New committee established to deal with gamblers Options

[Umigame]

If the association -- tight or light -- with yakuza is not affecting the sport as a sport, who cares? Yakuza are a police problem, not something that a sports assoc should have to turn themselves inside out for. We know that yakuza are involved in all sorts of industries. Are they closed down? Is all construction at a standstill? Are movies still being made? Are banks still open? This is just madness! If the yakuza are causing bouts to be thrown, step on them. Otherwise, let's get on with ozumo!

Actually, Japan Subculture Research Center just published an update with more info backing up their original claim that this Sumo gambling scandal is just one battle in a war between the NPA and the Kodo-kai. New article is here:
http://www.japansubculture.com/2010/07/cra...kuza-operation/

The new article provides an answer your question, which is: Yes, the police are in fact teaming up with (or putting pressure on) "all sorts of industries", including
- Boxing
- Baseball
- Public housing
- Magazines sold by convenience stores
- Banks
- Metropolitan public works projects

Personally I believe this is a good thing, and I hope the sumo association will continue to be pressured into cooperating as much as possible.

[Asashosakari]

Hey, remember this?

Musashigawa oyakata is expected to return to his duty around August 10. He has been hospitalized since early July due to complications resulting from high blood pressure. A report surfaced that Dewanoumi oyakata was told of a detail of organized crime member attending Natsu Basho but did not report to the chairman. The ticket was traced to a manger of boxing gym where Kyokai's external member Hirosuke Yamaguchi is its highest officer.

It turns out that Dewanoumi fibbed things a bit - per an official (!) Kyokai release made yesterday he actually did notify Musashigawa-rijicho of the Yamaguchi issue at the end of May, but the consensus of the Kyokai's two top men was that this would "not be a hindrance" to Yamaguchi's subsequent inclusion in the special investigative committee because he had no personal connection to the questionable ticket deal. Of course, other people didn't react quite so blasé when the story became public knowledge earlier this month and Yamaguchi quickly had to give up his spot on the committee.

The papers are somewhat measured in their comments because Musashigawa is still kyujo, but claims that he "misjudged" the situation rather badly are making the rounds, and reading between the lines he may very well find it difficult to return as rijicho now. The current Ministry of Etc. guy in fact openly called for him to be replaced yesterday (and seems to favour keeping Murayama as a more permanent solution), everybody else is not quite that determined yet. For now it's merely said that an "explanation" will likely be expected of Musashigawa once he returns to his duties sometime in August.

This post has been edited by Asashosakari: Jul 30, 2010, 11:50

[Jonosuke]

While I agree with Musashi/Dewano that this is really nothing matter as not only the external guy had nothing to do with ticket transfer that even the boxing gym manager did not know how the ticket got to an organized crime member. Actually he was more than upset that it happened though it appeared to me he doth protest rather loudly.

But having said all that this Musashi/Dewano thing is just typical of how the Kyokai has been operating - it's business as usual for them. The top two or three guys get together and talk in private and decide for themselves any issues that crop without telling anyone else (well by the time anyone else finds out, it's usually a done deal).

When they are promising transparency all around, they think nothing of settling matters behind the doors. The culture is steeped so deep they don't feel anything strange that most especially those politicians and bureaucrats at Ministry of EduSci insisted they bring external directors and auditors in as well as set up a committee made up exclusively with non-Kyokai people.

The perception by the general public still persists rightly and justifiably that the Kyokai is a closed society that their common sense is uncommon sense for the rest of society.

This post has been edited by Jonosuke: Jul 30, 2010, 13:24

[Kintamayama]

Two rikishi from Matsugane beya are being charged with baseball gambling. One is from Juryo, so it has to be Matsutani and the other is from Sandanme (Wakarikidou maybe?).

[Kintamayama]

The committee discussed three ongoing affairs today:
1. Sakaigawa Oyakata's renting lodgings from a gangster - case dismissed.
2. Matsugane Oyakata's renting lodgings from a gangster - investigation to continue.
3. Sanoyama Oyakata(ex- Chiyotaikai)'s heavy gambling - investigation to continue.

This post has been edited by Kintamayama: Aug 12, 2010, 14:39

[Kintamayama]

Two rikishi from Matsugane beya are being charged with baseball gambling. One is from Juryo, so it has to be Matsutani and the other is from Sandanme (Wakarikidou maybe?).

Confirmed- Matsutani and Wakarikidou. They held a press conference today."With all this talk about the underworld I was too scared to come forward. I will receive my punishment sincerely!" said Matsutani. "The story became so widespread I could not admit to it.., " added Wakarikidou. "With this coming to light, I wonder about my leadership ..," added Matsugane Oyakata, who now has to worry about this on top of the suspicion that he rented lodgings from gangsters.

This post has been edited by Kintamayama: Aug 12, 2010, 17:01

[Yubinhaad]

Two rikishi from Matsugane beya are being charged with baseball gambling. One is from Juryo, so it has to be Matsutani and the other is from Sandanme (Wakarikidou maybe?).

Confirmed- Matsutani and Wakarikidou. They held a press conference today."With all this talk about the underworld I was too scared to come forward. I will receive my punishment sincerely!" said Matsutani. "The story became so widespread I could not admit to it.., " added Wakarikidou. "With this coming to light, I wonder about my leadership ..," added Matsugane Oyakata, who now has to worry about this on top of the suspicion that he rented lodgings from gangsters.

Are they likely to receive a harsher punishment (eg, two basho suspension) for not coming forward? Both competed in the Nagoya basho while their fellow gamblers were at home learning their lessons.

[Asashosakari]

Confirmed- Matsutani and Wakarikidou. They held a press conference today."With all this talk about the underworld I was too scared to come forward. I will receive my punishment sincerely!" said Matsutani. "The story became so widespread I could not admit to it.., " added Wakarikidou.

Their names were unearthed as part of the police investigation into the whole Furuichi brothers web. Police informed Matsugane-oyakata about their findings at the end of July, who reported it to then-acting rijicho Murayama. Details: After a degeiko session at Onomatsu-beya back in 2008, Furuchi the rikishi roped in Matsutani, who then persuaded his stablemate Wakarikido to give it a shot as well. Both were active in gambling on baseball from about March to July of that year, Matsutani placing some 15 bets in the 10,000 yen range, Wakarikido three in the 5,000 yen range.

Their fate may not be decided until September 6 when the next scheduled riji meeting is set to take place; it's currently rumoured that everything up to a dismissal is in the cards, mostly because of their additional crime of not disclosing their involvement when the Kyokai circulated those questionnaires a couple of months ago. Matsugane might of course also not evade punishment here, even independent of what may still come out about his lodging issues.



This post has been edited by Asashosakari: Aug 13, 2010, 10:28

[Peterao]

The chances of the next basho being televised on NHK were already slim and none. With this news, slim just left town (IMHO).

[Kotoviki]

Confirmed- Matsutani and Wakarikidou. They held a press conference today."With all this talk about the underworld I was too scared to come forward. I will receive my punishment sincerely!" said Matsutani. "The story became so widespread I could not admit to it.., " added Wakarikidou.

Their names were unearthed as part of the police investigation into the whole Furuichi brothers web. Police informed Matsugane-oyakata about their findings at the end of July, who reported it to then-acting rijicho Murayama. Details: After a degeiko session at Onomatsu-beya back in 2008, Furuchi the rikishi roped in Matsutani, who then persuaded his stablemate Wakarikido to give it a shot as well. Both were active in gambling on baseball from about March to July of that year, Matsutani placing some 15 bets in the 10,000 yen range, Wakarikido three in the 5,000 yen range.

Their fate may not be decided until September 6 when the next scheduled riji meeting is set to take place; it's currently rumoured that everything up to a dismissal is in the cards, mostly because of their additional crime of not disclosing their involvement when the Kyokai circulated those questionnaires a couple of months ago. Matsugane might of course also not evade punishment here, even independent of what may still come out about his lodging issues.

What a shame that at least Wakarikido didn't come clean before 3 bets for 5,000 yen he wouldn't have faced punishment... now he could be in serious trouble for lying!!!

[ilovesumo]

We can forget about NHK.

[Kintamayama]

And now, the Kyokai leases land to the guys in dark sunglasses.

[Kintamayama]

Two rikishi from Matsugane beya are being charged with baseball gambling. One is from Juryo, so it has to be Matsutani and the other is from Sandanme (Wakarikidou maybe?).

Confirmed- Matsutani and Wakarikidou. They held a press conference today."With all this talk about the underworld I was too scared to come forward. I will receive my punishment sincerely!" said Matsutani. "The story became so widespread I could not admit to it.., " added Wakarikidou. "With this coming to light, I wonder about my leadership ..," added Matsugane Oyakata, who now has to worry about this on top of the suspicion that he rented lodgings from gangsters.

The gambling committee looking into Matsugane and his two deshi's actions is slated to decide on their punishment on the 8th during the committee meeting to be held then.

This post has been edited by Kintamayama: Sep 6, 2010, 06:57

[Kintamayama]

The committee looking into Matsugane and his two deshi's actions is slated to decide on their punishment on the 8th during the temporary rijikai to be held then.

My sources say Matsugane gets demoted by two ranks and Matsutani/Wakarikidou will be suspended for 2 or perhaps three basho.

This post has been edited by Kintamayama: Sep 6, 2010, 06:58

[Kintamayama]

The chances of the next basho being televised on NHK were already slim and none. With this news, slim just left town (IMHO).

1-1

[Kintamayama]

Already punished figures will be additionally punished, as I promised earlier. Sadogatake Oyakata is to be demoted two ranks for not guiding ex-Kotomitsuki well enough to avoid him from falling into his bad habits. The gambling committee itself did not discuss this, but at the special rijikai held later some Oyakata suggested it, and it is apparently a done deal.
Mind you, this is all rumors, but my sources are usually right. We'll know on the fifth.
BTW, this committee led by Mr. Ito the Quirky will be disbanded after the eighth, I am told.

[Orion]

The chances of the next basho being televised on NHK were already slim and none. With this news, slim just left town (IMHO).

1-1

Already announced on NHK's website for Day 1: Japanese side: Kitanofuji and Mainoumi as usual; English side, Hiro Morita and Stuart Atkin. Subject, of course, to instant cancellation if another scandal erupts.

Orion

[byrns]

The chances of the next basho being televised on NHK were already slim and none. With this news, slim just left town (IMHO).

1-1

Already announced on NHK's website for Day 1: Japanese side: Kitanofuji and Mainoumi as usual; English side, Hiro Morita and Stuart Atkin. Subject, of course, to instant cancellation if another scandal erupts.

Orion

Great news! What day will Doreen be on?

[Kintamayama]

And the actual verdicts:
Sadogatake-demoted two ranks from iin to common toshiyori(salary wise, a big hit, from 1,030,000 t0 810,000)
Matsugane-demoted two ranks from iin to common toshiyori.
Juryo Matsutani and Sandanme Wakarikidou-2 basho suspension.
Furuichi and Tokoike the hairdresser-kaiko dismissal from Sumo.
All 22 rikishi who admitted to gambling, including the 17 suspended received the lightest punishment-kenseki, but I don't understand what that means in concrete terms..
Ex-Chiyotaikai- "Choose to ignore the weekly article"-no punishment

All punishments were per the suggestions of the committee except Sadogatake's, which was decided by the rijikai.

My sources came through swimmingly.

Happy New Year to everyone!!

[Kintamayama]

Sadogatake-demoted two ranks from iin to common toshiyori(salary wise, a big hit, from 1,030,000 t0 810,000)

Moved to the jungyo office.

Matsugane-demoted two ranks from iin to common toshiyori.

Moved to the Inspection Committee.
Two Oyakata have joined the judging department: Minezaki and Minatogawa.

This post has been edited by Kintamayama: Today, 09:59