Nankairyu Tarō

Nankairyū Tarō (born 22 February 1965 as Kilifi Sapa ) is a former sumo wrestler from Samoa. His highest rank was maegashira 2. He was the third foreign-born wrestler to reach the top makuuchi division after Takamiyama and Konishiki. However he quit sumo suddenly in September 1988 after an argument with the head coach of Takasago stable about his persistent drinking problem. He was also a trainee for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Career Born in Apia, Western Samoa, he joined Takasago stable in 1984, after he responded to a TV recruitment campaign placed by a Japanese businessman. Another Samoan, Nanyozakura (Fofoga Faaleva), joined at the same time.

In 1987 he fought the Taiwanese wrestler Tochinohana in the jūryō division, which according to the Japan Sumo Association was the first ever bout between two foreign sekitori. His problem was made worse by the fact that he spoke neither English nor Japanese well, needing a Samoan interpreter around his stable, and consequently he had difficulty making himself understood to the Japanese media. The head of the Sumo Association Futagoyama, declared that Nankairyū would never be allowed to compete again even if he did return.

After sumo Nankairyū attempted to transition to professional wrestling by joining New Japan Pro Wrestling in September 1990 as part of Tatsumi Fujinami's "Dragon Bombers" unit as a trainee alongside fellow former sumo Taylor Wily. Before joining NJPW, he wrote a pledge that he would not drink any alcohol. However, one week before he was set to debut, he was arrested for driving under the influence and destruction of property, as he drunkenly threw his motorcycle at another person's car. He was immediately fired by NJPW and he returned to Western Samoa.

Career record