Wakanohou arrested for drug possession

[Kintamayama 45,366]

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?

This is assuming they are guilty, which I, in all my naivety, doubt..

[Jakusotsu 6,000]

This is assuming they are guilty, which I, in all my naivety, doubt..

This is just assuming they at least knew about Wakanoho's habits, which I find very hard to doubt.

[Mark Buckton 1]

for what very little difference it makes - there has been confusion over on the SML nad a bit here - he lives outside the heya. Retains a nice private place nearby - within 4/5 mins walk.

[Sakana 46]

If Magaki oyakata is dismissed, who will take the heya after ? Will this heya disappear ?

[Kintamayama 45,366]

for what very little difference it makes - there has been confusion over on the SML nad a bit here - he lives outside the heya. Retains a nice private place nearby - within 4/5 mins walk.

I didn't notice any confusion here whatsoever, as I wrote at least on three different occasions that his house AND the heya were searched, including in my earliest posts...

As for the SML, well..

[Kintamayama 45,366]

If Magaki oyakata is dismissed, who will take the heya after ? Will this heya disappear ?

For now, probably yes.

[hidenohana 0]

If Magaki oyakata is dismissed, who will take the heya after ? Will this heya disappear ?

For now, probably yes.

I can accept that Wakanoho be punished- but this is absurd! If I committed a crime as a private citizen, it does not follow that my company is responsible for my misdeeds. Similarly,for Magaki heya to shut down and the rkishi there to be collectively punished and have their career's disrupted,because of Wakanoho's cannabis use, is just wrong.

[Kintamayama 45,366]

I can accept that Wakanoho be punished- but this is absurd! If I committed a crime as a private citizen, it does not follow that my company is responsible for my misdeeds. Similarly,for Magaki heya to shut down and the rkishi there to be collectively punished and have their career's disrupted,because of Wakanoho's cannabis use, is just wrong.

The Magaki Oyakata story is a tragedy of its own. Jonosuke posted recently about his misfortunes. He has been quite ill lately and is confined to a wheelchair. He is also coming off a fine after beating one of his younger deshi. Jonosuke said earlier in this thread that Magaki himself may welcome an early exit. Check out the earlier post here.

The other rikishi can be assimilated into another heya if they so choose, so no biggie there. I think it's best for all parties involved.

[Asashosakari 19,506]

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.

It's not just this event, it's the perception (rightly or wrongly) that Magaki-oyakata has pretty much lost control of his stable over the last couple of years. The Kyokai already made the point a few years ago that they'd rather see these small, one-oyakata stables go away, and with just eight (well, soon seven...) active rikishi and the apparent run of problems Magaki-oyakata seems like a prime candidate to be leaned on and persuaded that maybe it's time to close up shop.

In any case, Magaki-beya hardly has the kind of historical importance that Tokitsukaze-beya was able to count on to keep from being closed. The only things it has going for it are that it's run by a former yokozuna and has existed for 25 years. The stable has never been inherited, there aren't any well-regarded predecessor heya by the same name, and in the 25 years it existed it only brought up eight sekitori. (Irony alert: at Maegashira 1, Wakanoho is the all-time heya-gashira.) And perhaps more importantly, after Gojoro ran screaming into the night last year there aren't even any potential succession candidates that might give the stable a fresh start.

Edit: Well, or what Kinta said.

Edited August 19, 2008 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo 12]

"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.

Now that sounds mean ... calling him "weirdo".

I thought he was just a nice, optimistic guy . I mean, during Keiko he always smiled and made fun. He wanted to be entertaining.

I am pretty worried what happens to Magaki Oyakata himself.

He is already a wounded and ill man. I fear something...

Edited August 19, 2008 by ilovesumo

[aderechelsea 125]

utterly absurd.

not a 20 year old guy smoking weed ... but the kind of reaction this thing generates. Japan is a land of wonders ....

:-|

[Chiyozakura 148]

For the other rikishi of Magaki Beya this should be no problem as they can be transfered to other Heya. Maybe Takanohana Beya needs some more deshi... they could also go to Naruto or follow former Gojoro to Sadogatake. After all Magaki does not seem to have been the nicest place to be in for the last months.

I don't feel sorry for Wakanoho as only he himself is to blame for his situation, but I feel really sorry for Kitanoumi. His main task has become to publicly apologize for things beyond his control. I wonder who will put him in the next awful situation, let's say in December.

[Mark Buckton 1]

any of your boys left in the Olympics adere? or all sent home? :-|

[Kintamayama 45,366]

utterly absurd.

not a 20 year old guy smoking weed ... but the kind of reaction this thing generates. Japan is a land of wonders ....

:-|

To put things back in proportions, the reactions we are mentioning here are solely of the sumo community and its immediate surroundings. As for the "man in the street" and general reactions (TV, regular media), perhaps Mark or John (or anyone willing to do so without pay) can give us some insight?

[hidenohana 0]

stories are now emerging.... During last year's Haru Jungyo, in the middle of Hakuhou's chest lending, he suddenly said "I shat myself!", and left.

I'm not surprised....that Mongolian Hakuho's a monster! :-|

Reaction from show business pals.....

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6KF_lpBvteo&...feature=related

"This substance cannabis is far less harmful than rum punch,whiskey,nicotine and glue(sic)."

[Jonosuke 28]

Magaki oyakata has been questioned by the police and he basically told them he had no idea whatsoever. And anyone who has known about the heya for the last little while, they know he is telling the truth because he simply lost the control of heya and had shown no interest in its future.

Ever since he lost his wife, his physical and mental conditions have deterioated so much as some are saying he was even exhibiting symptoms of melancoly in some occasions. A shisho has a right to dismiss his rikishi. That is one of the prerogatives of being a shisho. It shows others that he is perfectly in control of the situation at his heya even in a time of crisis. Well this time around he could not even bring himself to make the decision himself. Instead he requested the other directors and senior oyakata in the Kyokai to decide the future destiny of his own recruit as well as his own (implying his heya and everyone with the heya).

This is really a sad ending to what has been one of the storied and greatest rikishi of the last 30 or so years. Wakanohana II has been my hero. If pressed, I'd have said he was my favorite rikishi of all time. I feel so depressed to think it has come to this as I am certain if he had all his faculties then this would never happened. He would have coached and developed Wakanoho so that in time he would be at least an ozeki in a short while.

Because of the oyakata's incapacity, Wakanoho was left pretty much in his own without any supervision. If he had a proper coaching, I have no doubt he would have become a great ozeki and likely a yokozuna as he was still young and he would had enough time to polish his techniques and to grow mentally.

This is such a tragedy for Ozumo just as much as the Tokitsukaze incident was as it has erased the bright future of young rikishi.

[Fay 1,677]

This is such a tragedy for Ozumo just as much as the Tokitsukaze incident was as it has erased the bright future of young rikishi.

This may be a personal tragedy for Magaki oyakata, losing control of his heya because of his health problems and it might as well be a personal tragedy for Wakanoho but I don't think you can compare this to a rikishi beaten to death by his oyakata and his heyamates which really was a tragedy for ozumo.

[Asashosakari 19,506]

This may be a personal tragedy for Magaki oyakata, losing control of his heya because of his health problems and it might as well be a personal tragedy for Wakanoho but I don't think you can compare this to a rikishi beaten to death by his oyakata and his heyamates which really was a tragedy for ozumo.

I agree. It's no more a tragedy for ozumo than Wakaryoma quitting or, say, Maenoyu succumbing to injuries before even becoming sekitori. Talented rikishi, even future potential ozeki, have been lost before and they'll be lost again; Ozumo goes on. Wakanoho just managed to go out in a particularly dumb way. The Tokitsukaze incident was much, much worse, both for the public perception of sumo as well as its self-image (with shishos basically being considered parent substitutes).

[aderechelsea 125]

any of your boys left in the Olympics adere? or all sent home? :-|

who cares?

[Kintamayama 45,366]

It looks like Wakanohou's dismissal is a done deal. When it happens, it will be the first time ever an active rikishi has been dismissed. "Above all things generally accepted in this world, there are things that simply cannot be allowed. If you compare it to the general public's common sense, it's natural that harsh punishment should be given. A dismissal is inevitable. I'd like a decision at the rijikai", said Kitanoumi, somewhat philosophically. As for Magaki Oyakata- "It's not a simple matter to demote an elected riji, but I'd like to consider some sort of punishment..", he said.

A reminder concerning the Tokitsukaze incident: The three charged rikishi are in the "if found guilty, they will be dismissed" no-man's land. They are still officially active, but are de-activated and hurtling down the banzuke (after a brief one basho freeze..) and continue to be on the Kyokai payroll. Who knows when they will finally go on trial..

[Mark Buckton 1]

utterly absurd.

not a 20 year old guy smoking weed ... but the kind of reaction this thing generates. Japan is a land of wonders ....

;-)

To put things back in proportions, the reactions we are mentioning here are solely of the sumo community and its immediate surroundings. As for the "man in the street" and general reactions (TV, regular media), perhaps Mark or John (or anyone willing to do so without pay) can give us some insight?

Guess the underlined means no Info Sumo stealing footage of Japanese TV and reselling it aka a fence Reg Hollis would be after! Not wirf his effort.

:-|

it is a pretty big deal. There are bigger news stories of course but everyone I have met or spoken to since it happened knows and has an opinion. On the issue of the drugs - horrified are most but that is the drug being so vilified here.

Did a slot on a couple of TV stations yesterday on this and the phone has had at least a dozen / fifteen mails from news types in the EU, USA so it is a big deal in the media globally - CNN* the biggest - short street interview on it all in the hot Tues afternoon sun yesterday in central Tokyo, and what it means for sumo.

I have seen several comentators on TV (in Japanese) talking about the problems in not understanding the culture when coming in etc - but that is old hat. In general - I would say the man in the street is aware, is shocked but knows other stories do exist.

One issue exists - the timing. He did not appear at Niigata on Sunday FWIW so.............

* - CNN's Tokyo correspondent will probably have a show (no details now) out on sumo (other than this one) some time in the near future - spent quite a lot of time with the blackprince Asa on Sunday on the jungyo in preparation.

[sekihiryu 51]

As for the "man in the street" and general reactions (TV, regular media),

Don't know myself, I am absorbed in the Olympics and dont watch the puerile variety TV/panel shows at all.

My wife said the Japanese newspaper reaction was normal considering all things.

I think the Olympics is diverting attention away.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/t10013597551000.html TV story on NHK

Edited August 20, 2008 by sekihiryu

[Orion 431]

utterly absurd.

not a 20 year old guy smoking weed ... but the kind of reaction this thing generates. Japan is a land of wonders ....

Try Singapore. They have the death penalty there -- and mean it.

Orion

[omoimori 0]

Well, since no one else has mentioned it, I guess I shall play the foole: Wakanoho had promised to retire from Ozumo if he

again performed his leaping henka. He did and now -- it seems -- he will.

[yamaneko 2]

What a shame. Becoming my favorite rikishi is like the kiss of death. Kotooshu heats an ozeki wall. Baruto heats a knee. Now wakanoho heats the chronic..

Hope magaki stays around. id like to see another foreigner recruitment that can be a shining example to break the bad taste many have left in sumo's mouth.