" />Onoe Matsunosuke, a.k.a. “crazy-eyes Matsu”, one of Japan’s first film stars. This is from his 1910 film Chushingura, where he plays lead.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9889" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Shozo_Makino-213x300.jpg" alt="" width="213" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Shozo_Makino-213x300.jpg 213w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Shozo_Makino.jpg 308w" sizes="(max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px" />Makino Shozo, the father of the jidaigeki, in the 1920s
    <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9890" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Roningai_film1.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="164" />Roningai, a film by Makino Shozo’s son, from 1928. You can see how even here the aesthetic will have a big influence on postwar film.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9891" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons_poster-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons_poster-224x300.jpg 224w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons_poster-764x1024.jpg 764w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons_poster-768x1029.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Humanity_and_Paper_Balloons_poster.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px" />Poster for the 1938 Jidaigeki Humanity and Paper Balloons (Ninjo Kami Fusen)
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9892" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250px-Kokushimuso-3_1932-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250px-Kokushimuso-3_1932-225x300.jpg 225w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/250px-Kokushimuso-3_1932.jpg 250w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" />Still from Itami Mansaku’s 1932 Kokushi Muso. The actor Kataoka Chiezo plays Ise no Kami (the lead), with his daughter being played by Yamada Isuzu.
    36 min
  • Episode 580 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 7

    This week: we wrap up the miniseries with the end of Akebono’s career, as the first gaijin yokozuna takes his post-dohyo trajectory in a very different direction from the other yokozuna before him (or at least, from most of the other yokozuna before him). Plus some final thoughts on sumo today.

    Sources

    Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan

    Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport

    Washington Post coverage of Akebono’s marriage

    Some Japan Times discussion of the Hakuho cheer ‘drama’

    Some Japan Forward coverage of the Miyaginobeya drama around Hakuho

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9881" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono_statue_by_Prayitno_Photography-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono_statue_by_Prayitno_Photography-200x300.jpg 200w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono_statue_by_Prayitno_Photography.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />A statue of Akebono in Waimanalo, his hometown in Hawaii.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9882" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9-300x276.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="276" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9-300x276.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9-768x708.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/9.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono doing the dohyo iri at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9883" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Giant_Silva-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Giant_Silva-200x300.jpg 200w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Giant_Silva-682x1024.jpg 682w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Giant_Silva-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Giant_Silva.jpg 853w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px" />Akebono during his wrestling career.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9884" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blah-191x300.jpg" alt="" width="191" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blah-191x300.jpg 191w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blah.jpg 508w" sizes="(max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px" />Akebono in 2009
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9885" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/art-187x300.gif" alt="" width="187" height="300" />Akebono and Christine Kalina.
    40 min
  • Episode 579 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 6

    This week: Akebono becomes a yokozuna, and finds himself burdened with new expectations on and off the dohyo. Plus, a brief foray into pay and compensation for rikishi, and a final section on one of the most infamous moments of the 64th yokozuna’s career.

    Sources

    Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan

    Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport

    A Japan Times article on the relationship between the imperial family and sumo.

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9873" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono-main-171x300.webp" alt="" width="171" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono-main-171x300.webp 171w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono-main.webp 270w" sizes="(max-width: 171px) 100vw, 171px" />Akebono in his keshomawashi, with his tsuna over it.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9871" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/YokozunaAkebonoPuttingOnRopeBelt-300x278.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="278" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/YokozunaAkebonoPuttingOnRopeBelt-300x278.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/YokozunaAkebonoPuttingOnRopeBelt-768x712.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/YokozunaAkebonoPuttingOnRopeBelt.jpg 1006w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono on the dohyo in 2001, as a part of his retirement.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9872" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ap24102085045070_wide-f7a8b8a1200437eb389a5e96d16e55f94fa03f91-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ap24102085045070_wide-f7a8b8a1200437eb389a5e96d16e55f94fa03f91-300x169.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ap24102085045070_wide-f7a8b8a1200437eb389a5e96d16e55f94fa03f91-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ap24102085045070_wide-f7a8b8a1200437eb389a5e96d16e55f94fa03f91-768x431.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ap24102085045070_wide-f7a8b8a1200437eb389a5e96d16e55f94fa03f91.jpg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono doing his yokozuna dohyoiri at Meiji Shrine.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9874" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.17.22_PM-300x189.webp" alt="" width="300" height="189" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.17.22_PM-300x189.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.17.22_PM-768x485.webp 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.17.22_PM.webp 792w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Another angle of Akebono doing the dohyoiri at Meiji Shrine.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9875" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.19.43_PM-300x199.webp" alt="" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.19.43_PM-300x199.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.19.43_PM-768x510.webp 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.19.43_PM.webp 803w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono after winning a yusho, receiving the emperor’s cup. I am not sure which of his 11 career yusho this is.
    38 min
  • Episode 578 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 5

    This week: in the span of just a few years, Akebono goes from a rookie in sumo to one of its most prominent names, and alongside Konishiki one of the Americans dominating in the top division. But unlike Konishiki, he has the potential to go one step further. So, how does a guy from Waimanalo become the first non-Japanese citizen ever to claim the title of yokozuna?

    Sources

    Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan

    Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport

    Akebono’s entry on SumoDB, going over the major stats of his career.

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9856" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-300x213.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="213" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-300x213.jpeg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled-768x545.jpeg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Untitled.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono defeats Takanohana, from a 1997 tournament. It’s later than we go in this episode but it’s too good of a photo not to include.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9857" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Konishiki-5-300x200.webp" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Konishiki-5-300x200.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Konishiki-5.webp 640w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />From left to right: Musashimaru, Konishiki, and Akebono together in Honolulu.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9858" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.08.55_PM-202x300.webp" alt="" width="202" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.08.55_PM-202x300.webp 202w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_2.08.55_PM.webp 440w" sizes="(max-width: 202px) 100vw, 202px" />Akebono celebrating his Ozeki promotion.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-9859" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Akebono-o1-Copy.webp" alt="" width="200" height="224" />Akebono’s tegata.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9860" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.29.31_PM-300x225.webp" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.29.31_PM-300x225.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.29.31_PM-768x576.webp 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.29.31_PM.webp 892w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono and Azumaseki Oyakata/Takamiyama, early in Akebono’s training. The fact that Takamiyama appears to be quipping about his height is….consistent, let’s say.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9861" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.54.59_PM-300x226.webp" alt="" width="300" height="226" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.54.59_PM-300x226.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.54.59_PM-768x580.webp 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Screen_Shot_2021-04-11_at_1.54.59_PM.webp 853w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono pointing to himself on the banzuke. He did this a LOT and there are so many photos of it; I can’t tell which tournment this is from, but based on where his finger is, it looks to be around the time he was still a top division rank-and-file Maegashira.

    Finally, some videos: the match that made Akebono a yokozuna, and a compilation of Akebono/Takanohana matchups.

     

    37 min
  • Episode 577 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 4

    This week: Chad Rowan, who will be the first non-Japanese yokozuna in history, is the subject for the rest of our episodes. How did he come to sumo? What was his early career like? And how did he come to be known by the name Akebono-the rising sun?

    Sources

    Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan

    Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport

    An excellent article from Tachiai.org on the Wakanohana/Takanohana drama

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9849" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Takamikuni-main-300x264.webp" alt="" width="300" height="264" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Takamikuni-main-300x264.webp 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Takamikuni-main-768x676.webp 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Takamikuni-main.webp 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Takamishu Daikichi (Taylor Wiley) during his early sumo days. Wiley would never make it past Makushita thanks to his knee injury, but he did become a famous actor on the Hawaii 5-0 reboot!
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9850" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/img_2f6de1deab7c922ea17175fd35fcca29212377-214x300.avif" alt="" width="214" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/img_2f6de1deab7c922ea17175fd35fcca29212377-214x300.avif 214w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/img_2f6de1deab7c922ea17175fd35fcca29212377.avif 400w" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" />Takanohana (left) and Wakanohana in their kesho-mawashi before their debut in the March, 1988 maezumo tournament. They got far more attention than Akebono did–and he took that personally.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9851" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_6-300x234.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="234" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_6-300x234.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_6-1024x797.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_6-768x598.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_6.jpg 1300w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Akebono defeats Takanohana in May, 1988–he later called this one of his most important wins.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9852" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1-201x300.jpg" alt="" width="201" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1-201x300.jpg 201w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1-685x1024.jpg 685w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1-768x1148.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1-1027x1536.jpg 1027w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/202404110000247-w1300_1.jpg 1300w" sizes="(max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px" />Akebono in February, 1988, about one month after entering Azumasekibeya. You really get a sense from this of how tall he was!
    38 min
  • Episode 576 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 3

    This week: after Taiho, the floodgates open as more non-Japanese rikishi begin to enter the sport. One of them, Takamiyama, has a good but not great career. But two of the rikishi he recruits to train under him after retirement–Konishiki Yasokichi and Akebono Taro–will change sumo forever.

    Sources

    Panek, Mark. Gaijin Yokozuna: An Autobiography of Chad Rowan

    Culyer, P.L. Sumo: From Rite to Sport

    Benjamin, David. Sumo: A Thinking Fan’s Guide to Japan’s National Sport

    An excellent article on Konishiki’s career by Chris Gould of Sumo Fan Magazine

    New York Times coverage of the scandal around Konishiki’s remarks on potential yokozuna promotion

    SumoDB entries for Takamiyama and Konishiki, for the stat nerds among you

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9839" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-main-186x300.webp" alt="" width="186" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-main-186x300.webp 186w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-main.webp 223w" sizes="(max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px" />Takamiyama in his keshomawashi, a sort of formal outfit worn during ceremonies.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9844" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyamayuso-199x300.webp" alt="" width="199" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyamayuso-199x300.webp 199w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyamayuso.webp 299w" sizes="(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Takamiyama with the tennohai–the emperor’s cup–after winning in the top division July 1972 tournament.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9842" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Azumazeki_stable_2014_1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Azumazeki_stable_2014_1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Azumazeki_stable_2014_1.jpg 330w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />Azumasekibeya in 2014. After Takamiyama’s death, the stable eventually closed; now its wrestlers are part of Hakkakubeya.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9840" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/young_Konishiki-220x300.webp" alt="" width="220" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/young_Konishiki-220x300.webp 220w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/young_Konishiki.webp 383w" sizes="(max-width: 220px) 100vw, 220px" />Konishiki in his early sumo days, shortly after coming to Japan.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9841" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-Konishiki-199x300.webp" alt="" width="199" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-Konishiki-199x300.webp 199w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Takamiyama-Konishiki.webp 256w" sizes="(max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px" />Konishiki (left) and Takamiyama (right) shortly after Konishiki was recruited to Takasagobeya by the sekiwake.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9843" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Konishiki111-171x300.webp" alt="" width="171" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Konishiki111-171x300.webp 171w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Konishiki111.webp 270w" sizes="(max-width: 171px) 100vw, 171px" />Konishiki as an ozeki in his keshomawashi.
    42 min
  • Episode 575 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 2

    This week: Taiho begins his grand sumo career, and quickly proves to be one of the best ever to do it. We’ll use his career to discuss: what does greatness look like in a sport like sumo? What were the highlights of one of the greatest careers in sumo history? And what were the small number of cases where Taiho didn’t prove able to come out on top?

    Sources

    Cuyler, P.L. Sumo: From Rite to Sport.

    Graburn, Nelson, John Ertul, and R. Kenji Tierney. Multiculturalism in the New Japan: Crossing the Boundaries Within.

    The Guardian’s obituary for Taiho.

    Chunichi Shinbun coverage of Taiho’s run in with the law in 1965 (Japanese-language)

    Japan Times coverage of the Taiho instant replay story (note: they mistakenly ID the tournament in question as May, 1969. It was March, 1969).

    SumoDB is the place for sumo historical records, and here’s Taiho’s page. Compare him to any other entry (except maybe Hakuho) to see just how insanely dominant he was.

    Media

    A compilation of Kashiwado/Taiho showdowns (Japanese commentary)

    An example of a standard makuuchi dohyo-iri (ring entering ceremony) from Jason Grenier on YouTube

    A good explanation of the yokozuna dohyo-iri and what makes it distinctive

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9833" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3987-164x300.jpg" alt="" width="164" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3987-164x300.jpg 164w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3987.jpg 259w" sizes="(max-width: 164px) 100vw, 164px" />Taiho with the tsuna (rope) and sword, markers of his yokozuna status.
    40 min
  • Episode 574 – The Kings of the Ring, Part 1

    This week, we’re beginning a new miniseries on the legends of Japan’s most ancient sport: sumo. What can we learn about Japan and Japanese identity by looking at the lives of some of the most famous competitors in the national sport? We’ll begin investigating that question with a look at the life of one of the greatest ever to enter the ring: Taiho Koki.

    Sources

    Cuyler, P.L. Sumo: From Rite to Sport.

    Graburn, Nelson, John Ertul, and R. Kenji Tierney. Multiculturalism in the New Japan: Crossing the Boundaries Within.

    The Guardian’s obituary for Taiho.

    Images

    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9823" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/YoungTaiho-214x300.webp" alt="" width="214" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/YoungTaiho-214x300.webp 214w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/YoungTaiho.webp 400w" sizes="(max-width: 214px) 100vw, 214px" />A young Taiho during his middle school years.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9821" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Saganohana_Scan10051-218x300.jpg" alt="" width="218" height="300" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Saganohana_Scan10051-218x300.jpg 218w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Saganohana_Scan10051-744x1024.jpg 744w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Saganohana_Scan10051-768x1057.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Saganohana_Scan10051.jpg 938w" sizes="(max-width: 218px) 100vw, 218px" />Saganohana Katsumi as an Ozeki during his career. He would go on to be the elder of Nishonoseki stable and recruit the future Taiho into sumo.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9822" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wakanohana_I_1956_Scan10058-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wakanohana_I_1956_Scan10058-300x197.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wakanohana_I_1956_Scan10058-1024x671.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wakanohana_I_1956_Scan10058-768x503.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Wakanohana_I_1956_Scan10058.jpg 1364w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A victory parade for a Nishonoseki stable wrestler (Wakanohana I) in 1956. This gives you an idea of how popular sumo was during this period!
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9820" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-300x230.png" alt="" width="300" height="230" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-300x230.png 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-1024x786.png 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-768x590.png 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-1536x1179.png 1536w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910-1600x1228.png 1600w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Ryogoku-Kokugikan-Sumo-Hall-Interior-c1910.png 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />This 1910 photo of a match at the original Kokugikan in Tokyo both gives you an idea of how much smaller wrestlers used to be and of what the pillars that held the roof above the dohyo used to look like.
    <img decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-9819" data-tf-not-load src="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006-300x222.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="222" srcset="https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006-300x222.jpg 300w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006-1024x759.jpg 1024w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006-768x569.jpg 768w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006-1536x1138.jpg 1536w, https://isaacmeyer.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ryogoku_Kokugikan_Tsuriyane_05212006.jpg 1555w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />A shot from a 2006 tournament at the Kokugikan, the sumo arena in Tokyo. You can see the design of the roof and the cables holding it up clearly.
    40 min

About Facing Backward Podcasts

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By Isaac Meyer and Demetria Spinrad