Wakanohou arrested for drug possession

[ilovesumo 12]

What's resulting in a lifelong ban?

Drugs, and?

[Mark Buckton 1]

What's resulting in a lifelong ban?

Drugs, and?

and being caught

[ilovesumo 12]

I mean, what else can cause the ban.

If you smuggle an animal in your luggange for example.

[Mark Buckton 1]

??? does it matter??? Wakanoho is that a python down your mawashi or........

There are sometimes reports of animals being smuggled (often beetles) and there is a fine / penalty but I don't recall prison time.

It was only in the last decade that a penalty ws introduced to punish animal cruelty so any slap on the wrist would more likely be related to endangering local species with introduced types.

[Kintamayama 47,307]

More details. Wakanohou dropped his purse/wallet. Someone found it and brought it to the nearest koban (mini-police station). Officer opened to look at the contents. A strong smell of cannabis-like nature emitted from the Russian tobacco. The contents were checked, and sho 'nuff, cannabis. Among the other contents of the purse/wallet was, of course, his "I am an alien living in Japan" card with his name on it, which of course made the ID easy.

The rest is history, as is Wakanohou.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=5756

Wakanoho apparently accidentally dropped his wallet on the street in late June, and when a passerby brought the wallet to a police box, officers discovered a suspicious-looking Russian-made cigarette inside it. The cigarette was found to contain 0.368 grams of marijuana, and the alien registration card that was also inside the wallet led the police straight to Wakanoho. When confronted with the evidence, he confessed that he had received the drugs

[Fujisan 536]

What a fool.....

One less gaijin I suppose.

I would say I'm sorry for him but he brought it on himself.

On a personal note I admit to smoking it in the past(Clean from all chemicals for 7 years) and my pals still do but the laws aren't as tight in England.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

A little tidbit of what Wakanoho can expect:

Illegal Drugs: Penalties for possession or use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs, including marijuana, in Japan are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and fines. In most drug cases, suspects are detained incommunicado, which bars them from receiving visitors or corresponding with anyone other than a lawyer or U.S. consular officer until after indictment, which may take several months. Solitary confinement is common.

People can be convicted of drug use based on positive blood or urine tests alone, and multiple Americans are now serving time in Japanese prisons as the result of sting operations and the use of informants. The Japanese police routinely share information on drug arrests with Interpol, assuring that notice of the arrest will reach U.S. law enforcement agencies. About half of all Americans now in prison in Japan are incarcerated for drug-related crimes.

Japanese authorities aggressively pursue drug smugglers with sophisticated detection equipment, "sniffing" dogs and other methods. Travelers and their luggage entering Japan are screened at ports of entry; incoming and outgoing mail, as well as international packages sent via DHL or FEDEX, is also checked carefully. The Japanese police make arrests for even the smallest amounts of illegal drugs. Several Americans are now in custody after having mailed illegal drugs to themselves from other countries. Other Americans are serving time for having tried to bring drugs into Japan as paid couriers working out of Southeast Asia or Europe.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1148.html

[Harry 67]

So, does this pretty much guarantee he's off the banzuke for Aki? How fast will his heya and/or the kyokai deal with this now that he's been arrested? Will they wait for a guilty verdict or is the arrest enough? Any chance he can claim it isn't his? The Russian tobacco seems to clinch it, if true. Poor, stupid kid if true.

Edit: he's admitted it and said sorry.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Harry

[Jonosuke 28]

A brief Q & A with the Rijicho:

Q: We have another incident involving a foreign born rikishi?

Kitanoumi: I believe we need to seriously enforce more strict guidance ensuring our rikishi from not committing unlawful activity.

Q: Can you provide specific examples of what you will be doing?

K: Respect to the current incident, it's obviously one can easily recognize for himself, it is wrong. One must possess self-awareness to act accordingly. We also must seriously deal with this issue among the shisho.

Q: This matter is a different in nature from Tokitsukaze Beya incident.

K: This is something it should never ever happen. I personally feel we should recognize the gravity of this incident.

Q: What is your frank opinion on this latest incident?

K: Obviously I could not believe it when I heard it first. It is totally going against the Japanese law.

Q: At the time of arrest, he is a minor but why have you identified his name to the media?

K: Even though he is a minor, he is an accredited sekitori, Makuuchi rikishi. He must face this seriously considering his position.

---------------------------

Regarding Wakanoho's claim, he happened to receive the cigarette from a stranger in Roppongi, this does not wash. The police found a smoking apparatus in his heya. The man is in deep trouble and may not escape a prison sentence.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Sakana 46]

I was responding to Sakana's "the Kyokai decision is more important than what the justice system does"

Yes, I wrote in this way because I'm sure Law will be applied for this case, so no interest to discuss about it, the main question in this thread is when Wakanoh

[Asojima 2,874]

And for the GTB players, the question is since the incident was known to the Kyokai before the first of July, will Noho appear on the Aki banzuke? My guess is yes, but given the timing of the announcement, I don't think I would bet on it. B-)

[Kintamayama 47,307]

One small fact stated by the Kyokai: this is the first time that an active sekitori has been arrested.

Really??

[Asashosakari 20,273]

One small fact stated by the Kyokai: this is the first time that an active sekitori has been arrested.

Really??

I guess they mean with an actual arrest warrant (or whatever the Japanese equivalent is), not the type of temporary arrest a rikishi might find himself in after smashing a bar while drunk etc.

Edit: On second thought, none of the car accident-causing rikishi were arrested later on? Hmm.

Edited August 18, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Kotoviki 16]

I like Wakanoho or I did when I met him!

But he is an idiot! I'm a foreigner here and like all the others who are on this board & lived or are living in Japan we KNOW the consequences of what even a little pot can be in Japan. None of us are dumb and Wakanoho wasn't either.

A big issue is that he is gaijin, it makes it even easier to exploit him and also easier to sweep him out of the country and get him out of everyone's hair. My gut thought is he'll be deported rather than spending a long time in prison.

I only speak for people I know, Mark and I are permanent residents, should we do this we would be treated like Japanese. Our names splashed all around the papers bigger than life because we are gaijin.. but in the end we would not be deported for it (this is my understanding) we would spend a great deal of time in Japanese prison which makes deportation sound lovely! On the other hand others who are not permanent residents are easily tossed out and banned. It makes it easy not to deal with. Putting someone in prison costs money, deporting them is much cheaper.

I've had a lot of experience watching US Military get into various stages of trouble (particularly with drugs) and they always think the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) will protect them. However that agreement doesn't extend to family members. In most cases military crimes are highly publicized and then often the people involved are shipped back to the US or their families are. They may be punished for what they did in US or US Military prison as well but in other cases they are often just sent back to the US where nothing may happen to them there if they are lucky.

Military try to get their people back and send them to the US and assure the Japanese they are sorry and the people are gone and everyone is satisfied.

In the case of Alien card holders I have seen many people deported rather than being punished in Japan because it is easier and cheaper. If the person hasn't done a crime like rape or murder of a Japanese national it does seem like a neat and tidy way to go.

IF it were me and I was the Kyokai and I was sponsoring his visa I would tell immigrations that I wanted to revoke sponsorship and have him deported. This gets him off the radar and out of the country and less time to create more embarrassment for the Kyokai. To be honest he'd be a lot better off being sent home than being stuck in a Japanese prison. I've not personally been in one and have no plans to do so! But I can assure you they are not so nice as US prisons where they pamper inmates who live better than homeless people. (again no personal experience!)

When I grew up a great deal of my friends smoked marijuana. I never did, I never smoked anything because I was afraid to light matches and lighters.. but I didn't judge my friends who did it. In those days it was illegal but it was less illegal than most things.

Every country is not the same but Japan has zero tolerance! If you are a foreigner in any country before you want to do something you know is illegal you should check the laws ahead of time. B-)

Tough break for him but he broke the law, he's a public figure, he's a gaijin and the easiest way is to get him out of the country for both Kyokai and the police.

Sorry Wakanoho, you will be missed... but considering your outburts of late you should have been doing things even better than the average rikishi!

[Fujisan 536]

A big issue is that he is gaijin, it makes it even easier to exploit him and also easier to sweep him out of the country and get him out of everyone's hair. My gut thought is he'll be deported rather than spending a long time in prison.

I would go so far as to say I would be very surprised if he spends a long time in Jail.

[Kotoviki 16]

I would go so far as to say I would be very surprised if he spends a long time in Jail.

You are probably right. My guess is depends on what they decide to do with him. If they deport him keep him in jail until that time?

Well, bottom line is I am really disappointed. He really threw away his future and he's creating a bad image for the sumo association and especially foreign rikishi in general. Not to mention all gaijin in Japan. That is the way it works here!

When you are famous you have to be better than the rest!

[ilovesumo 12]

That is the way it works here!

And that is awful.

[ryafuji 825]

Let me get this straight-- Wakanoho is going to be kicked out of sumo because of ONE SPLIFF found in a lost wallet??? What an absolute joke. What harm has he done to anyone? Absolutely nothing. And his career is over; just like that? What a disgrace. Toyozakura beats a junior around the head with a ladle and gets a paycut for a couple of months, and Wakanoho is expelled??? Can't someone in the Kyokai appply just a bit of common sense? This is a 20 year old kid we're talking about. This really is a tragedy, a complete waste of a promising career.

Edited August 18, 2008 by ryafuji

[Mark Buckton 1]

A big issue is that he is gaijin, it makes it even easier to exploit him and also easier to sweep him out of the country and get him out of everyone's hair. My gut thought is he'll be deported rather than spending a long time in prison.

I would go so far as to say I would be very surprised if he spends a long time in Jail.

I understand it is 5 years with forced labor for this particular type of drug possession.

[Mark Buckton 1]

Let me get this straight-- Wakanoho is going to be kicked out of sumo because of ONE SPLIFF found in a lost wallet??? What an absolute joke. What harm has he done to anyone? Absolutely nothing. And his career is over; just like that? What a disgrace. Toyozakura beats a junior around the head with a ladle and gets a paycut for a couple of months, and Wakanoho is expelled??? Can't someone in the Kyokai appply just a bit of common sense? This is a 20 year old kid we're talking about. This really is a tragedy, a complete waste of a promising career.

a demonstration of no understanding or willingness to understand - and then respect - another nation's drug laws.

Because London is a crime haven, knives, dope everywhere and the like - doesn't mean everywhere else has to be. Last time I was in London - 9 years ago now - I was off the plane half an hour before being asked if I was 'looking for something'

Look at the part I have underlined and aks yourself if you'd think the same way had a doped up 195cm lad given you a pounding - after (only) ONE SPLIFF

[Sasanishiki 57]

Can't someone in the Kyokai appply just a bit of common sense? This is a 20 year old kid we're talking about. This really is a tragedy, a complete waste of a promising career.

Admittedly, but it goes far beyond the kyokai. The laws in Japan regarding drug possession (whether we agree or not) are harsh. It comes down to him being prosecuted not the kyokai deciding to do to punish him. If he is convicted, and it seems like he has confessed by all accounts, he will either serve jail time or be deported. Both of which mean he can't have a career in sumo, even if the kyokai applied "common sense".

I can see him spending no time in jail. He will confess, the conviction will be tallied against the 99% conviction rate statistics in Japan, the kyokai will revoke his visa, and he will be deported.

I find it interesting that the kyokai have in fact broken the law by naming him while still a minor. "He is a sekitori" means that he holds responsibility in the public eye, but the kyokai have techincally deprived him of his rights under the law. I doubt anything will come of THAT though.

And, my last observation, was he wearing proper clothing when out in Roppongi???

[ryafuji 825]

Let me get this straight-- Wakanoho is going to be kicked out of sumo because of ONE SPLIFF found in a lost wallet??? What an absolute joke. What harm has he done to anyone? Absolutely nothing. And his career is over; just like that? What a disgrace. Toyozakura beats a junior around the head with a ladle and gets a paycut for a couple of months, and Wakanoho is expelled??? Can't someone in the Kyokai appply just a bit of common sense? This is a 20 year old kid we're talking about. This really is a tragedy, a complete waste of a promising career.

a demonstration of no understanding or willingness to understand - and then respect - another nation's drug laws.

Because London is a crime haven, knives, dope everywhere and the like - doesn't mean everywhere else has to be. Last time I was in London - 9 years ago now - I was off the plane half an hour before being asked if I was 'looking for something'

Look at the part I have underlined and aks yourself if you'd think the same way had a doped up 195cm lad given you a pounding - after (only) ONE SPLIFF

Well thank you for your totally irrelevant and unjustified attack on the city in which I live! I stand by my statement. He has done no harm to anyone. Have you no sympathy for his predicament at all?

Edited August 18, 2008 by ryafuji

[Fukurou 534]

More details. Wakanohou dropped his purse/wallet. Someone found it and brought it to the nearest koban (mini-police station). Officer opened to look at the contents. A strong smell of cannabis-like nature emitted from the Russian tobacco. The contents were checked, and sho 'nuff, cannabis. Among the other contents of the purse/wallet was, of course, his "I am an alien living in Japan" card with his name on it, which of course made the ID easy.

The rest is history, as is Wakanohou.

I have a question. Since I guess he admitted it, it's a moot question, but I want to use this case to illustrate my question any way.

At the time, did Wakanohou report his purse/wallet as being missing? If he did, and then it turned up with cannabis in it, would it make any difference to the justice system? Would the rush to judgement still be that he was responsible, even though there would have been time and opportunity for someone else to have used the purse/wallet as well?

[ryafuji 825]

Can't someone in the Kyokai appply just a bit of common sense? This is a 20 year old kid we're talking about. This really is a tragedy, a complete waste of a promising career.

Admittedly, but it goes far beyond the kyokai. The laws in Japan regarding drug possession (whether we agree or not) are harsh. It comes down to him being prosecuted not the kyokai deciding to do to punish him. If he is convicted, and it seems like he has confessed by all accounts, he will either serve jail time or be deported. Both of which mean he can't have a career in sumo, even if the kyokai applied "common sense".

I can see him spending no time in jail. He will confess, the conviction will be tallied against the 99% conviction rate statistics in Japan, the kyokai will revoke his visa, and he will be deported.

I find it interesting that the kyokai have in fact broken the law by naming him while still a minor. "He is a sekitori" means that he holds responsibility in the public eye, but the kyokai have techincally deprived him of his rights under the law. I doubt anything will come of THAT though.

And, my last observation, was he wearing proper clothing when out in Roppongi???

I accept that the Kyokai may have their hands tied if the courts make an example of him and choose to kick him out-- obviously there's nothing they can do in that situation-- but I still feel it's a crying shame. Come on, show some leniency! Please.

Edited August 18, 2008 by ryafuji