(RIKIDOZAN) Quest for "Body Beautiful"

Bristol Evening Post 

Monday 17th October 1955

 A body-building craze is sweeping through Japan. 

 Although the Japanese grow up with judo - every child knows the elementary throws - this is the first time that they have taken up dumb-bells and chest-expanders. 

 The new fashion is attributed to television, a Sumo wrestler named Rikidozan, and women. 

 The Japanese have always loved Sumo, a variant of wrestling which, to a Westerner, looks like a don't-you-dare-push-me-bout between two long-haired, potbellied, man-mountains. 

 The best of them in recent years - a man who fought under the name of Rikidozan - was a 265lb giant who has become the living symbol of glory to the Japanese. He has now deserted Sumo to become a professional wrestler and has defeated Primo Carnera. 

ON TELEVISION 

 To do it, Rikidozan had to transfer his weight from his stomach to his chest. Fans throughout the Japanese islands eagerly followed his struggle to lose weight. When he tackled Carnera and a few other Westerners in a series of fights this summer, the Japanese television stations gave throw-by-throw accounts.

 As the Japanese saw their idol getting slimmer and triumphing over more opponents, many of them decided to follow his example. The result is that body-building clubs are springing up all over the country. 

 Members of the Japan Weight-lifting association recently took part in a television network "body beautiful and body building programme" which attracted wide-spread interest. Women of Japan are also reported to have had much to do with the body-building craze. 

- Reuters.

Link to article (subscription needed to view)