Violence in Oitekaze beya

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Oitekaze Oyakata has been questioned by the Kyokai concerning an incident from March, it became known today. Right after Haru, the Oyakata "disciplined" a 23 year old tokoyama, causing him to leave sumo. People close to the heya say the tokoyama used to bully some of the young rikishi, until the Oyakata decided to put an end to it. He allegedly slapped the tokoyama, causing him to leave the heya the next day and return to his parents' home. In April, a call was received at the heya from his relatives demanding an explanation, and in May another call was made, saying he will take this issue to the police. "I hit him 6-7 times", admitted the Oyakata. He also admitted he let the 5-6 rikishi who were being bullied by the tokoyama hit him once or twice each as well. When asked why he did that he explained "I had repeatedly asked him to stop the bullying and he had agreed, but he would always go back to the bullying. As I am their father away from home, I wanted to teach him a lesson so I hit him". He emphasized the fact that it was an educational thing (" a whip of love"..), nothing more. Isenoumi Oyakata and Tomozuna oyakata, members of the special committee that was established after the Tokitsukaze beya rikishi death, called on Oitekaze to hear his side of the story. "It's an internal heya problem, so we told him to speak to the other side and try to settle it", said Isenoumi. "I have been notified that Oitekaze was questioned", said Musashigawa rijicho. Does educational discipline constitute an assault? It seems the Kyokai is on the brink of another scandal.

Edited July 24, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Treblemaker 254]

Being aware of the Yokitsukaze, and not in any way endorsing "hazing" of any kind, I find myself supporting Oitekaze Oyakata, and basically saying, "Good for him!" It's one thing to beat someone for "laziness" in an alleged attempt to make a better fighter out of him, and encourage others to join in the "discipline", it's quite another to stick up for others and give a repeated offender a lesson of his own. Would the simple answer be to simply send him home? Sure. But this is sumo - a very physical, tactile world. I don't thik this is any more "assalt" or "abuse" than any documented treatment of bullying/detrimental behaviour and reprimands of such in kind.

Ironically, bullying is usually a sign of major insecurities, and a bully in a heya might end up being catfood on the dohyo.

Good move, Oyakata.

Edited July 25, 2009 by Treblemaker

[ilovesumo 12]

As I am their father away from home,

First time I see such a quote...

If it was like he said, I would agree...IF.

Edit: (Japanese question)

Reading the Japanese version, can anybody tell me what exactly 難題 means in the yomiuri article on it? Last sentence...

Edited July 25, 2009 by ilovesumo

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Reading the Japanese version, can anybody tell me what exactly 難題 means in the yomiuri article on it? Last sentence...

Difficult problem, challenge.

[ilovesumo 12]

Thank you. :)

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Mainichi, a respected newspaper-started their article like this:

The Japan Sumo Association is questioning sumo stablemaster Oitekaze over the discovery that he and some his students assaulted wrestler Tokoyama in March, ...

Now, it's gone, probably while they assault the translator (4,5 harites) and will soon be up with the correction..

This is the gone article URL:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/200907...0na005000c.html

Edited July 25, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 20,129]

Mainichi, a respected newspaper-started their article like this:

The Japan Sumo Association is questioning sumo stablemaster Oitekaze over the discovery that he and some his students assaulted wrestler Tokoyama in March, ...

Now, it's gone, probably while they assault the translator (4,5 harites) and will soon be up with the correction..

This is the gone article URL:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/200907...0na005000c.html

In their defense, the retired tokoyama appears to have been a rikishi originally before changing professions. Hmm, do I reveal his identity when the Japanese papers don't...eh, don't click this link if you don't want to know.

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Oitekaze was planning to take a trip to Kumamoto and meet the ex-tokoyama and his parents, but called it off because he could not get in touch with him. "In order to have a discussion, it's best to have the two parties agree to have these discussions..", explained the Oyakata. Regarding the rikishi who were subject to the tokoyama's bullying, he has promised to explain to their families what happened. "There are minors involved. When they will be told what happened, some of the parents may elect to sue..", added the Oyakata

Edited July 27, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Oitekaze has announced he would be meeting the parents of the 6-7 rikishi (who were bullied by the tokoyama) in August. "The purpose of the meeting is to apologize to them for letting their beloved sons be subject to this bullying and then to listen to what their thoughts are", explained the Oyakata. There is also the subject of possible counter-litigation, if the tokoyama sues the Oyakata.

[Pippooshu 1]

I don't think is a bad thing if an Oyakata use grave manners against a bully

[Shomishuu 0]

Would the simple answer be to simply send him home?

Admittedly just guessing here...but I think replacing a tokoyama is not such an easy thing to do. Maybe they could have borrowed another heya's tokoyama, but I don't know what's involved with that either.

[madorosumaru 7]

Would the simple answer be to simply send him home?

Admittedly just guessing here...but I think replacing a tokoyama is not such an easy thing to do. Maybe they could have borrowed another heya's tokoyama, but I don't know what's involved with that either.

I really don't think that was a major consideration.

According to the oyakata, the tokoyama was warned several times. Each time, he apologized and promised to mend his ways. He begged the oyakata to be given another chance. Taking in a deshi is a major responsibility. The oyakata becomes a surrogate father. In fact, that's what the term "oyakata" implies. He felt responsibility for the livelihood of this kid that he took in as a rikishi. The boy failed in that endeavor and became a tokoyama. He has no education and no other skill. It was not a matter of simply sending him back home. So the oyakata did what many parents would do with their delinquent child. He gave him the benefit of doubt and hoped for the best. In this case, his good intentions obviously did not turn out well.

[Shomishuu 0]

Would the simple answer be to simply send him home?

Admittedly just guessing here...but I think replacing a tokoyama is not such an easy thing to do. Maybe they could have borrowed another heya's tokoyama, but I don't know what's involved with that either.

I really don't think that was a major consideration.

According to the oyakata, the tokoyama was warned several times. Each time, he apologized and promised to mend his ways. He begged the oyakata to be given another chance. Taking in a deshi is a major responsibility. The oyakata becomes a surrogate father. In fact, that's what the term "oyakata" implies. He felt responsibility for the livelihood of this kid that he took in as a rikishi. The boy failed in that endeavor and became a tokoyama. He has no education and no other skill. It was not a matter of simply sending him back home. So the oyakata did what many parents would do with their delinquent child. He gave him the benefit of doubt and hoped for the best. In this case, his good intentions obviously did not turn out well.

This sounds like the most plausible 'answer,' but looking forward - if the oyakata and possibly NSK are dragged into court somehow over this and anything is exacted from either, it's bound to encourage more such activity. As a matter of self-protection and public perception, heya life will probably be changing...slowly...like it or not.

[Orion 431]

According to the oyakata, the tokoyama was warned several times. Each time, he apologized and promised to mend his ways. He begged the oyakata to be given another chance. Taking in a deshi is a major responsibility. The oyakata becomes a surrogate father. In fact, that's what the term "oyakata" implies. He felt responsibility for the livelihood of this kid that he took in as a rikishi. The boy failed in that endeavor and became a tokoyama. He has no education and no other skill.

This has the ring of truth to it. The boy failed as a rikishi and started taking out his frustration on the somewhat younger boys who seemed to be doing better than he had.

In the unlikely case that the matter goes to court the bully will be greatly outnumbered by those testifying against him. There is also a chance that the parents of the bullied apprentices will countersue -- though since the tokoyama is right at the bottom of the heap there is nothing to sue him for. Oitekaze oyakata dispensed rough justice in a rough life and, apart from journalists looking for something to write about off-season, he will probably be considered to have acted fairly.

Orion

[Kintamayama 46,472]

Oitekaze has acknowledged that the tokoyama may sue him. "I have contacted my lawyer and intend to contest this rigorously if and when..", he said. Oitekaze also reported that at the end of July, a written document from the tokoyama arrived, denying he ever bullied anyone and hinting he will be going for litigation.

Edited August 3, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,472]

The hearings commenced today with both sides giving their own testimonies. "He used to get drunk and rough up the shin-deshi. I had to keep him in line so I smacked him one. I think it was necessary. An Oyakata is a sort of a foster parent and without taking disciplinary measures once in a while the job would be difficult. I would like that to be taken into consideration" explained the Oyakata. "I was hit about 50 times by the Oyakata and other deshi. I became scared of living at the heya so I ran away. The Oyakata used to use violence against some deshi when nobody was around," countered the ex-hairdresser, who is suing the Oyakata and the Kyokai for 5,500,000 yen, claiming he had to rest for three weeks after being attacked.

Edited November 5, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 46,472]

The two sides have agreed on a settlement. Apparently, Oitekaze Oyakata will be paying an undisclosed sum. Case seems to be closed.