Half-Japanese Sumo Twins

[Mulboyne]

This is Jun Saito (right) and his twin brother Rei appearing at Ryogoku for their physical check-up and official weigh-in as new sumo recruits. They were born in Miyagi Prefecture of a US Navy father and Japanese mother and went to junior high school in Japan. After that, they were both educated in America where their main sports were American football and wrestling. Their mother is a sumo fan, however, and it was at her urging that both decided to give the sport a go at the age of 22. Jun, who came into the world first and weighs in at 123kg, says he is interested in Japanese culture. His brother Rei, heavier at 139kg, is quoted in the Yomiuri saying that he only has the chance to try out for sumo while he is still young and so decided to apply last October. There is a thread about them on Sumo Forum which has a little more information. I wondered whether they might just be using Japanese names for sumo but it seems they were known as Jun and Rei Saito when they competed in college wresting bouts in the US. Since both brothers are joining Dewanoumi's stable, and the sumo association has an informal limit of one foreigner per stable, posters on that forum are assuming that they have Japanese nationality. A Jiji press report mentions that their father is currently working on the base in Yokosuka.

[Greji]

I wondered whether they might just be using Japanese names for sumo but it seems they were known as Jun and Rei Saito when they competed in college wresting bouts in the US. Since both brothers are joining Dewanoumi's stable, and the sumo association has an informal limit of one foreigner per stable, posters on that forum are assuming that they have Japanese nationality.

It probably goes back to the informal duo nationality that some half Japanese can maintain. They would probably have their inherited nationality from their mother if she is Japanese. However, they used Saito in the states, so it is interesting. They definitely look half, but if their last name from their father is Saito (like in a nisei), what national group is the mother? She couldn't be Japanese by looking at them, so if she is not, the duo nationality is out. Interesting...