Asa in hot water again?

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

This article in The Guardian seemed to break the situation down well for overseas readers, until I saw this bit:

Earlier that year he appeared to bump into the same opponent after losing to him. Their row reportedly continued in the changing room, where the pair wrestled naked in the communal bath.

(Tears forming...)

[Peterao 3]

This article in The Guardian seemed to break the situation down well for overseas readers, until I saw this bit:

Earlier that year he appeared to bump into the same opponent after losing to him. Their row reportedly continued in the changing room, where the pair wrestled naked in the communal bath.

:-O

I believe that footage was included in last year's Borat movie.

[Exil 301]

[mod]Nazis, Real Men

[Kintamayama 47,194]

More on the technicalities:

14 Oyakata convened for 25 minutes to decide the punishment. "He should be fired! He should know jungyos should not be taken lightly!", were some of the things heard at the meeting.

There is no written rule calling for "house arrest". This is a first that is specifically called. The three h's-Home, Heya, Hospital. He is not allowed to dine out with his family or friends. 117 days of triple-H.. No Mongolia home trips.

Caught violating house arrest? No two ways-dismissal, the most frightening words in the Kyokai book of rules-Kaiko. Takasago called Asa by phone to tell him the nature of the punishment, and explicitly warned him that a violation of the terms will terminate him in the Kakkai.

"It's not only about the latest indiscretion-I think it's an accumulation of all his past problems", said Isenoumi Oyakata at the press conference, when asked if this punishment wasn't too severe.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj 0]

"It's not only about the latest indiscretion-I think it's an accumulation of all his past problems", said Isenoumi Oyakata at the press conference, when asked if this punishment wasn't too severe.

So they admit that it was accumulated vengence :) I bet any of Mongolian sumo boys don't think of any accumulated vengence gathering over them. It is really cultural difference. How funny that ambassodor of Mongolia who supposed to Japanese culture tried to save Asa for his last soccer incident. But actually it was already decided long ago, waiting for Asa's next mistake

Edited August 2, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Kintamayama 47,194]

So they admit that it was accumulated vengence :) I bet any of Mongolian sumo boys don't think of any accumulated vengence gathering over them. It is really cultural difference. How funny that ambassodor of Mongolia tried to save Asa for his last soccer incident. But actually it was already decided long ago, waiting for Asa's next mistake

It's not vengeance. Asa has been a bad boy yokozuna for a long time and was treated rather mercifully. We (that includes you) knew he'd have to pay for it someday, and payday has arrived. Very simple.

And of course, it's all because he's not Japanese...

Edited August 2, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Takemi 0]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yyyorbDbJCc

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Calwm2rn8

Very nice, thanks (Sign of approval...)

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj 0]

It's not vengeance. Asa has been a bad boy yokozuna for a long time and was treated rather mercifully. We (that includes you) knew he'd have to pay for it someday, and payday has arrived. Very simple.

And of course, it's all because he's not Japanese...

So he was bad too long time. But they did punish him because he was only Yokozuna bearing all the burden of falling name of sumo. Now they have 2 Yoko and good time to kick unaware Asa who of course did his thing as usual.

How is it morally. Is it ok in Sumo moral/Japanese morality

Yes Asa was too careless as if he is in the middle steppe.

Edited August 2, 2007 by Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj

[Kintamayama 47,194]

Yes Asa was too careless as if he is in the middle steppe.

If it helps him to get over and grow up.

Hey!! We agree!! He was careless indeed. I'm sure he will return and break Taihou's 32 yusho record.

Edit: Oops, you edited your post-about growing up.. Chickened out, huh?? Afraid of what your friends would say, are we?

A thought:

Maybe , for Asa, this is a blessing in disguise. No way could he be totally healthy if he kept up his rigid agenda as a Yokozuna. With 6 months off with only HHH (keiko included) he has a chance of more or less getting himself healthy.

Hmm..Wait a second.. Could he have done this on purpose?? He gets to totally rest for 6 months without actually losing anything (except for 30% of pay) after these last hectic 4 years. No Kyokai functions, no Yokozuna obligations to fulfill- just watching TV and doing keiko. Isn't that more or less what he really wanted/needed? Isn't this what he was trying to do when he wanted to rest?? Ok, so he got what he wanted but it will be behind bars. Still.

The more I think of it, the more it seems to me this situation suits him just fine..

Edited August 2, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,194]

"Sumo's Yokozuna Asashouryuu (playing in the Triple-H soccer league) plays in a friendly against UB United, as scouts from all over Europe watch in awe":

Grand champion of Sumo Asashouryuu Domburi attended a friendly match between his Triple H soccer team Takasago Devils and Mongolia's own UB United before a capacity crowd of 6. It was a surprise appearance by the star scorer, who earlier had said he has a bad back and an injured elbow, but when the spectators called for him, aided by no less than two official countries who joined in the chorus, he agreed to participate for a few minutes.

Scouts from all over Europe who were in attendance (they don't count as spectators, as they are invisible) came to check out the gifted striker.

John Gunning of City United: "Excellent all-round player! Offensive and defensive moves are brilliant. Now, if he would only agree to a 30% cut in pay, and another 6 months in triple H to hone his skills, we will sign him up in a second!!"

Edited August 2, 2007 by Kintamayama

[sekihiryu 51]

A thought:

Maybe , for Asa, this is a blessing in disguise. No way could he be totally healthy if he kept up his rigid agenda as a Yokozuna. With 6 months off with only HHH (keiko included) he has a chance of more or less getting himself healthy.

Hmm..Wait a second.. Could he have done this on purpose?? He gets to totally rest for 6 months without actually losing anything (except for 30% of pay) after these last hectic 4 years. No Kyokai functions, no Yokozuna obligations to fulfill- just watching TV and doing keiko. Isn't that more or less what he really wanted/needed? Isn't this what he was trying to do when he wanted to rest?? Ok, so he got what he wanted but it will be behind bars. Still.

The more I think of it, the more it seems to me this situation suits him just fine..

yes, I thought the same thing too, a silver lining indeed for a such a dark cloud. My thinking is he will send someone to sports wholesale shop and buy a lots of weights to build a substantial home gym and then proceed to pump iron and get "stacked" and come back strong.

Could also be a good opportunity to get some surgery on his elbow, get the arthroscope in there for a "tidy up" and "tighten up" of the ligaments.

Man I wish I myself was about to get suspended for the rest of the year with nothing to do! must be nice!

The two real losers out of this are the NSK and the fans

[Takemi 0]

A thought:

Maybe , for Asa, this is a blessing in disguise. No way could he be totally healthy if he kept up his rigid agenda as a Yokozuna. With 6 months off with only HHH (keiko included) he has a chance of more or less getting himself healthy.

Hmm..Wait a second.. Could he have done this on purpose?? He gets to totally rest for 6 months without actually losing anything (except for 30% of pay) after these last hectic 4 years. No Kyokai functions, no Yokozuna obligations to fulfill- just watching TV and doing keiko. Isn't that more or less what he really wanted/needed? Isn't this what he was trying to do when he wanted to rest?? Ok, so he got what he wanted but it will be behind bars. Still.

The more I think of it, the more it seems to me this situation suits him just fine..

yes, I thought the same thing too, a silver lining indeed for a such a dark cloud. My thinking is he will send someone to sports wholesale shop and buy a lots of weights to build a substantial home gym and then proceed to pump iron and get "stacked" and come back strong.

Could also be a good opportunity to get some surgery on his elbow, get the arthroscope in there for a "tidy up" and "tighten up" of the ligaments.

Man I wish I myself was about to get suspended for the rest of the year with nothing to do! must be nice!

The two real losers out of this are the NSK and the fans

Isnt he allowed to do ordinary keiko at the heya?

I dont understand your way of thinking, why should he increase his weight training all of a sudden? I suppose he allready have the golden path between weight training and sumo training. You dont have to be on house arrest to start lifting more weights, if this is a good training method I would have thought he(and the rest) all ready would have used this method.

[sekihiryu 51]

He seems like he likes lifting weights from what have gathered over the years from stories and news etc. With all his extra free time he could endulge in a lot more of it than he has previously had the time to do. I am just speculating, but its what I would do if I were him (Sign of approval...)

Also with the "triple H" thing, the moving between home and heya could be frought with temptation to get "detoured" so he could end up staying at home more than could be expected.

Also a weight training would come in handy for a possible future career, perhaps a punching bag will be in the gym eqiupment......

[Sashohitowa 6]

... The three h's-Home, Heya, Hospital.

I guess that the first H can be more interpreted as "House", since he is not allowed to go to his "real" home, Mongolia (Sign of approval...)

Now seriously - is he actually allowed to go to other heyas for degeiko? If not, I can expect that after these months his sumo will fade down - if he is forced to practice only with Asasekiryu and to wait for other serious opponents to pass by Takasago (and I can bet that there are much more rikishi than Kotomitsuki and Kotoshogiku that will have no intention to do it), this for sure will be of no help for him for January...

[Kotonosato 1]

Now seriously - is he actually allowed to go to other heyas for degeiko?

I don't think they'd have a problem with it. He's just not allowed to have any fun there. (Sign of approval...)

[Asashosakari 20,225]

To combine Kinta's "there must be more" suspicion with Kaikitsune's favourite topic, maybe Shoryu engineered his suspension to gain future plausible deniability regarding this:

They also announced that at the next regular meeting of Rikishi-kai (Association of Sekitori) on August 28, the Kyokai would hold a special clinic to explain the kyokai's new anti-doping policy.

(Sign of approval...)

Edited August 2, 2007 by Asashosakari

[sekitori 492]

Now seriously - is he actually allowed to go to other heyas for degeiko? If not, I can expect that after these months his sumo will fade down - if he is forced to practice only with Asasekiryu and to wait for other serious opponents to pass by Takasago (and I can bet that there are much more rikishi than Kotomitsuki and Kotoshogiku that will have no intention to do it), this for sure will be of no help for him for January...

I agree with Kintamaytama. If he's very wise, lets his body heal properly, and gets into excellent physical condition, the suspension could be very good for Asashoryu. If he isn't allowed to train at other heyas, I agree that he will be very rusty for his return in January. I doubt if anyone would expect him to win the yusho at the Hatsu basho, but it will help to bring back his competititve edge. And at the Haru basho and those following it.....watch out. He could be better than ever.

Even though the public believes that his suspension was fair (and maybe not strong enough), I'm sure Asashoryu believes he was treated unfairly. Of course, he can't complain. That would make a bad situation much worse. The only way he can show his displeasure is on the dohyo by performing great sumo and winning yushos. And I believe that exactly is what he will do.

[sekitori 492]

I agree with Kintamaytama.

Of course, that should he Kintamayama. My apologies. (Sign of approval...)

[madorosumaru 7]

According to Takasago Oyakata, Asashoryu is having a difficult time coming to grips with the severe punishment handed to him. He told the press, "[The yokozuna] would say he would gambarize one moment, and then he would say 'It's all over' the next moment. I am praying that he doesn't decide to retire."

The shisho said he has not had direct contact with Ryu but has received reports from the tsukebito. "I've heard that he is taking tranquilizers," the oyakata added. "He is very unstable emotionally. It's to the point that he can't fully comprehend the severity of the penalty."

Takasago explained by saying Asashoryu simply cannot understand the severity of the punishment in view of the fact that he has the accomplishment of 21 yusho and had carried ozumo as a solo yokozuna for the past four and half years. "Asashoryu feels that all his efforts have been negated. He keeps asking himself, 'Why?' He simply can't get any peace in mind."

The oyakata then said, "When he settles down a bit and starts feeling more positive, we will hold a press conference." It appears that, at the earliest, it would be until the beginning of next week.

The phones keep ringing

On the day the punishment was announced, the 30 lines at NSK rang continuously. According to a Kyokai staff member, the opinions were split between "It was a regrettable decision" and "The penalty was too light." The following day, the number of calls went down but the fans continued to call in with their opinions.

[ilovesumo 12]

I am sad.

Don't ask me for the reason but I feel a deep sadness.

[Joeblack 0]

I agree with Peterao. The people calling this a witch hunt and saying the Kyokai is just trying to get Asashoryu for xenophobic reasons obviously have no experience with Japanese culture and the extreme pressure placed on public figures.

I've mentioned this before, but Japanese baseball pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka is a perfect example. Here's a Japanese Golden Boy, nationally famous and liked, trend-setter and all around spectator draw for baseball. From a public relations standpoint he was for baseball everything Asashoryu has not been for sumo. Popular, respected, cheered for, a pure Japanese star that brought new fans to the game.

In 2000, Matsuzaka's drivers license was suspended after a speeding violation. Still, he drove to his then girlfriend's house, and parked illegally, when this was found out one member of the organization tried to take the blame, but this was quickly shot to pieces by the paparazzi that had camped outside, hoping for a shot of the lovebirds.

When it came out that he'd driven with his license suspended, the reaction was swift and immediate. The courts let him off with a 195,000 yen fine (roughly $1,800) for driving without a license and parking illegally. A hefty fine, but then Matsuzaka was making plenty of money, and it didn't really hurt him. But then the baseball team stepped in. They confined him to his house for the remainder of the baseball season (about a month). He had to cancel his trip to the U.S. to see the World Series, and did not participate in that year's all-star series between Japanese baseball and Major League Baseball, despite his appearance being much anticipated. His endorsement contracts were cancelled, costing him millions of dollars. The president of the team, the manager, and other executives publicly apologized at a press conference, with the obligatory deep bow for the cameras.

I don't know about other countries, but I think this reaction would be far out of proportion with what would happen if an American athlete did the same thing. They'd get fined by the courts, it'd make a small story in the papers, and then it would blow over pretty quickly. Not in Japan, though. Not for Matsuzaka.

So while this punishment may seem incredibly harsh to those outside Japan, it's fairly par for the course in these kinds of situations.

That is just disgusting. Does "none of your business" make sense in Japan? It's almost like a slavery of some sort. You sign the contract, and you are a slave.

Edited August 2, 2007 by Joeblack

[Randomitsuki 2,898]

That is just disgusting. Does "none of your business" make sense in Japan? It's almost like a slavery of some sort. You sign the contract, and you are a slave.

Peterao has put it much more eloquently over on the SML, so I can only repeat his main point: it makes no sense to use any word similar to "slavery" when it comes to describing the situation of Asashoryu. He can take the next flight to Mongolia if he wants to, he is a free man. He will lose his job, however. This hardly qualifies as slavery in any perceivable way.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

The Daily Yomiuri weighs in.

And, a translation from the Yomiuri Shimbun.

Edited August 3, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[madorosumaru 7]

What exactly is allowed under "kinshin shobun" - the punishment you can call "house arrest," "confinement to quarters" or "grounding."

"Home, Heya, Hospital" as Kinta pointed out so succinctly. Strictly interpreted, Asashoryu cannot even go to the corner convenience store. However, in reality, it is not that restrictive. According to Takasago Oyakata, "I suppose it would be okay if he goes out to dinner with his family." Isenoumi Oyakata, head of NSK Lifestyle Guidance Department, said, "It's difficult to draw the line for kinshin. I think it would be acceptable if he followed his doctor's orders to go to a hotspring to treat his back. We will be discussing this matter [in greater detail] at a board meeting."

Asashoryu is known to like the nightlife. He also reinvigorates himself between basho in Mongolia. Some within the Kyokai believe there is no way he could follow the kinshin order. My feeling is that, as time passes, the Kyokai will gradually lengthen the leash.

Ryu's Guantanamo

Tsukebito with take-out pizza

Edited August 3, 2007 by madorosumaru

[madorosumaru 7]

More details about Asashoryu's mental condition. According to nikkansports, the yokozuna's mental state has deteriorated to the degree he is seeking psychiatric help next week.

As reported earlier, Ryu is so upset that he is taking tranquilizers. On Thursday afternoon, Takasago Oyakata received a call from Ryu's manager, "The yokozuna is talking about retiring. Where are you right now?" The shisho answered, "I am at the Kyokai. Tell him I'll be right over." However, a short while later, Ryu called himself, "I'm sorry about the earlier call. I will continue to gambarize."

Discussing intai with one's shisho is a serious matter unlike unburdening with friends or supporters. Once the shisho turns in the retirement notice, there is no turning back. Takasago said, "Mentally, he is in a very unstable state. I am going to find a psychiatrist for him to see immediately. I will make him start treatment next week."

Asashoryu had showed signs of breaking down even before the punishment was meted. During the night, he would burst out crying. When he stopped, he would suddenly start yelling in anger. Once he heard about the severity of the punishment, his condition got worse. Last night, he called his parents in Mongolia and talked about quitting, but soon after, he called again to say he would remain active and do his best.

Perhaps, because he doesn't want his family to see him in this state, he has sent his wife and two children back home to Mongolia. On Thursday, he had his tsukebito go out for take-out and shared his meals with his manager and his cousin, who cooked up some Mongolian food. A friend who visited him later said, "[The yokozuna] would look at his image on the television and start weeping silently."

On Friday, Ryu's physician, Dr. Hiraishi, will report on the condition of his injuries at the NSK. At that time, Takasago Oyakata is going to ask Dr. Hiraishi for a referral to a good psychiatrist.