Yaocho by mobile scandal-

[Asashosakari 18,959]

You can add Hakuba to the list of the guilty. Paper says Hakuba and at least two other Michinoku rikishi are involved as well. Add the Oyakata too, who will be punished for "neglect". The two other Michinoku rikishi- Juryo Toyozakura and Makushita Kirinowaka, who were mentioned in the original mobile messages.

Nitpick: Kirinowaka's name didn't appear in the phone messages, but came up in the very first round of questioning of the four main suspects (not sure it was ever said whose interview, but presumably Kasuganishiki's).

With every day of this drip-drip-drip of names I'm more convinced the best course of action would be to just drop all the (presumably) guilty rikishi to the bottom of the banzuke and see who manages to come back up - treat it as the sumo equivalent of a two-year doping ban. Heck, make 'em forfeit any yusho winnings they might collect on the way back up, if you don't want them to profit from the demotion.

With seemingly the majority of veteran juryo involved it's a certainty that at least some of the accused are actually well capable of competing as sekitori in their own right (Kyokunankai and Sakaizawa for instance, not to mention obvious ones like Koryu and Hakuba...not so sure about the guy in my avatar though), and after a few weeks in which I spent as little time thinking about sumo as possible it's feeling rather unfair to me to punish a bunch of guys - they can't really be called "sacrificial lambs" if we're talking about 20+ of them - who got caught doing what probably hundreds of others have done before without repercussions and who very well may not have needed to do it in the first place.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,959]

Another new one from an overnight update at Asahi: Hoshikaze. Somebody must've blabbed about the rumoured Mongolian ring, I guess.

And at Chunichi Sports the Michinoku-beya count is potentially up to 4, though with no fourth name given yet. (Actually, they don't even mention Hakuba as #3, so they must've heard from a separate source...)

Edited March 30, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,639]

"Nothing has been officially announced yet so why are names being leaked?? People's lives are being affected. Why is the Kyokai not protecting the rikishi? Without the rikishi, there is no Kyokai!!" said Yokozuna Hakuhou yesterday after keiko.

[Asashosakari 18,959]

Three more are said to have admitted to yaocho- Ex-Kaihou, Moukonami and Shimotori. Their Oyakatas were also investigated.

I found the wording of the original release confusing, too, but apparently it's not "admitted to yaocho", but rather "were recognized as participants" just like all the others - at least a new Nikkan article states that Mokonami continues to proclaim his innocence, so I'm guessing the other two didn't actually come forward either.

Edit: An English-language article linked here a page or two back mentioned that one rikishi whose name appeared in the incriminating set of mails will be judged innocent. Shotenro supposedly hasn't been notified about any negative judgement by the committee, so he's probably the one.

Edit again: Meanwhile at Zakzak (yeah, tabloid, I know) speculation is rampant that the rank-and-file oyakata are outraged about what's likely to come down on their deshi on April 1st and may go as far as trying to depose the entire rijikai in response, which apparently is possible with a three-quarters vote or somesuch. Grain of salt, and all that.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Three more are said to have admitted to yaocho- Ex-Kaihou, Moukonami and Shimotori. Their Oyakatas were also investigated.

I found the wording of the original release confusing, too, but apparently it's not "admitted to yaocho", but rather "were recognized as participants" just like all the others -

One article said "acknowledged", the other was "seen to have participated". Acknowledged by who, is the question.

[Asashosakari 18,959]

One article said "acknowledged", the other was "seen to have participated". Acknowledged by who, is the question.

The part that threw me off was that (at least at Sports Hochi) there were essentially parallel articles about ex-K/M/S and about Koryu at that time (with identical "seen to have participated" phrasing IIRC), but only the Koryu article included a statement that he was still denying his involvement. I dunno.

Meanwhile, Jiji brings us an anonymous comment from somebody in the investigation committee who is firmly pointing his finger at the Kyokai's overall incompetence/indecisiveness in dealing with the decades-long yaocho suspicions, and speculates that the committee may end up requesting a summary punishment of all current riji for their collective refusal to yaocho-proof the Kyokai's regulations in times past, even those who don't personally have a yaocho rikishi in their stables. They may also back off from requesting the expulsion punishment for the involved rikishi for that reason.

Edit: Asahi sort-of supports that, claiming that the committee's punishment requests will mainly be a mix of retirement advices and 2-year suspensions, with the suspensions being handed to those culprits who have been deemed "in cooperation" with the investigation committee's efforts. (Odds on this being a well-placed leak to get some late confessions so that they don't have to fire 20 people on Friday?)

Edited March 30, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Jonosuke 28]

From the very beginning, the question is not what the committee can do as they have no power e as they are no more than an advisory board. They can leak or scream all they want but other than those admitted they have not shown any substantive evidence to back up their claim. Without that the Kyokai cannot release all suspected rikishi outright and without doing so, the Ministry of EduSci won't be satisfied with the Kyokai efforts as it's been all talk and no actiion until now.

Hanaregoma went out and told everyone that without a clean slate they will have no hon-basho as he knows so well the bureaucrats at the ministry won't go along with them having the basho. So far they have done a pitiful little and the committee has shown they were ill equipped to take any drastic actions and is looking pretty inept to all concerned. Basically to do what they need to do, they will need to have police like powers..

The Kyokai had a committee to investigate "unmotivated sumo" for years but they have never given any caution or suspension to any rikishi as far as I know so I don't see any oyakata coming up to offer any help to the committee or the Kyokai top echelons.

Edited March 30, 2011 by Jonosuke

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Add two more names to the list-Kotokasuga and Soukokurai. Both not mentioned in the mails. That makes it 4 current Makuuchi rikishi.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

I found the wording of the original release confusing, too, but apparently it's not "admitted to yaocho", but rather "were recognized as participants" just like all the others

The originals who admitted to the yaocho were deemed "recognized as participants" as were the latest guys-same phrase-kanyo-nintei. ALL the names mentioned in the last 48 hours are kanyo-nintei as well.

[madorosumaru 7]

I found the wording of the original release confusing, too, but apparently it's not "admitted to yaocho", but rather "were recognized as participants" just like all the others

The originals who admitted to the yaocho were deemed "recognized as participants" as were the latest guys-same phrase-kanyo-nintei. ALL the names mentioned in the last 48 hours are kanyo-nintei as well.

The phrasing is indeed very confusing and I made some effort to clarify the situation for myself. From what I can gather, "kanyo-nintei" means "participation recognized or acknowledged" by the committee--after they have evaluated whatever evidence they have in hand. 特別調査委員会から八百長関与を認定された As you can see from this phrase, the acknowledgment is by the special committee.

調査委はこれまで, 十両千代白鵬、竹縄親方（元幕内春日錦）、幕下恵那司と十両清瀬海の４人の関与認定を公表。清瀬海以外の３人は自ら関与を認めている。

The above sentence about the first four "acknowledged" rikishi makes it clearer. It translates, "The committee has so far acknowledged/determined the involvement of Chiyohakuho, former Kasuganishiki, Enatsukasa and Kiyoseumi. Three of them, with the exception of Kiyoseumi, have admitted their own participation."

Thus far, those three are the only ones to have 認めている "mitomete-iru" admitted their involvement. All others have only had their participation "nintei-ed" by the committee.

Sad to report that the latest to be "nintei-ed" are Sokokurai and Kotokasuga. As some may know from Gaijin Guide, Sokokurai is one of my favorites.

Edited March 30, 2011 by madorosumaru

[Asashosakari 18,959]

Sad to report that the latest to be "nintei-ed" are Sokokurai and Kotokasuga. As some may know from Gaijin Guide, Sokokurai is one of my favorites.

I suspect we've reached the point that just about every fan here and elsewhere is finding at least one major favourite on the list. :-(

Hey, maybe it's all just a really elaborate April Fools joke...

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Two more kanyo-nintei, although their names were mentioned as hearsay before-Yamamotoyama and Sakaizawa, bringing the total number of Onoe beya rikishi to three.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

The toshiyori-kai, which consists of all the Oyakata who are not executives, held a meeting today and happy they are not. They wanted to know how exactly the committee reached its decisions concerning the "guilty" rikishi and invited Mr. Murakami, the lawyer who was in charge of interviewing the rikishi and Oyakata. There were quite a few Oyakata who loudly and angrily demanded explanations. The atmosphere was said to be "tense" and the meeting went on for three and a half hours. "We asked him how they went about their investigations and if they were consistent. For now, the punishments have not reached the rijikai, so we couldn't ask to make them lighter. We have a lot to say, but we have no choice but to accept these punishments," he said calmly.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Kitanoumi, Michinoku, and Kokonoe Oyakata are slated to resign as riji, it is rumored. "They probably don't want to suffer the dishonor of being dismissed so they are resigning," explained someone. They are sure to be punished, since their deshi were involved in the yaocho scandal and will most probably be found guilty.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 18,959]

Kitanoumi, Michinoku, and Kokonoe Oyakata are slated to reign as riji, it is rumored. "They probably don't want to suffer the dishonor of being dismissed so they are resigning," explained someone. They are sure to be punished, since their deshi were involved in the yaocho scandal and will most probably be found guilty.

If so, they will likely continue in executive roles as yakuin taigu, effectively a two-class demotion. As of yesterday it had not been clear whether the investigation committee would actually be able to push through this particular demand, as of course it's the directors themselves who will be voting on any punishments... Kitanoumi and Kokonoe were done in by the central roles their deshi (Kiyoseumi and Chiyohakuho) played in the scandal, while Michinoku's undoing was the sheer number of involved rikishi from his stable (four). Incidentally, it's being said now that one of the rikishi questioned by the committee told them that Kiyoseumi was merrily rigging bouts even in Hatsu basho, which probably blew Kitanoumi's "everything bad already happened on Kise's watch" claim to bits.

The total number of rikishi and ex-rikishi to be strung up feet-first tomorrow (just kidding...I think) is reportedly 23. Newest names: Tokusegawa, Kasugao, Masatsukasa, Jumonji.

Edited March 31, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 18,959]

The 23 according to Sports Hochi (or rather, the agency article they and everybody else are cribbing from)...Hoshikaze isn't included here, although it was reported that Oguruma-oyakata was questioned the other day, so either the report on his inclusion was wrong or the count of 23 isn't quite final/correct either. Leaves some suspense for tomorrow, I guess... Anyway:

Makuuchi:

Tokusegawa

Hakuba

Kasugao

Koryu

Mokonami

Kotokasuga

Sokokurai

Juryo:

Masatsukasa

Toyozakura

Sakaizawa

Shimotori

Kyokunankai

Asofuji

Wakatenro

Kiyoseumi

Chiyohakuho

Makushita:

Jumonji

Kirinowaka

Shirononami

Enatsukasa

Sandanme:

Yamamotoyama

Oyakata:

Tanigawa (ex-Kaiho)

Takenawa (ex-Kasuganishiki)

Edited March 31, 2011 by Asashosakari

[Peterao 3]

Kitanoumi, Michinoku, and Kokonoe Oyakata are slated to reign as riji, it is rumored.

I assume you mean "resign" as riji?

[Jonosuke 28]

"Nothing has been officially announced yet so why are names being leaked?? People's lives are being affected. Why is the Kyokai not protecting the rikishi? Without the rikishi, there is no Kyokai!!" said Yokozuna Hakuhou yesterday after keiko.

Spoken like a dai yokozuna.

Anyway the committee itself has no power to enact anything, only the Kyokai board could do that. But if it is an outright expulsion out of the Kyokai, they also need to go through the Kyokai stakeholders.

I have as much of confidence in this committee as I have for TEPCO.

Perhaps those foreign born rikishi wanting to escape Japan will have given the perfect opportunity here. If they do exit, I wonder how quickly the quota will stay vacant.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Kitanoumi, Michinoku, and Kokonoe Oyakata are slated to reign as riji, it is rumored.

I assume you mean "resign" as riji?

No, I meant rain.

[Peterao 3]

Yomiuri is saying that 23 rikishi and 17 shisho will be punished.

[Peterao 3]

Just announced: Kasugao and the former Kaiho will both be leaving the Kyokai.

More to come shortly, I'm sure...

[Peterao 3]

Add Sakaizawa, Wakatenro, Mokonami, Shirononami, Kirinowaka, Kyokunankai, and Yamamotoyama to the forced intai list. Enatsukasa apparently gets away with a two year ban.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Add Sakaizawa, Wakatenro, Mokonami, Shirononami, Kirinowaka, Kyokunankai, and Yamamotoyama to the forced intai list. Enatsukasa apparently gets away with a two year ban.

And Tokusegawa, Masatsukasa, Asoufuji and Kouryuu. Ex- Kaihou was asked to leave. Kitanoumi resigned from his riji post. These are all intai-advices that were given. Don't know what it means, as some papers are saying they have till April 5th to decide..

Edited April 1, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Enatsukasa apparently gets away with a two year ban.

Announced his intention to retire.

[Kintamayama 44,639]

Just announced: Kasugao and the former Kaiho will both be leaving the Kyokai.

More to come shortly, I'm sure...

Did you mean Kasuganishiki? Kotokasuga?

Edit-Kasugaou it is.

Edited April 1, 2011 by Kintamayama