Sumo Wrestling Answer

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The first foreign sumo wrestlers were Hawaiian's who entered Japan's professional league in the 1970's. Hawaiian Takamiyama won the top division championship in 1972.

Musashimaru (from Samoan) became the second foreigner to win in the late 1990's.

Many Mongolian wrestlers have also reached the top ranks. There have also been a few wrestlers from Georgia and Russia that have had some success in sumo.

As of 2008 there were 59 foreigners in the various professional levels.

The percentage of foreigners in the league has grown a great deal over the last 20 years. In 2002, the Japan Sumo Association limited the number of foreign born competitors to only one per stable. Many people feel this is unfair and detrimental to the sport. It has been critised as being Japanese xenophobia.