New committee established to deal with gamblers

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Yes, that is what Kyodo reports...

Sumo's governing body said on Sunday it has fired ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake for being the central figures in a widespread gambling scandal rocking the Japanese national sport.

The Japan Sumo Association made the decision at an extraordinary meeting of its board of directors, stopping short of handing the two men the most severe sentence of expulsion. Kotomitsuki will receive retirement benefits but Otake will not. The bans from sumo are for life.

Kotomitsuki is the first active ozeki to be fired.

Hiroyoshi Murayama, a former Tokyo High Prosecutors Office chief, was officially named as JSA Chairman Musashigawa's fill-in as the latter will be suspended until the end of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, which runs from July 11 to 25 at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

Murayama will make the greetings on the first and final day of the 15-day Nagoya meet.

Musashigawa offered his sincere apologies, promising that the JSA will make efforts to ensure that another scandal does not occur.

''We have caused considerable trouble and I apologize from the bottom of my heart,'' said Musashigawa. ''We humbly accept the advice that has been offered to us and we will make efforts to ensure that we do not have another scandal like this.''

Grand champion Hakuho also offered an apology as the face of the ancient Japanese sport.

''I humbly and deeply apologize for all the trouble that has been caused,'' Hakuho said.

Those who were found to have been involved in illegal gambling of any sort in a third-party investigation apologized for their actions at a Nagoya hotel, bowing deeply before an audience of reporters.

Kotomitsuki, who was promoted to the rank of ozeki in July 2007, gambled on professional baseball games, which is alleged to provide a source of funding for mobsters.

His case led to the arrest in late June of a 38-year-old former sumo wrestler, who is suspected of extorting around 3.5 million yen from the ozeki and trying to squeeze him for another 100 million yen, which he never paid.

In explaining the reasons behind Kotomitsuki's dismissal, Shigeru Ito, a Waseda University professor who heads the oversight panel investigating illegal gambling, said the fact that he holds sumo's second-highest rank of ozeki was a big factor.

His gambling on baseball while holding ozeki status, plus the fact that police became involved in the case was a major strike against Kotomitsuki.

He also tried to cover up his gambling when he was questioned by sumo officials and police, only later confessing to the allegations.

Stablemaster Onomatsu, the coach of several wrestlers who allegedly gambled on baseball, will be demoted two ranks and will not be eligible for promotion for the next 10 years, the JSA board decided.

Otake was found to have borrowed 20 million to 30 million yen from Kotomitsuki as he was mired in debts accumulated through illegal gambling.

Like Kotomitsuki, Otake had also lied about his gambling when questioned and the fact that he had accumulated heavy debts and was involved in trying to collect winnings with Kotomitsuki was another reason for his dismissal.

Tokitsukaze, a stablemaster who gambled on baseball when he was a wrestler, was demoted to ''toshiyori'' in the sumo hierarchy and has to remain at the lowest rank on probation for five years.

The JSA said last Monday it would move to expel Kotomitsuki and Otake after hearing the opinion of the oversight panel.

A total of 11 people have been fired by the Japan Sumo Association for incidents, including a drug scandal and the hazing death of a wrestler.

On Sunday, the JSA also decided that it will reimburse people for tickets purchased for the Nagoya meet.

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/i...?storyid=510206

Edited July 4, 2010 by Otokonoyama

[Peterao 3]

It seems Ootake will not be receiving severance pay, while Kotomitsuki will receive a sum but not the special merit bonus. (korokin). It's quite fuzzy at the moment.

So it goes with finessing the "kaiho ijou".

Have they said when this all takes effect, and they become simply Tamiya Keiji and Naya Tadashige?

Edited July 4, 2010 by Peterao

[Kintamayama 47,193]

It seems Ootake will not be receiving severance pay, while Kotomitsuki will receive a sum but not the special merit bonus. (korokin). It's quite fuzzy at the moment.

So it goes with finessing the "kaiho ijou".

Have they said when this all takes effect, and they become simply Tamiya Keiji and Naya Tadashige?

I'm guessing as of now. I'm pretty sure the "ex" will be pasted on from tomorrow at the latest.

[Asashosakari 20,225]

All riji will get salary cuts- the rijicho will get a 30% cut for July-August.

Expanded details, also applicable to July/August:

- all other yakuin (= the riji, I think, possibly also the fuku-riji) get cut 20% if under house arrest, 10% otherwise

- other oyakata who have a deshi under house arrest also get cut 20%

[Asashosakari 20,225]

Makushita Furuichi and the tokoyama both sent in their resignations but they were not accepted and they will be dealt with later.

Furuichi's mage is already gone, says Nikkan Sports.

[Jonosuke 28]

Have they said when this all takes effect, and they become simply Tamiya Keiji and Naya Tadashige?

In case of Takatoriki, shortly likely Kamakari if that hasn't happened yet.....

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Makushita Furuichi and the tokoyama both sent in their resignations but they were not accepted and they will be dealt with later.

Furuichi's mage is already gone, says Nikkan Sports.

Down goes the number of kainahineris in a drastic arch.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Temp Rij

[Kintamayama 47,193]

The new temp riji has been receiving disturbing phone calls to his home, causing his family to involve the police. "Why does someone who knows nothing about Sumo become a temp rij??" is the gist of the calls received yesterday.

[Peterao 3]

Temp Riji made his pitch to NHK: "I would like to ask you to televise the basho."

NHK president will have a press conference today, where he is expected to make the final decision known.

[ilovesumo 12]

The new temp riji has been receiving disturbing phone calls to his home, causing his family to involve the police. "Why does someone who knows nothing about Sumo become a temp rij??" is the gist of the calls received yesterday.

This is stupid...

but indeed, my Japanese sumo-fan-friends have this opinion.

One elderly lady told me, that those people (like temp riji) are educated elite and look down on the Sumo world and wanna make themselves a name like that.

Well, wait and see what happens.

If those who know Sumo and those who understand the "real world" work together, things might change for good. But I wonder if elite over 60 understands the problems of lower class youngsters who see Sumo as their only chance for a successful life in a society which kinda overrates educational reputation. It's not what you are able to do, it's the stomp on your forehead that says "Todai", "Waseda" etc. ...

[Sokkenaiyama 81]

You make it sound like sumo and the "real world" can't co-exist. Is it really that unlikely there's someone out there who understands both? I mean, come on, it's not particle physics, ffs.

[Fay 1,677]

You make it sound like sumo and the "real world" can't co-exist. Is it really that unlikely there's someone out there who understands both? I mean, come on, it's not particle physics, ffs.

Huch, I really hope there are some (Sign of disapproval...), I always thought I know rikishi and oyakata who are not onedimensional, but what know I ...

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Chairman Ito is demanding that Musashigawa rijicho apologize to the fans on day 1.

This is how it's supposedly going down: Temprij Murayama will do the customary fan greeting during the Juryo matches on day 1. He will then get down from the dohyo and Musashigawa will mount the dohyo and apologize with head hanging low.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Chairman Ito is demanding that Musashigawa rijicho apologize to the fans on day 1.

This is how it's supposedly going down: Temprij Murayama will do the customary fan greeting during the Juryo matches on day 1. He will then get down from the dohyo and Musashigawa will mount the dohyo and apologize with head hanging low.

Musashigawa is too ill to do the apology, sources are saying now. "It's his private matter, so I can't say anything about it,", said Temprij. He is resting at home for now.

[Jonosuke 28]

Musashigawa is too ill to do the apology, sources are saying now. "It's his private matter, so I can't say anything about it,", said Temprij. He is resting at home for now.

I don't know why he is saying it's a private matter as it's been reported everywhere that Musashigawa has been suffering from bouts of high blood pressure for at least last several weeks.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Musashigawa is too ill to do the apology, sources are saying now. "It's his private matter, so I can't say anything about it,", said Temprij. He is resting at home for now.

I don't know why he is saying it's a private matter as it's been reported everywhere that Musashigawa has been suffering from bouts of high blood pressure for at least last several weeks.

I think he means he can't comment on Musashigawa's situation ( he demanded Musashigawa apologize in public) because it's not something he can force.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Head of the Gambling Committee Mr. Ito has said something dumb again. After saying about Kotomitsuki "it's his neck (meaning he's a goner, not the best way to put things..)" a few weeks ago, he said something weird at the Governance press conference today. When asked if age was a factor in choosing the new committee members, he said: "After 75, a person gets funny in the head and can't make accurate decisions. is what I said".

Mr. Ito is 78.

Caption says it's the guy on the right- if he's 78 I want to eat/drink/smoke/inhale whatever he's doing..

Edited July 10, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Temprij was not in Nagoya today. "Extremely rare occurrence for a rijicho not to be at the hon-basho," said the papers. "While he's gone, the person in charge of the basho is in charge. We are able to contact him at all times. I think he's only gone for the day. He's probably gone to Tokyo for the day trying to get answers to things he doesn't know about sumo,", explained a somewhat bewildered Nishonoseki Oyakata. Some say he was at the KKan visiting the Kyokai offices.

Edited July 12, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Orion 431]

Temprij was not in Nagoya today. "Extremely rare occurrence for a rijicho not to be at the hon-basho," said the papers. "While he's gone, the person in charge of the basho is in charge. We are able to contact him at all times. I think he's only gone for the day. He's probably gone to Tokyo for the day trying to get answers to things he doesn't know about sumo,", explained a somewhat bewildered Nishonoseki Oyakata. Some say he was at the KKan visiting the Kyokai offices.

Well, that can be expected when you put a man in charge who knows pretty well damn-all about sumo. Surely even the Min. of Education could have found a more suitable front man?

Orion

[Kintamayama 47,193]

Temprij was not in Nagoya today. "Extremely rare occurrence for a rijicho not to be at the hon-basho," said the papers. "While he's gone, the person in charge of the basho is in charge. We are able to contact him at all times. I think he's only gone for the day. He's probably gone to Tokyo for the day trying to get answers to things he doesn't know about sumo,", explained a somewhat bewildered Nishonoseki Oyakata. Some say he was at the KKan visiting the Kyokai offices.

Temprij explanation: "I did all kinds of stuff in Tokyo, mostly concerning the new committee established a few days ago-we had to decide how it will work and what it will tackle. Since I'm new to all this, I may have failed to communicate my plans to the Kyokai in a timely manner, so from now on it will all be written on the calendar on the wall of the rijicho's office,", he said, hinting he will be missing a few more days as well.

[Asashosakari 20,225]

Temprij explanation: "I did all kinds of stuff in Tokyo, mostly concerning the new committee established a few days ago-we had to decide how it will work and what it will tackle. Since I'm new to all this, I may have failed to communicate my plans to the Kyokai in a timely manner, so from now on it will all be written on the calendar on the wall of the rijicho's office,", he said, hinting he will be missing a few more days as well.

Indeed he will be out and about some more; reportedly scheduled for tomorrow morning is a trip to Fukuoka to enlist the prefectural police force in similarly stringent anti-gang measures for Kyushu basho as are currently employed in Nagoya.

[Asashosakari 20,225]

Indeed he will be out and about some more; reportedly scheduled for tomorrow morning is a trip to Fukuoka to enlist the prefectural police force in similarly stringent anti-gang measures for Kyushu basho as are currently employed in Nagoya.

And he's going to complete the set on the 21st with a trip to Osaka to do the same thing with their police force.

[jakking 0]

Indeed he will be out and about some more; reportedly scheduled for tomorrow morning is a trip to Fukuoka to enlist the prefectural police force in similarly stringent anti-gang measures for Kyushu basho as are currently employed in Nagoya.

And he's going to complete the set on the 21st with a trip to Osaka to do the same thing with their police force.

Sounds like he's doing useful stuff rather than sitting about waiting for something to happen in Nagoya.

[Kintamayama 47,193]

A spectator had a heart attack at the venue today during the first half of the Makuuchi bouts and was whisked away by an ambulance, but died on the way. Tempriji? Left the building during the Makuuchi bouts, no less, and the papers are giving him a hard time for it. He was contacted and came hurrying back, but refused to answer the reporters' question on his whereabouts. "When I'm out of the office, the rijis are in charge", was all he would say. "Extremely irregular" ( for a rijicho to be gone during Makuuchi bouts), the term reporters like to use instead of "WTF was he thinking?" was used again prominently today. "It would have been better if he was around at the time, ne?", said Nishonoseli Oyakata "with a complicated expression", another reporter favorite meaning "he couldn't believe it and would have said so but he can't".

Edited July 15, 2010 by Kintamayama