E. Honda

The sumo wrestler who fights to prove the strength of sumo to the world.

Edmond Honda (Japanese: エドモンド本田), better known as E. Honda, is a professional sumo wrestler and sentō proprietor created by Capcom for the Street Fighter fighting game series. Introduced in Street Fighter II as part of the starting lineup, he has appeared in Street Fighter IV and the Capcom vs. SNK series, and made several cameos. He is one of the original eight playable characters in Street Fighter II, representing Japan alongside Ryu. Standing 185 centimetres (6 ft 1 in), his design features a mawashi (sumo loincloth) and a chonmage (topknot), chosen to make him look more distinctive than a traditional sumo wrestler and to illustrate his pride for Japan.

Quick Facts

Series: Street Fighter
First game: Street Fighter II (1991)
Creator: Akira "Akiman" Yasuda
Designer: Akira "Akiman" Yasuda; Eri "Erichan" Nakamura
Origin: Japan
Nationality: Japanese

Lore & Background

As introduced in Street Fighter II, Honda is focused on becoming the greatest sumo wrestler of all time, and teaches sumo to several students. However, upon learning that the world outside of Japan did not consider sumo a true sport, he left his dojo and entered the martial arts tournament to prove that sumo wrestlers rank among the greatest fighters in the world. Honda returns for Street Fighter IV, which is set shortly after the events of the second World Warrior Tournament. His goals have not changed, as his bio states that he is fighting to promote the technique of sumo. To this end, he goes on a world tour. It is revealed that he is a yokozuna (grand champion) but not officially recognized by the sumo association. His rival fight is against El Fuerte. Honda returns in the fourth season of Street Fighter V, having reopened the Honda Sento bathhouse and working to keep its guests happy. In Street Fighter 6, Honda opens a sumo-themed chankonabe restaurant called Chanko House Edomon in Metro City, which proves to be successful.

Reader's Guide

E. Honda is a sumo wrestler whose fighting style revolves around charging at his opponent. Akiman, his creator, stated, 'I wanted the fat characters like Honda to come charging at you—for some reason. I feel that fat characters have a duty to charge.' Nakamura took this concept and gave him his horizontal flying headbutt attack. Named 'Super Zutsuki' in the notes she was given, she considered what made it super, and reasoned he had to fly. The concept completely surprised both Akiman and Nishitani, who saw it for the first time in game. Other attacks such as his Hundred Hand Slap, in which he attacks with a rapid flow of palm strikes, were fleshed out by the pixel artists on the team, and then drawn on paper by Nakamura. The character was meant to have above average strength, but below average speed, and intended to be popular in Japan but to also make Japanese fighting styles appeal to foreigners.