Kotomitsuki accused of gambling- dismissed from Sumo

[Washuyama 662]

Your ex-girlfriend is bald?!

Yes, she was balled.

11 out of 10!! (Shaking head...)

[Kintamayama 47,293]

Kotomitsuki acknowledged that he was invited to join pro-wrestling, but kindly declined. "I hate it when it hurts," he jested. When asked about a rally held lately supporting his return to sumo- "It makes me very happy. If it will be possible to return, I would like to return. I am going to court for that purpose," he answered.

Edited December 15, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,293]

He is taking legal measures to reinstate himself (temporary measures at the Tokyo District Court) and has been training in Aichi, mage intact. He also has refused to collect his severance pay money, although he had been asked to come around and collect it.

The Tokyo District Court has rejected Kotomitsuki's temporary measures application.

[Kintamayama 47,293]

In English

[Umigame 82]

Demon Kogure was guest announcer on NHK today and was entertaining and insightful as always.

One thing came up related to this thread: While explaining his "dream banzuke" he included Kotomitsuki (under a new shikona) and voiced the opinion that Kotomitsuki should be allowed back in -- because the gambling problem was a problem with sumo as a whole, so it's not fair that one guy in particular should take such a fall for it.

I doubt his words will have any effect, but thought it was interesting that he said this (was allowed to say this) on the NHK broadcast.

[Washuyama 662]

Demon Kogure was guest announcer on NHK today and was entertaining and insightful as always.

One thing came up related to this thread: While explaining his "dream banzuke" he included Kotomitsuki (under a new shikona)

Actually it was his original shikona of Kototamiya that he used in his early makushita days.

BTW, also in his "dream banzuke" he had Kaio at Yokozuna...

[Umigame 82]

Actually it was his original shikona of Kototamiya that he used in his early makushita days.

Thanks for pointing that out! I didn't realize that was Kotomitsuki's old shikona.

BTW, also in his "dream banzuke" he had Kaio at Yokozuna...

Yes. And Toyonoshima + Kisenosato at Oozeki...

thought it was interesting that he said this (was allowed to say this) on the NHK broadcast.

I have to correct myself here because after watching the replay I realized it's clear that Demon was NOT allowed by NHK to talk about reinstating Kotomitsuki. He made a point of writing the Kototamiya shikona right there on the spot using a marker pen (rather than printing the shikona beforehand) because the NHK program people might object to it.

Gotta love the way he makes the broadcast more interesting than usual. I just hope that it doesn't kill his chances of ever being invited back on the show.

[Washuyama 662]

It would have been more interesting if I knew more than three words of Japanese...(Applauding...)

[Naganoyama 6,042]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

[Kuroyama 715]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

The mystery there is why they should expect someone who does himself up like that for all public appearances to be particularly conformist.

[Kintamayama 47,293]

A meeting between the executive branch of the Kyokai and the rikishi-kai was held today for the first time ever to "exchange views". One of the views exchanged concerned ex- Kotomitsuki's danpatsushiki. The rikishikai had asked last August to allow him to have it at the KKan, The Kyokai answered today that it will not allow the use of the Kkan for this purpose. However, it will not stand in the way of the rikishi-kai supporting a danpatsushiki elsewhere.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,293]

In what may or may not be a major turn of events, a paper is now saying that a mobile message was found stating that Kotomitsuki's bouts may have been targeted for gambling on Sumo. It is not certain if he himself bet on those bouts. The mail was found on one of the recently arrested ex-rikishi bookmaker Yamamoto's, (ex-Azusayumi?) mobile phone. It concerned a betting game on sumo called "Out of Five", wherein 5 bouts from day 1 of the Kyushu basho from 3 years ago were chosen, and you had to guess where there will be more winners, East or West (cool game, maybe we should implement it..). The mail even had a deadline (15:50 local time) and was sent from the bookie's phone to Kotomitsuki's phone. One of the said bouts (bout number 5) was Kotomitsuki's bout against then Sekiwake Ama, where he lost. No proof he threw the match, but the police are checking whether this mail was sent to other rikishi as well.

If any of this is true, it sheds a totally different and even darker light on a new aspect.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Peterao 3]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

So is it "Demon Kogure" or "Demon Kakka"? :-(

[Kintamayama 47,293]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

So is it "Demon Kogure" or "Demon Kakka"? :-(

Both, as far as I know- Kakka is his title and Kogure is his name.

No?

[Asashosakari 20,272]

(cool game, maybe we should implement it..)

Thanks for the laugh. :-(

(I'm serious.)

[Kuroyama 715]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

So is it "Demon Kogure" or "Demon Kakka"? :-(

"Kakka" is an honorific like "-san" or "-zeki", and translates roughly to "His Excellency", more typically used for ambassadors and so on in the most formal speech and writing. It's part of his persona as a former ruler of hell. I think he's most recently dropped the "Kogure" part -- it's his actual family name -- and now just calls himself "Demon Kakka", or "His Excellency, Demon".

[Asameshimae 220]

It appears that Demon Kogure is in slightly hot water over this.

Demon wants Kotomitsuki back? Forget Mitsuki, I want Asashoryu back. Yaocho accusations aside, his shenanigans were the smallest of small potatoes now. Yeah, I know, Mitsuki was forced out.. Asa just retired out of the goodness of his heart.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I second that. I suspect many of his problems with the NSK stemmed from his own feelings that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones...

[Peterao 3]

So there is already talk that the three rikishi that have already confessed to involvement in yaocho may be up for jomei punishment. Given that rumors of Kotomitsuki's potential involvement in yaocho are also surfacing, is it possible that his punishment could be "upgraded" to jomei as well?

[ryafuji 825]

So there is already talk that the three rikishi that have already confessed to involvement in yaocho may be up for jomei punishment. Given that rumors of Kotomitsuki's potential involvement in yaocho are also surfacing, is it possible that his punishment could be "upgraded" to jomei as well?

Not sure what practical difference that would make - didn't he refuse to take the retirement money to which he was entitled?

[Zenjimoto 40]

I think it's time that some of the retired, ousted, and banned rikishi get together and make their own little sumo association, putting on one-day events at cities around the world!

Who would we have by now? Quite a nice list of recent and less recent retirees who elected to leave the NSK structure, plus the banned ones... plus possibly ones who will be banned - led by Asashoryu and Kotomitsuki. Throw a couple amateur sumo greats, and a surprise old-timer like Akebono into the mix, and we've got ourselves a show!

:-/

Edited February 5, 2011 by Zenjimoto

[Harry 67]

Asashouryuu, Kotomitsuki, Roho, Hakurozan, Wakanoho, Wakakirin, Chiyohakuho, who am I missing? How quickly I forget them it seems... sad.

[Kotoviki 16]

Asashouryuu, Kotomitsuki, Roho, Hakurozan, Wakanoho, Wakakirin, Chiyohakuho, who am I missing? How quickly I forget them it seems... sad.

I didn't forget Hakurozan! Today is his birthday and earlier I sent him an email to tell him Happy Birthday!!! :-/

[Orion 431]

"Kakka" is an honorific like "-san" or "-zeki", and translates roughly to "His Excellency", more typically used for ambassadors and so on in the most formal speech and writing. It's part of his persona as a former ruler of hell. I think he's most recently dropped the "Kogure" part -- it's his actual family name -- and now just calls himself "Demon Kakka", or "His Excellency, Demon".

And, for the record, I am in possession of what is at present the only officially recognised photo of him when he was a sweet-faced young sumo fan at Waseda uni, and also just starting his career as a musician. For privacy reasons it is not up for grabs, though I have given a copy to the Sumo Museum. (In a state of confusion...)

Orion, again down memory lane

[Peterao 3]

The Kyokai's lawyer Ben Goshi is now saying that there may have been a serious procedural error on their part in this investigation. All details of the Kyokai's questionnaire were handed over to the police, names and all, but it was done without advising the people in advance, and there may have been a violation of their privacy . "We want to totally 'empty the sea' (this idiom has been used millions of times by everyone these last few days..) and some may not like our method, but that's how it's going down!", said Rij. Some are not liking it at all, and are threatening to sue for breach of privacy. "We broke paragraph 192 section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code and passed the information off to the police, as some of the executives in the Kyokai thought it was OK.. It appears to have been inappropriate..," admitted Mr. Goshi. What started off as an internal Kyokai investigation ended up involving the police, and some people are not happy, not happy at all.

Did anyone ever follow-through on the threat to sue for breach of privacy?

I'd be amazed if anyone had the chutzpah to do this, but I guess there are times when the best defense is a good offense, and now seems as good a time as any to throw the Kyokai under the proverbial bus...