Yokozuna Asashoryu Scandal - The Final Chapter

[Tamaikazuchi 4]

I bought the Asashoryu figurine at Ushiomaru's danpatsu. I was going to get the Hakuho one (my wife's favorite) but bought the Asa one as I figured it may not be available in May. Glad I did... Now I have to buy the Hakuho one in May to make my wife happy...

Omg I want them all.

[Manekineko 200]

Another potentially interesting topic split off into its own thread (sorry, Jonosuke, you're the apparent thread starter again): Speculations about Asashoryu's future. That's the place to speculate whether he'll go into politics or K1, or anything in between.

[Gusoyama 104]

Either way, it certainly kicks up the value of the goods...

hence,

ilovetochinoshim picked up the last few tegata of his for me.

[Tamaikazuchi 4]

Speaking of Tegata, what is the easiest way for someone in the states to procure some (of any Rikishi)? Maybe someone could PM some info on it as I don't mean to derail the thread. :)

[ilovesumo 12]

You bet in October there will be a lot of merchandise for sell at his intai zumo.

And those sold out goods are seen again...

[Kintamayama 47,226]

The man who was attacked was brought in for questioning today at the Nishi- Azabu police station. "I was attacked by ex-Asashouryuu in the car, yes..", he reiterated. He did confirim, however, that he reached a settlement with X-Asashouryuu ("This time I will let it go.."), and that he doesn't intend to press charges. The police will look into the answers and decide if and when they will call in XA for questioning as well. The settlement was reached on January 29th and Ben Goshi handed it in to the police on February 2nd, if it so pleases the court.

[Coo-cook 0]

The man who was attacked was brought in for questioning today at the Nishi- Azabu police station. "I was attacked by ex-Asashouryuu in the car, yes..", he reiterated. He did confirim, however, that he reached a settlement with X-Asashouryuu ("This time I will let it go.."), and that he doesn't intend to press charges. The police will look into the answers and decide if and when they will call in XA for questioning as well. The settlement was reached on January 29th and Ben Goshi handed it in to the police on February 2nd, if it so pleases the court.

A Mongolian online tabloid sonin.mn is bringing rumors that the guy in the car deliberately provoking Asa calling him a Chinese.

I can understand how insulting it would be for a Mongolian specially if he is drunk.

Also Mongolian rikishi didn't go to Sokokurai's party hearing that there will be Chinese embassy personel present, ...another rumor.

Sadly, that's the world in Asia.

[Pippooshu 1]

I bought the Asashoryu figurine at Ushiomaru's danpatsu. I was going to get the Hakuho one (my wife's favorite) but bought the Asa one as I figured it may not be available in May. Glad I did... Now I have to buy the Hakuho one in May to make my wife happy...

WoW!!! I've a little Asashoryu's figure and I've bought 4 Tegata at Kokugikan's shop: Asashoryu, Hakuho, Kotooshu and Harumafuji.

I've a t-shirt with Kotooshu's funny image also.

But...I'm seeing your photo and I think the reproduction of Kotooshu is incredible!

[Orion 431]

A Mongolian online tabloid sonin.mn is bringing rumors that the guy in the car deliberately provoking Asa calling him a Chinese.

Also Mongolian rikishi didn't go to Sokokurai's party hearing that there will be Chinese embassy personel present, ...another rumor.

Sadly, that's the world in Asia.

This is actually not the world in Asia. It sounds more like a pack of lies to me. 'Chinese' is not a derogatory term in Mongolia or Japan -- and the man who was beaten up knows Shoryu well -- as he has been a free-spending customer at his club. And, considering that Asashoryu is the most famous Mongolian in Japan, does it seem seem remotely possible that a drunken friend of his could call him Chinese? (which is in any case not an insult here).

Does anyone have a guest list for Sokokurai's party? I wasn't there, but I was under the impression that there was no boycott at all. He is, AFAIK, on friendly terms with pretty well all the classy rikishi (Mongolian as well as Japanese and others). He is, of course, as much a Mongol as the Mongolians are -- though technically a Chinese citizen because he comes from an autonomous region of China. These sumo parties have hundreds of paying 'guests', and a representative from the Chinese Embassy could easily be avoided.

No, I'm afraid that this sounds more like a muckraking Mongolian newspaper looking around for another way to sell the next edition -- no different from the Japanese tabloids in that respect.

Is this the same newspaper that accused Hakuho, at the time of his marriage, of having the bad taste to marry a Japanese woman because her rich father was buying him wins? (when in fact all connection with her father had been severed). That's the level we're talking about here.

Orion

[madorosumaru 7]

For those who don't understand the uproar over Asashoryu's failure to live up to the image as the "symbol of Ozumo," here is a snippet from Japan Today. The Japanese take their heroes' responsibility or obligation to their role and to society very seriously.

VANCOUVER

[Jakusotsu 6,392]

Photo of Kokubo at the airport. He is, of course, the fellow with the dreadlocks and the sunglasses at the left.

As if any of the other guys were looking better... (I am not worthy...)

[Asashosakari 20,249]

As if any of the other guys were looking better... (Clapping wildly...)

In particular the girl in the middle (I hope it's a girl! Darn artifacty image...) also seems to have her shirt peeking out underneath the closed jacket. Of course, that perhaps makes the Asashoryu comparison even more apt - just close one freakin' button and don't draw unneeded attention to yourself with the sunglasses, and probably nobody would have noticed anything. (I am not worthy...)

Edited February 11, 2010 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo 12]

Oh MAN..........

I would have called it a new style.......

Allright, allright, I do understand it.... (Foot in mouth...)

I remember when Misses Simmons told me "never embarrass yourself here" (had a hole in my 100 yen socks...tried to hide my feet the whole kokugikan-day...)

Edited February 11, 2010 by ilovesumo

[madorosumaru 7]

Here are some more pictures.

Kokubo in sartorial disarray, Kokubo apologizing, Kokubo with nose stud, earring and ponytail

The guy was on the "Watch List" from the get-go.

[ilovesumo 12]

That guy screams rebel. ^^

good

[Harry 67]

He's a snowboarder... ours got away with having weed in his blood by saying it was 2nd hand from a party, he got to keep his gold medal too! Part of that culture but not Japanese culture.

[wanderer 159]

A Mongolian online tabloid sonin.mn is bringing rumors that the guy in the car deliberately provoking Asa calling him a Chinese.

Also Mongolian rikishi didn't go to Sokokurai's party hearing that there will be Chinese embassy personel present, ...another rumor.

Sadly, that's the world in Asia.

This is actually not the world in Asia. It sounds more like a pack of lies to me. 'Chinese' is not a derogatory term in Mongolia or Japan -- and the man who was beaten up knows Shoryu well -- as he has been a free-spending customer at his club. And, considering that Asashoryu is the most famous Mongolian in Japan, does it seem seem remotely possible that a drunken friend of his could call him Chinese? (which is in any case not an insult here).

Does anyone have a guest list for Sokokurai's party? I wasn't there, but I was under the impression that there was no boycott at all. He is, AFAIK, on friendly terms with pretty well all the classy rikishi (Mongolian as well as Japanese and others). He is, of course, as much a Mongol as the Mongolians are -- though technically a Chinese citizen because he comes from an autonomous region of China. These sumo parties have hundreds of paying 'guests', and a representative from the Chinese Embassy could easily be avoided.

No, I'm afraid that this sounds more like a muckraking Mongolian newspaper looking around for another way to sell the next edition -- no different from the Japanese tabloids in that respect.

Is this the same newspaper that accused Hakuho, at the time of his marriage, of having the bad taste to marry a Japanese woman because her rich father was buying him wins? (when in fact all connection with her father had been severed). That's the level we're talking about here.

Orion

Orion, I had to respond to your post even before Coo-Cook himself. I am not sure what you mean by "here" in your post. But calling someone Chinese is the biggest No No in Mongolia. It will really provoke unpredictable response from the Mongolian you called Chinese. If that guy really said so to Asa, he should be happy to be alive, and I think he deserves more than a punch.

Don't take it as a hatred. Here is an explanation and it is a serious one. Mongolians happily do business with Chinese people, and it has been so for more than 2500 years. But Mongolians are keen to keep their identity separate. However, intention of Chinese State has always been the opposite, be it an emperor from 2000 years ago, or communists of 20th century. We are here because we have always resisted this policy in any way we can. There are many other nations in history who disappeared to Chinese without trace. Manchu's is the latest example. China is now brutally occupying several nations: Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, and few more.

This policy of resistance took toll on ourselves as well. Finding some ancestral link with Chinese in any politician, or celebrity effectively ends his or her career. So, it is serious offense to call someone Chinese here.

Anyway, I don't want to go deeper than this. Beware, never call any Mongol Chinese. You have been warned.

[madorosumaru 7]

A major media source, Mainichi Shimbun, conducted a public opinion poll on the intai of Yokozuna Asashoryu.

Proper and reasonable - 52%

Should have been fired (and made ineligible for any retirement compensation) - 29%

No need for him to quit - 16%

An overwhelming 81% of the public felt Asashoryu should retire or be fired. I was just poking around the files and found a poll from 2007 when Ryu was suspended for two basho. These were the results:

Too lenient - 56%

Appropriate - 31%

Too harsh - 9%

No need for punishment - 4%

It looks like the public opinion hasn't changed much at all in nearly two and half years. A vast majority of the Japanese people were sick and tired of Asashoryu's bad behavior. Over 50% felt he wasn't punished harshly enough for the soccer incident. Ryu was on the "Watch List" and he never bothered to even "button his blazer."

[ilovesumo 12]

But wasn't it people being asked who do not care much about sumo?

I don't say anything about the German national soccer trainer cause I simply do not care.

Ask em Sumo fans- they will tell you its 残念 Shoryu had to retire. (they are sorry that happened)

Edited February 11, 2010 by ilovesumo

[madorosumaru 7]

But wasn't it people being asked who do not care much about sumo?

I don't say anything about the German national soccer trainer cause I simply do not care.

Ask em Sumo fans- they will tell you its 残念 Shoryu had to retire. (they are sorry that happened)

As a student of sumo and Japan, you should know better than that. Ozumo, as we know it now, exists (or survives) because of the special status granted through the aegis of the Ministry of Education. It is the largesse of the tax-paying public that keeps Ozumo from being just a band of traveling side-show freaks, which was what sumo used to be.

Even the sumo fans, who didn't want Ryu to retire, did not condone his demeanor and behavior. They would have supported a five-basho suspension. We are talking about how the Japanese expect their heroes to comport themselves and there are absolutely no "ifs-and-buts" about that.

Edited February 11, 2010 by madorosumaru

[Kintamayama 47,226]

At today's one day tournament, Asashouryuu memorabilia were selling like hot cakes

And at today's NHK Charity tournament, they sold out the 60 Asashouryuu bentos within an hour.

[Orion 431]

Orion, I had to respond to your post even before Coo-Cook himself. I am not sure what you mean by "here" in your post. But calling someone Chinese is the biggest No No in Mongolia. It will really provoke unpredictable response from the Mongolian you called Chinese. If that guy really said so to Asa, he should be happy to be alive, and I think he deserves more than a punch.

My point is that it is not understood as an insult here in Japan; this was a Japanese with shady connections and a personal acquaintance with the yokozuna; if he wanted to insult or otherwise provoke Shoryu he could have found a suitable slur -- but not by calling him 'Chinese' -- which makes no sense in a Japanese context; I have to believe it is an invention by a Mongolian journalist trying to stir up anti-Japanese feelings in Mongolia.

Wanderer said: Don't take it as a hatred. Here is an explanation and it is a serious one. Mongolians happily do businss with Chinese people, and it has been so for more than 2500 years is the latest example. China is now brutally occupying several nations: Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, and few more.

I agree; we regularly get some of them demonstrating and handing out informative Japanese-language leaflets outside the Kokugikan when sumo is on. In January it was a Uyghur group; previously I have met Tibetans.

Wanderer said: This policy of resistance took toll on ourselves as well. Finding some ancestral link with Chinese in any politician, or celebrity effectively ends his or her career. So, it is serious offense to call someone Chinese here.

In Japan when I first came here, claiming that a politician or celebrity was of Korean origin seemed to be the favourite form of attack. I recall that when this was done to an up-and-coming pop singer, we (the teachers at a language school) innocently said, "Oh, that must be why she sings so well; all these Japanese 'idols' can't even sing in tune!" which taught our students more than an English lesson.

Wanderer ended: Anyway, I don't want to go deeper than this. Beware, never call any Mongol Chinese. You have been warned.

I need no such warning because I try to be accurate and truthful, to the best of my ability. And if I want to challenge somebody, I don't do it by calling them what they are not.

Orion

Edited February 12, 2010 by Manekineko
quotes

[Jonosuke 28]

I remember some notable people here were saying how Japanese press were shoveling a whole load of cow dung about Asashoryu so I think it's only fair that Mongolian reporting comes up with the similar pile.

First of all I wonder where these people found a story about this guy calling Asashoryu a Chinese. There was only one person within the earshot of Asashoryu and the man that evening and it was Asashoryu's chauffeur. He maintains he did not hear any argument - and he says he has not seen Asashoryu punching the man either. Regardless Asashoryu told the directors that he was too drunk to remember anything, he did not recollect hitting the man. By the time he got out of the club, he was reported to be quite intoxicated so he couldn't have been trying intentionally to maim the man or understanding what the man might have said.

In this case they are going after the wrong man. The man was a friend of Asashoryu and if he had some hatred against Asashoryu still, there is no doubt that he would have pressed the charge but he didn't.

The plain fact is that if all so called friends and acquaintances of his have not kept making excuses for him every time he got in a trouble, he would have never been in the situation he found himself in. It was natural that after a while he would have started deluding himself he could just about get away with anything because of his position.

Until he went into that directors meeting last week he still firmly believed he could get out of the mess he was in, perhaps with no more than a severe warming or at the worst a couple of basho suspension. He realized he badly misread and misjudged the anger and indignation the others felt about his conduct. The biggest mistake he made in his career was he decided to surround himself with those who kept dismissing his errors in judgment and condoned his conduct. There was no one around him to tell him to smarten up for gawd's sake. If someone had done that consistently, he would be still a yokozuna aiming for 33 yusho now. It's really a pity. There is no other way one can describe it.

[wanderer 159]

Orion, I had to respond to your post even before Coo-Cook himself. I am not sure what you mean by "here" in your post. But calling someone Chinese is the biggest No No in Mongolia. It will really provoke unpredictable response from the Mongolian you called Chinese. If that guy really said so to Asa, he should be happy to be alive, and I think he deserves more than a punch.

My point is that it is not understood as an insult here in Japan; this was a Japanese with shady connections and a personal acquaintance with the yokozuna; if he wanted to insult or otherwise provoke Shoryu he could have found a suitable slur -- but not by calling him 'Chinese' -- which makes no sense in a Japanese context; I have to believe it is an invention by a Mongolian journalist trying to stir up anti-Japanese feelings in Mongolia.

Wanderer said: Don't take it as a hatred. Here is an explanation and it is a serious one. Mongolians happily do businss with Chinese people, and it has been so for more than 2500 years is the latest example. China is now brutally occupying several nations: Tibet, Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, and few more.

I agree; we regularly get some of them demonstrating and handing out informative Japanese-language leaflets outside the Kokugikan when sumo is on. In January it was a Uyghur group; previously I have met Tibetans.

Wanderer said: This policy of resistance took toll on ourselves as well. Finding some ancestral link with Chinese in any politician, or celebrity effectively ends his or her career. So, it is serious offense to call someone Chinese here.

In Japan when I first came here, claiming that a politician or celebrity was of Korean origin seemed to be the favourite form of attack. I recall that when this was done to an up-and-coming pop singer, we (the teachers at a language school) innocently said, "Oh, that must be why she sings so well; all these Japanese 'idols' can't even sing in tune!" which taught our students more than an English lesson.

Wanderer ended: Anyway, I don't want to go deeper than this. Beware, never call any Mongol Chinese. You have been warned.

I need no such warning because I try to be accurate and truthful, to the best of my ability. And if I want to challenge somebody, I don't do it by calling them what they are not.

Orion

Orion, Your experience in Japan is not relevant to my point. It is nice to hear how Japanese responds to Korean singer etc. But I am dumbfounded, and don't know what to do with the example.

I always make sure to all my foreign friends that not everything Asian belong to Chinese, and there are probably more cultures in Asia than in Europe. To be honest, all caucasian look Russian to me, but my IQ is high enough not to assume every caucasian as Russian. I am quite sure that every body around Asashoryu must have understood this point a while ago.

My point is that IF that guy has called any Mongolian as Chinese, not withstanding Asashoryu, he would have get a fitting response.

[wanderer 159]

First of all I wonder where these people found a story about this guy calling Asashoryu a Chinese. There was only one person within the earshot of Asashoryu and the man that evening and it was Asashoryu's chauffeur. He maintains he did not hear any argument - and he says he has not seen Asashoryu punching the man either. Regardless Asashoryu told the directors that he was too drunk to remember anything, he did not recollect hitting the man. By the time he got out of the club, he was reported to be quite intoxicated so he couldn't have been trying intentionally to maim the man or understanding what the man might have said.

My suspicion is that Asa has leaked this to his brothers, or mother or someone close during his emotional breakdowns. I know that he has a short fuse. Still, it takes something to invite Yokozuna's punch. More detailed rumors in Mongolian tabloids are the following:

The guy has Taiwanese father, and Japanese mother. He had 2 counts of criminal records. He reportedly said to Asa (both were intoxicated of course) that he is successful thanks to Chinese power. Asa was very irritated, but did not immediately respond. However, the guy shouted something close to "Gambare Yokozuna!" when Asa was leaving the arena, to which the Yokozuna responded with something like "Who are you to tell Yokozuna what to do?". Then Asashoryu grabbed the man, and decided to show him his love.

It may not make sense to many of you. But Mongolians understand what was going on. Taiwanese still consider the mainland China as part of their tiny island. Moreover, they also think that Mongolia must be annexed to China (I don't know the reason. Ask taiwanese people). I have met many taiwanese who genuinely believe in all of this, though they are perfectly good and peaceful people. So, the guy is probably one of them.

If someone had done that consistently, he would be still a yokozuna aiming for 33 yusho now. It's really a pity. There is no other way one can describe it.

Nevertheless, He should not have fallen into this pity little hole. His mother, however, was reportedly telling him to retire since a while ago. She was telling him enough is enough.