As I headed out on my first solo Tokyo subway ride I was a little nervous. Not only did I have a hangover the size of Tokyo, but this was the first country I had ever been to where I could not read a letter or a sign. Fortunately for me, this high tech, Blade Runner world also flashes information en Anglais. When I wasn't sure which way to go, I would simply point and ask, Tokyo Teleport? And the very friendly Japanese folks would kindly set me straight. When I finally made it to this stainless steel man made island, I felt like Lou Reed. I was to meet my man Ihara, who was running a bit late, but we finally hooked up after I was able to figure out how to use the telephone. Yoshinori Ihara is an MMA photographer and journalist who works for Boutreview.com, our boys in Japan. He was the one who so kindly arranged a series of interviews for us with some of the top current Japanese MMA fighters.

We proceeded to enter a very tall high tech building right next to the Fuji Television Tower, the first Japanese television station to broadcast K-1 and PRIDE. Ihara explained to me the history of the Teleport Island, which was a landfill near an old fort/port in Tokyo. It was much colder here than in other areas of the city, so I dropped a couple hundred Yen in a vending machine and scored a hot green tea to stimulate the ole brain. As we took the see through elevator up, it talked to us, telling us which floor we were on and sent us off with an Arigato Gozaimas to boot. A very friendly and sexy police lady (It's very rare to see cops in Tokyo, unlike NYC's police state status.) pointed us in the right direction. We then presented our press cards, two-handed and with a friendly bow, and entered the special television studio where the conference would be held. All I had to do was roll my ole fashioned cassette recorder, while Ihara took photos and notes.

It was indeed a fancy production for this former Hawaiian Sumo Yokozuna. Replete with fancy music, a very nice atmosphere and many Japanese journalists and photographers, I realized that he is a very hot commodity, or shall we say a K-1 jewel. Although he lost his K-1 debut against Bob "The Beast" Sapp, he is still very highly regarded by the Japanese public and media; after all he is a former Yokozuna of Japan's national sport. Akebono retired from the Sumo world because of problems with his knees, so one has to wonder why he entered the world of K-1, which is obviously a kickboxing sport.

After a praising introduction by the M.C. and some traditional  
drums and Shamisen music, our man stepped out to answer questions only about his new book, which would go on sale the following day.

After a warm applause he was asked about his new tattoo and he looked very rock n roll in a long leather jacket and was sporting an earring. To the tattoo question, he replied that he had never been allowed to have one when he was younger, and also it was taboo in the Sumo world, which follows ancient traditions. He spoke excellent Japanese and mentioned that he can write in kanji characters, but did need some help in that department, as there are so many. With smiling eyes and a nice tan, I must admit that this very large and powerful man has a very nice aura, and a certain charisma. Growing up in Hawaii, this gentle giant had to endure many hardships as a child, especially caring for his little brother. He was said to carry around his sibling on his back with great love, affection and dedication.

After the book release press conference, which was short and sweet and to the point, Akebono would be appearing in a couple television programs, talk shows that same evening. When he posed for photographs, he even grabbed a photographer and gently choked him out for the cameras. The media definitely got a kick out of this move.

I suppose that the only frustrating part about this event is that nothing was mentioned about his next fight. Although the sports media here has been haunting him every single day asking, when and whom, I thought to myself why? But the answer is simple. After his war against Sapp in the K-1 New Year's Eve event (Dynamite!!), his stock went through the roof despite having lost. This particular fight attracted the highest ratings out of all the MA/MMA events televised that night, as well as outdoing the infamously kitschy Red/White Singing Contest. I personally felt that the Inoki Bom Ba Ye and PRIDE Special were much more dynamic and exciting and held a denser cast of characters. But in Japan, a former Yokozuna of the national sport attracts a great interest from the Japanese mainstream public.

I suppose that Akebono is a Japanese phenomenon whose status does not translate so well to his "fellow Americans." Only time will tell if this very popular ex-Sumo man is indeed worthy of all this attention, and hopefully that will be sooner than later. Meanwhile, the Japanese sports media will have to keep on waiting, as he did not make an appearance back stage where they were gathered to ask questions about that "illusory" next bout.

As Lou Reed said in the song "Waiting For the Man"…
"He's never early, he's always late, one thing you learn is, you always gotta wait!"