Breaking News - Police to Charge Tokitsukaze oyakata

[Jonosuke 28]

Aichi Prefectural Police will be charging Tokitsukaze oyakata and heya's senior rikishi over the death of 17 year old Tokitaizan (Takashi Saito) in June.

Tokitsukaze oyakata admitted he hit Tokitaizan's face with a beer bottle on the day before his death. Tokitaizan ran away from the heya but was later brought back by heya's senior rikishi and may have become a victim of hazing.

The next morning he could not get up for a morning training session but was brought to the training dohyo around 11 AM and then later collapsed. The diagnosis of his death was a heart failure but reportedly he had bruises and cigarette burn marks all over his body at the time of his death.

[sekihiryu 51]

my wife said this was in this mornings newspaper, I checked here before and saw nothing, but alas here it is.

Edited September 26, 2007 by sekihiryu

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Hit a kid in the face with a beer bottle?! Asashoryu ought to have busted Tokitsukaze up instead of Toyonoshima his last degeiko visit. This animal belongs in jail to rot, before he rots you know where else.

[Guest Noma]

oh, finally police decided to do something, why it happens so late? I think that this case shouldnt be kept under carpet and, if Tokitsukaze oyakata initiated this execution, he doesn't have any moral rights to be an oyakata. In my opinion, from now on parents should be careful and think thoroughly which heya to choose.

[yamaneko 2]

happy and sad about this. Happy in that finally police is doing something about this hazing stuff. Too bad it took a death to get them off their butts. Im happy as i think that the heavy offending oyakatas out there might think twice in the future before pummeling a kid.

Sad in that i think that even more parents now will be discouraging their kids even from an early age to take up sumo, more parents of teenagers will be less inclined to allow their kids to join, etc.

[Kintamayama 47,297]

oh, finally police decided to do something, why it happens so late? I think that this case shouldnt be kept under carpet and, if Tokitsukaze oyakata initiated this execution, he doesn't have any moral rights to be an oyakata. In my opinion, from now on parents should be careful and think thoroughly which heya to choose.

It isn't kept under the carpet-that's a fact. Police in Japan are a bit "slow" investigating, but once it comes out, it should be quite quick now.

Tokitsukaze is through, for sure.

Now, I wonder who the "high-ranking" rikishi are.

[Guest Noma]

yeah, sad, very ... and even more than sad ...

here http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/...0709260218.html is written that on June 25th morning Saito called his home 2 (!) and asked to pick him up coz he is scared of his seniors ...

i dont know, really, dont know Japanese mentality, but if i would get such a SOS call from my child, my friend, my class/roommates, i will go directly to that place to pick up or, at least, to find out what is going on ... if it is far from me i would call police, that heya, JSA, or that ms.Uchidate at last! and don't care is it hinkaku or not hinkaku!

and u know what was his father's reply? his father "lamented that he told his son to stick with the training and never encouraged him to leave." ?

[Kintamayama 47,297]

Tokitsukaze-beya shuttered down:

[aderechelsea 125]

i missed this story completely during my absence ..... :-O

i am really shocked. I knew that these things happen in Ozumo but this is too much ....

I hope at least Toyonoshima is not involved. This would be a serious blow to my "fanboy innocense"

:-(

[Jonosuke 28]

I probably got ahead of myself a bit here.

The Aichi Police believes there is more than sufficient evidence to pursue and initiates a full investigation, likely of a criminal negligence. They have not yet announced they have or would be charging Tokitsukaze oyakata or any rikishi at the heya.

The parents of Takashi Saito (Tokitaizan) have retained a lawyer and indicated that they wanted to find the truth as despite Tokitsukaze oyakata's admission of hitting Tokitaizan with a beer bottle causing him cuts to his forehead, the oyakata maintained only that Tokitaizan collapsed during a "butuskari-geiko" session. Tokitsukaze oyakata was unavailable for comment and was not seen at his heya today.

Meanwhile at their regular Shisho meeting, Kitanoumi oyakata, chairman of the Kyokai, cautioned them that they should mind the physical limitations of new recruits before they put them in more strenuous activity.

"He (Tokitaizan) has only joned Ozumo two months before so he has not built up his ndurance." However Kitanoumi oyakata declined to comment directly on Tokitsukaze oyakata's admission of violence. "I understand a police investigation is underway. I will leave it to the police but the best thing is for Tokitsukaze oyakata to cooperate fully with the investigation," Kitanoumi oyakata said.

Oshima oyakata, Kyokai director, states that the directors will be discussing this issue to prepare Kyokai's responses at their regular directors meeting to be held on September 27. "Obviously the oyakata must bear the full responsibility but as important is to find out how many more rikishis were involved," Oshima oyakata said.

Traditionally new recruits are treated severely when they first join a heya especially if they run away from the heya or commits a theft. As Tokitaizan died hours after a normal morning training session, it's likely he has been punished by the heya's senior rikishi. There was a question raised at the time if heya officials have reacted quickly enough to call an ambulance as he was left alone for sometime after he collapsed.

Tokitaizan's father said his son had broken nose and ribs, various facial cuts including cuts in his mouth, bruises and burn marks all over his body, signs inconsistent with regular sumo training. He said his son run away from the heya several times saying he was scared of the senior rikishi but each time he sent him back as his son just joined the heya even receiving a shikona. He says his son called him the night before (his death) to ask him to pick him up at the heya but he told him to stick it in at least till the end of the Nagoya basho.

Tokitaizan was prounced dead at a hospital in Nagoya on June 26. An initial cause of death was shocks from bruises and cuts causing a heart failure.

[Reporters at Tokitsukaze beya today]

Edited September 26, 2007 by Jonosuke

[Kintamayama 47,297]

The allegations are that Tokitsukaze was so pissed that the kid ran away he hit him with a beer bottle. Then, he turned to the rikishi and ordered them to "haze " him. At least four rikishi surrounded him and assaulted him. All this happened a day before his death, on June 25th. The next day, the hazing continued with keiko specifically targeted to "teach him a lesson". At one point, one of the rikishi hit him with a metal baseball bat.

The police are saying they do not believe the kid died from the bat blows, but that it was an accumulation of many things.

This is not speculation, these are allegations based on evidence given by some of the rikishi. This is far worse than what I imagined, which was pretty bad in itself.

[Jonosuke 28]

NHK news also reported Tokitsukaze oyakata ordered him to do a Butsukari-geiko session lasting over 30 mintues before he finally collapsed and become unconscious.

Normally it lasts around 5 minutes for a rikishi and at most 10 minutes.

[Jonosuke 28]

I hope at least Toyonoshima is not involved. This would be a serious blow to my "fanboy innocense"

According to a story, those over Juryo were away that morning. They include Tokitenku, Shimootori, Tokitsuumi and Toyonoshima.

[Sasanishiki 57]

And in some ways I would see the sekitori being beyond hazing. I'm not saying that it doesn't ahppen, but I would think that those only a little higher in teh peckin gorder are more likely to haze or to put the newbie in his place because they generally have little else to rely on than them being above a few others (that is, they don't have pay or much in the way of privileges, unlike the sekitori, so rank and status amongst the "young guys" or lower rankers is probably more keenly protected and sought after).

[Fukurou 534]

The Aichi Police believes there is more than sufficient evidence to pursue and initiates a full investigation, likely of a criminal negligence. They have not yet announced they have or would be charging Tokitsukaze oyakata or any rikishi at the heya.

Speaking based on stereotype here, I thought the Japanese police agencies didn't say anything about anything until they're about to make an arrest, and that they don't make arrests until they know they can get a conviction. All of which being a part of the reason they have a huge number of confessions in Japan (if you've been arrested, you're obviously guilty, so why try to fight it in court)

[Fukurou 534]

And in some ways I would see the sekitori being beyond hazing.

Are you saying, then, that you believe the "senior rikishi" referred to aren't actually the *senior* rikishi, but rather just senior in sumo ranking? (for example, Jonidan to a Jonokuchi, or sempai/kohai) I wonder how the "senior rikishi" part is written in the Japanese media reports?

[Sasanishiki 57]

And in some ways I would see the sekitori being beyond hazing.

Are you saying, then, that you believe the "senior rikishi" referred to aren't actually the *senior* rikishi, but rather just senior in sumo ranking? (for example, Jonidan to a Jonokuchi, or sempai/kohai) I wonder how the "senior rikishi" part is written in the Japanese media reports?

I'd be interested how it was written too - probably ani deshi or something. I am saying that a jonidan or sandanme probably gets more out of beating the crap out of a jonokuchi than a sekitori. the sekitori has money and status, while for the otehrs their incremental superiority of others (and particularly new guys) is a lot of teh "power" that they have in teh sumo world. Let us not forget that this was beating the crap out of someone, rather than just pushing them hard on the dohyo.

[Guest Noma]

Do we have such a cases in sumo history? I mean cases when police built criminal case against oyakata, JSA etc.

[Guest Noma]

also, where is ms.Uchidate who was ready to slap in the face of woman for dohyo climbing ?

[Asashosakari 20,272]

also, where is ms.Uchidate who was ready to slap in the face of woman for dohyo climbing ?

Maybe she is doing the smart thing and has decided not to comment publicly on an ongoing criminal investigation?

Incidentally: This is a serious matter, and I do hope everybody here will manage to refrain from using it to ride their personal hobby horses, no matter if it's "Asashoryu wuz robbed", "Makiko Uchidate is a stupid bint", "the NSK needs to be reformed from the ground up", or anything else.

Edited September 27, 2007 by Asashosakari

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Sumo stable offered to cremate body of young wrestler following suspicious death

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

And in some ways I would see the sekitori being beyond hazing.

Are you saying, then, that you believe the "senior rikishi" referred to aren't actually the *senior* rikishi, but rather just senior in sumo ranking? (for example, Jonidan to a Jonokuchi, or sempai/kohai) I wonder how the "senior rikishi" part is written in the Japanese media reports?

I'd be interested how it was written too - probably ani deshi or something. I am saying that a jonidan or sandanme probably gets more out of beating the crap out of a jonokuchi than a sekitori. the sekitori has money and status, while for the otehrs their incremental superiority of others (and particularly new guys) is a lot of teh "power" that they have in teh sumo world. Let us not forget that this was beating the crap out of someone, rather than just pushing them hard on the dohyo.

The Yomiuri Shimbun used anideshi. The Asahi Shimbun used deshi. The Chunichi Shimbun used anideshi.

Edited September 27, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Bealzbob 0]

Incidentally: This is a serious matter, and I do hope everybody here will manage to refrain from using it to ride their personal hobby horses, no matter if it's "Asashoryu wuz robbed", "Makiko Uchidate is a stupid bint", "the NSK needs to be reformed from the ground up", or anything else.

I would also ask the question that why would a member of the YDC comment on something that definitely has nothing to do with a 'Y' ? Apart from maybe the possibility of them liking the sound of their own voice.

[Kintamayama 47,297]

Tokitsukaze Oyakata has apologized to the other Oyakata at the rijikai and shisho-kai, both held today. "It is inexcusable that I have caused so much trouble. I have created a lot of bother", he said. "The most important thing is to leave this in the hands of the police. but more than that, we have to remember that a rikishi has died. When the police will make the results of the investigation public, I'd like to deal with it the right way", said Kitanoumi rijicho, who seems to have read my last post, hinting at a stern punishment if Tokitsukaze is found accountable. He also reminded all the Oyakatas that they are totally responsible for the well-being of their deshi. The Kyokai has decided to form an 8-member committee for "investigating rikishi leadership" which will convene for the first time next week. "This last case has prompted me to think hard and deep about the ways of the Kyokai", he announced.

Tokitsukaze leaving the meeting:

Kitanoumi leaving the meeting:

Edited September 27, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,297]

One of the anideshi has admitted to hitting Tokitaizan with a metal baseball bat. The bat, bloodstains and all, has been confiscated and will be used as evidence. Tokitsukaze hit him across the face with a beer bottle during dinner, after he was brought back from home for the third time and did not show "sufficient remorse", causing a deep gash. The next morning, Tokitaizan did not get up at 7:30 for asageiko which enraged the oyakata and deshi even more. They made him do butsugari keiko from around 11 am for 30 minutes, which is a looong time. This is when the bat thing happened. The rikishi who did it went on his own to the police and admitted his part a few days later, which caused the investigation to get more intense. Tokitsukaze first told the parents it was all in a normal day's keiko, but about a month ago, he visited their home and admitted to hitting him with a beer bottle. He admitted the same to the police as well. When the family realized this had nothing to do with Sumo's usual keiko, they pressed for a lawsuit and things started to roll.

After hearing at the end of August that the police had concrete evidence as to what transpired, the Kyokai upper echelons knew that they were in big trouble , and voices acknowledged this was much more damaging than the Asa thing they were embroiled in at the time.

Although it is common knowledge that keiko can be harsh, with caning an everyday occurrence, hitting someone with a metal baseball bat is totally over the line.

This death in the keikoba will surely stain the reputation of the close-knit society of sumo in the eyes of the general public.

Edited September 27, 2007 by Kintamayama