Wakanohou arrested for drug possession

[Mark Buckton 1]

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?

Interesting - several years ago my bike was stolen - overnight. I reported it the next day (to police).

Few weeks later I got a postcard from the local govt saying it had been picked up parked in an illegal parkign area and that to get it back I had to go to the place it had been removed to and pay 2000 yen.

(usual practice for those leaving bikes in such areas - near stations etc)

Anyway - I went to the city office, with police report having confirmed with police no need to pay as I had reported stolen prior to city office picking up parked illegally. City office dug their heels in and demanded payment - I refused armed with police paper and took a long time but won. Odd case where both claimed jurisdiction - and only over a bike!

Pride counts in Japan and if he goes to jail it is not making an example of him, he is not a victim - he is a criminal. A waste like JG said - yes. But, if he has dope, he is a criminal.

Sas maybe right - no jail time but I think the NSK do not sponsor his visa and cannot remove it. Special term issue based on heya as opposed to NSK. Even them employers cannot remove a visa - and it remains valid until expiry even if you leave the job.

[ryafuji 815]

I also feel this could be the end of the current Magaki Beya. The oyakata already embarrassed the Kyokai officials after beating his recruit and made a rather insensitive comment soon after telling reporters other oyakata were doing it to which supremely made others pissed. At the moment there aren't that many friends coming out in the Kyokai for Magaki.

Seriously? Is there a precedent for closing down an entire heya because of the misbehaviour of one of its deshi? If they didn't pull the plug on Tokitsukaze surely they wouldn't do it to Magaki.

[Chinonofuji 35]

Wow! Nice to see that Japan is in the same league with the US with their draconian views on drug laws, and outdated attitudes!

It is too bad, but he should have know better. Do they not drug test in Sumo?

Oh and for the few who seem to think pot is in the same league as heroin, coke etc...... get a life and smoke a fatty! It is painfully obvious many of you speak without experience, and fall in line with governmental propaganda when it comes to drug use and reality.

Cheers

Jake

I don't think anyone's trying to say pot is (or is not) in the same league as heroin or coke, they're trying to say that residents of Japan should know how the government applies its drug laws (i.e. very harshly, at least to many outsiders). That goes for Wakanoho too, perhaps more as a gaijin rikishi who gets extra attention everywhere he goes.

No doubt he thought he was doing something harmless, just had one joint in his wallet, etc., but I am almost positive his heya (and all of the heyas) must have been been receiving explicit instructions to be on their best behavior, given all the recent bad press for sumo. It's just common sense, from a PR perspective. So I'm sure he was on warning to be on his best behavior. But I know when I was 20, I too would have thought there would be little chance I would lose my wallet with "just one little joint" etc. etc.

In any case, the point here is that, as our Japanese residents are trying to tell us, the law is the law, and there's little to no likelihood of escaping the punishment. Any personal views we might have (mine included) about legalizing pot are irrelevant. Unfortunately, perhaps. But yeah, the poor guy has my sympathies. He's going to be kicking himself about this for the rest of his life, I would imagine.

[Sasanishiki 57]

Do they not drug test in Sumo?

Not currently. The Kyokai are planning to introduce education and perhaps testing and are trying to phase that in (although it may be window dressing. There have been a couple of threads in the last 6 months (?) that have talked about if you want to get up to speed (no pun intended).

Oh and for the few who seem to think pot is in the same league as heroin, coke etc...... get a life and smoke a fatty! It is painfully obvious many of you speak without experience, and fall in line with governmental propaganda when it comes to drug use and reality.

I don't think anyone has swallowed government propaganda here. What those knowledgeable about Japan have said is that japan takes a hard line on drugs and that in Japan marijuana is treated the same as harder drugs. I don't think I've seen anyone based in Japan yet say whether it should or should not be the case (and they shouldn't have to bother because this is about the law that exists, not whether it is right or wrong). Rather, they have stated what the law in Japan is and that we should not judge whether it is right or wrong but we must realise it is what life in Japan is judged by.

[Fukurou 534]

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. (Thinking in depth...)

I thought the banzuke is a done deal within a handful of days post-basho. This one is likely off being packaged for shipment by now. In other words, he would have been on the banzuke as there was no arrest when the decisions were made, and I think it's too late for a new banzuke. Besides, doesn't it come out in a week or two?

Edited August 18, 2008 by Fukurou

[Pak 0]

I daresay more crimes have been committed because of legal alcohol than because of pot, but that is irrelevant in regards to Wakanoho's situation. For his sake, I hope this only results in getting deported. He probably didn't see it as a crime, probably thought it on the level of criminality as, say, going five miles over the speed limit. He is still young and can make a living by other means. For the Japanese court to not impose at least that much penalty would be a mistake. Wrong message and all that -- he can get away with it because he's famous, he can get away with it because he's gaijin, etc. Due to the knowledge of the severity of Japan's laws, he should have just resisted the temptation. If coffee were illegal in Japan, I'd be moaning about that if I lived there, but I wouldn't drink any.

Regards,

Pak

Edited August 18, 2008 by Pak

[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. (Thinking in depth...)

I thought the banzuke is a done deal within a handful of days post-basho. This one is likely off being packaged for shipment by now. In other words, he would have been on the banzuke as there was no arrest when the decisions were made, and I think it's too late for a new banzuke. Besides, doesn't it come out in a week or two?

My point is that it occurred pre-basho and the basic facts of both drug and paraphernalia possession were known within the Kyokai by the time the banzuke makers met. Did they time the formal arrest announcement to precede the banzuke announcement?

Edit: There were reports of Ama and Wakanoho doing some keiko sessions between bashos, so it is pretty likely that the axe did not fall early.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Asojima

[Jonosuke 28]

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.

Since you don't sound as if you got it straight, let me elaborate.

The police discovered a smoking apparatus Wakanoho has used in his heya. He was found accidentally but he was more like a habitual user. It may mean he had a regular supplier in that case the police will need to trace the source as organized crime groups are often involved in bringing them to Japan.

If you ever work for an organization especially the one under the Minstry of Education, he has incurred a great deal of harm. He is not alone but he is a part of the whole, therefore his action will reflect on the others in the group. I happen to work for a company which makes its employees adhere to strict guidance that if I were to break a law, then I will definitely be subjected to an immediate dismissal. And let me tell you such a company is not unique in the world.

Whether just or not, his action will reflect on his country men in the Kyokai. Certainly Roho, Hakurozan or Aran does not need this type of dishonour hanging over their heads as it's tough enough living in a strange culture that is Japan and Ozumo.

It is totally irrelevant whatever anyone else has done or how serious one views the possession of marijuana over heroin. He broke the law regardless. His age may come in the picture in the eventual court proceeding and his treatment but if he is proven guilty then he will lose his job regardless as his criminal record will suspend his working visa so he won't be able to make a living in Japan or even stay in Japan for an extend period of time provided he escapes a prison sentence.

Before anyone talks about the common sense of the Kyokai, they should be talking about the common sense of Wakanoho. No one forced him to come to Japan. No one forced him to join Ozumo. He did all that on his own willingly. When he did that, he accepted the conditions that came with it. In the end one must be responsible for one's actions before anyone starts blaming the laws of the land or behavior of an organization one works for it.

I personally liked him. It came to me as a great shock. But there is no excuse and I just hope that it will not greatly damage Ozumo as they have gone through quite a bit of that already in the last few years.

[Johnofuji 232]

I have a few questions about this Wackybackynoho situation

Did the cops smoke it to find out what it was?

How is Russian Tobacco different or is it street slang because it gives you a rush?

Could smoking it be part of his training? I went overseas for two years after university and when I returned for a visit I saw the same security guard still sitting outside the bank. When a bank gets robbed here they put a guard after the fact. He had been there for four years and his muscles had just got bigger and bigger unlike the try hards in the gym. I finally worked it out that he was dealing the stuff and was able to handle such a boring job because he was Wakanohoed out of his scull everyday. I thought the dopey Garfield eyes were genetic but he was using the munchies to eat very healthy food for his body building.

In Amasumo I think we are tested for performance reducing substances too so that rules him out for a while until it leeches out of his fat stores.

I have an old newspaper article claiming that the Hawaiians were into the pakalolo or funny furikake behind the stable. Nothing ever came of that but just because it was in the papers doesn

[Orion 431]

So, does this pretty much guarantee he's off the banzuke for Aki?

Another collectible banzuke!

Orion

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Seems like just yesterday...

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

If former komusubi Itai Keisuke's stablemaster (Onaruto) was to be believed...

But the sport's image has been tarnished. Four years ago, in a series of tabloid articles, Itai's stablemaster, a former wrestler named Onaruto, talked about wrestlers who smoked marijuana, cheated on their taxes, hung out with gangsters, joined in orgies and frequently lost matches for money. But shortly afterward, three members of Japan's top sumo family were hit with back taxes for failing to report more than $3.7 million in income.

http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/Artic...Sumoscandal.htm

[Kintamayama 45,527]

A "smoking apparatus" was confiscated from Wakanohou's private room at the heya as well. A pipe was found on his table at the heya, and a bag with the stuff was found in his dresser at home, albeit a minuscule amount. Two water pipes were found at his home as well.. Magaki Oyakata and other heya members will be called to testify about Wakanohou's "daily habits" .

Wakanohou injured his left ankle during the Natsu Jungyo on the 9th and pulled out of the jungyo, returning to Tokyo then.

Magaki Oyakata, who is coming off a 30% pay cut as a result of beating one of his deshi, is in his home town in Aomori on holiday. Upon hearing of the arrest, he said to his surroundings: " This is bad..".

" We are all trying our utmost to shake off the latest scandals, but there seem to be people who still do not understand the seriousness of the situation we are in..", said Tomozuna Oyakata. A special rijikai will inevitably convene in a few days to decide what to do. "He is a Makuuchi sekitori so the reaction should be serious and swift..", said Kitanoumi. Reporter speculation - Wakanohou fired, Magaki beya closed.

Articles in English:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080819TDY02307.htm

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/08/18/su...ugs.scandal.ap/

http://www.24.com/sport/?p=olympics_article&i=864456

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/sports/news/2008081...0sp021000c.html

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/253292.php

http://www.gardenscure.com/420/latest-news...gs-scandal.html

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/sports/sumo/news/20...0sp021000c.html

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

Edited August 19, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Fay 1,677]

Seems that other russian rikishi will be questioned too by the kyokai. (Private sources told me that some of the russian riskishi are known for smoking grass a lot - more than stupid when this is true)

[Kintamayama 45,527]

"The guy's a weirdo.." stories are now emerging. Some oyakata and other rikishi are saying they always found him strange. He is known to behave "differently" at keiko, always joking and playing around and smiling for no apparent reason. During last year's Haru Jungyo, in the middle of Hakuhou's chest lending, he suddenly said "I shat myself!", and left. There are stories that he goes out every night till late and drinks a lot, and frequently misses asa-geiko. It seems the ill Magaki Oyakata has no control of him. "What the heck is the shisho doing about this??", people have been asking lately. Some Oyakata, upon hearing of the arrest, said " Of course.."..

Edited August 19, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,527]

Seems that other russian rikishi will be questioned too by the kyokai. (Private sources told me that some of the russian riskishi are known for smoking grass a lot - more than stupid when this is true)

Otake Oyakata and Kitanoumi both called their deshi (Rohou and Hakurozan) on the phone and asked them point blank if they were "using" and if there was any cause for concern. They both vehemently denied any use of banned substances, so for now at least, that's that.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,527]

Magaki Oyakata went to the Kyokai headquarters to "explain the situation" to Kitanoumi. Pictures and stories should emerge shortly.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

Kitanoumi and Tomozuna apologizing yesterday:

Edited August 19, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Fay 1,677]

Aran and Amuru were questioned too at their heya.

[Harry 67]

It could explain his performance in Nagoya. Hard to focus with something like that hanging over you.

I wondered about that myself. While he was not the only one to experience joi shock with a high promotion, he really went off the rails. I think he knew his days in a mawashi were numbered and it didn't really matter how he did.

Because cannabis is illegal, it causes a lot of crime. We can speculate that this crime would disappear if it were made legal but while it is illegal it certainly causes a lot of problems. Around here in Canada where some well known high quality stuff is grown there are houses burning down because they're set up as grow ops with illegal wiring to get around the hydro costs; farmer's fields are taken over for the stuff (good business for pilots flying with special cameras looking for it though); the turf wars over selling the stuff are bad.

A Canadian snowboarder tested positive for mary jane a few years back but retained his medal since it wasn't considered performance enhancing; lots of jokes ensued and the person in question said he must have picked it up at a party where he didn't actually smoke it himself (yeah, right) but still not smart and not good making the Canadians look like a bunch of pot heads. This doesn't look good for sumo or for Wakanoho's countrymen.

One can argue that legal alcohol is worse than cannabis but the difference is, alcohol is legal when you are of the correct age, while weed is not here or in Japan. He should have stuck to sake.

With so much to lose I can't believe he was that careless. Leaving his bongs and hookahs around the heya, I mean come on! A joint in the wallet could be explained by the "its not mine" thing but... this has turned to low comedy now.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

Hidenoyama Oyakata went to visit all Russian rikishi at their heyas and asked them questions. They all answered that they never noticed Wakanohou using any drugs.. He especially asked the Karamazov brothers, since they were very friendly with Wakanohou, and they said they knew nothing. "With the increased number of foreign rikishi, the Oyakatas must guide them properly!", he summed.

And, of course, the Ministry of Sport etc.., the ministry in charge of all things sumo had its say too. Minister Suzuki at a press conference: "This is unheard of in what is considered Japan's national sport. I was really surprised, and this is most regrettable. I hope to hear from the Kyokai as to how they intend to deal with this,". he said, hinting that if necessary, the ministry will have to intervene in some way. Yesterday, the Kyokai sent a message to the Ministry stating the facts of the current incident and promising to take "the measures necessary to fix this".

"With the internationalization of Sumo, I would like the Kyokai to re-evaluate the way they handle things. They better send a report as soon as possible.. The guys at the top should reflect on their ways", he added, veiled threat notwithstanding.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

It could explain his performance in Nagoya. Hard to focus with something like that hanging over you.

I doubt he knew they were on to him. Purse lost, purse found, thank you very much. Police start quiet investigation-maybe he would lead them to his provider or other users etc. If he knew they were on to him, even he would get rid of them pipes, I reckon..

He knew nothing. The police investigators quietly got their evidence together-arrested him and searched his house and heya at the same time.

No way he knew anything.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

He especially asked the Karamazov brothers, since they were very friendly with Wakanohou, and they said they knew nothing.

This makes me wonder: who is advising these guys about proper conduct right now? Who is telling them not to admit anything and act like choirboys? Hard to imagine it's their shisho, but then again, everything to keep a straight face, right?

[Harry 67]

It could explain his performance in Nagoya. Hard to focus with something like that hanging over you.

I doubt he knew they were on to him. Purse lost, purse found, thank you very much. Police start quiet investigation-maybe he would lead them to his provider or other users etc. If he knew they were on to him, even he would get rid of them pipes, I reckon..

He knew nothing. The police investigators quietly got their evidence together-arrested him and searched his house and heya at the same time.

No way he knew anything.

That does make more sense but still to leave your bongs lying around... That tells me he's been doing it for years. Years without getting caught he must have gotten careless. No one else seeing anything smells fishy to me so I hope no one else gets caught up in this, lying to protect him.

[Kintamayama 45,527]

An emergency rijikai will be held on August 21st, Thursday. Some oyakatas were saying it goes without saying that Wakanohou will be dismissed and that Magaki will be demoted.

Magaki was in Kitanoumi's office for 20 minutes.To the throngs of journalists outside : "I apologized to the rijicho for causing all this trouble", he said very quietly. Asked about his anticipated punishment : "I will leave it up to the Kyokai to decide", as expected.