Haru basho IS canceled!

[Peterao 3]

Gachinko rikishi are much more prone to suffer injuries. As we've seen, yaocho lends itself beautifully to a safe flow and safe falls. It's not just the fact that a good chunk of the audience is getting cheated but it's awfully unfair to top makushita guys and gachinko sekitori. I bet yaocho suffered a transformation for the worse after the number of basho per year was changed to 6.

And perhaps was exacerbated by the abolition of kosho status.

Injury is another reason why I think we'd also see more shortcuts early on. A Day 1 injury has far greater negative impact than a Senshuraku injury.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Some more articles:

Excellent- a keeper for sure

Also

[ilovesumo 12]

And I saw that even Natsu is shaking...

You MUST be joking.Talk about penalising all for the misdeeds of some.Show me a sport that doesn't have devious activity.

Oh, come on! Nobody in their right mind can believe that Chiyohakuho and Kasuganishiki and their friends in juryo are the only ones to do this? If this is proof of anything, it's that this is commonplace in sumo and that it might go all the way to the top. Remember that it was just recently that the former Miyagino oyakata was punished for babbling about fixed matches between Hakuho and Asashoryu. I'm not saying that is necessarily true, I'm totally hoping it's not. But I think we should all be prepared for this thing to spread like wildfire and in a worst case scenario it might afflict rikishi at the very top as well.

There's the rub. They didn't confiscate every cell phone... Guys in juryo got caught, by chance, and it's probably because juryo has the most prevalent bout fixing for all the stated reasons. Why would a guy who got sucked into it in juryo miss a chance to get ahead a little by paying for or getting paid for a win or loss that doesn't hurt him that much? A couple of friends of mind have pointed out you are probably better off as a wrestler if you keep getting 8-7s (and 4-3s) b/c if you do too well too fast you are very quickly out of your league. Better to rise slowly through the ranks and know what you are getting into. So, why not sell an unneeded bout here and there? Again, every thing about the way sumo works makes it a ripe environment for all of this.

Yes, yes and you got it.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Tomozuna Oyakata : "It's better we go by whatever the new committee decides. At this point, it's impossible to say which way it will go. I don't think there will be any decision during tomorrow's special rijikai meeting." His remarks are probably based on the fact that this committee (comprised of seven outsiders) will be convening at the KKan for the second time this evening and will be discussing what they will recommend to the Kyokai after they interviewed the 13 suspects plus the new one. Word is they intended to finish interviewing all the suspects by today, but it appears they need more time to really get to the bottom of the affair, one session with each of the suspects not being enough, so they have said they need more time.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Kintamayama

[ilovesumo 12]

Call me naive, but I don't like it to be cheated. I don't like the idea that I cheer for someone who already sold his bout and I feel betrayed - thanks Kasuganishiki :-/

I have no problem if they are KK at the end of a basho and give away a win to a friend who needs it desperately. I guess there is no way for a completely clean sport. But I don't want to accept that they take money for a favour like this.

Cancelling the Haru Basho seems to me the only possibility to force the Sumo Kyokai to think calmly about reforms and clear decisions. Going on with business as usual would be fatal.

Agree. Very same feelings about favorites

[Kotoviki 16]

So off I go to asageiko in 5 hours time to watch all the boys practice for the possibility that the basho will NOT be cancelled....

How depressing....

For as bad as it all is... one young boy pointed out to me today that "what about all of us who are not guilty of anything but training?? Why are we punished? I hate those stupid ones who have done this.."

If that doesn't break your heart....

[Flohru 176]

So off I go to asageiko in 5 hours time to watch all the boys practice for the possibility that the basho will NOT be cancelled....

How depressing....

For as bad as it all is... one young boy pointed out to me today that "what about all of us who are not guilty of anything but training?? Why are we punished? I hate those stupid ones who have done this.."

If that doesn't break your heart....

Yeah, I was thinking the same: the lower divison guys that never did anything wrong would suffer most from a canceled basho while the sekitori will get their salaries anyway. If I were to decide, I would only cancel the basho for Makuuchi/Juryo and let the others compete. And then the top 10-12 KK rikishi in Makushita would even have a chance for promotion with all those sektori spots possibly or at least hopefully freeing up in the next weeks.

[Doitsuyama 1,173]

Yeah, I was thinking the same: the lower divison guys that never did anything wrong would suffer most from a canceled basho while the sekitori will get their salaries anyway.

Are you so sure the sekitori will get their salary? I mean, cancelling a basho seriously puts a financial dent into the NSK (tickets, TV) and I can see the option that the sekitori and oyakata salaries will be put on hold as well.

[ryafuji 807]

Yeah, I was thinking the same: the lower divison guys that never did anything wrong would suffer most from a canceled basho while the sekitori will get their salaries anyway.

Are you so sure the sekitori will get their salary? I mean, cancelling a basho seriously puts a financial dent into the NSK (tickets, TV) and I can see the option that the sekitori and oyakata salaries will be put on hold as well.

I can see that happening too.

I know others may be affected more than him, but I feel bad for Hakuho. Robbed of the chance of emulating Asashoryu's all six yusho in a year record, and of extending his most wins in a year record too.

[Haruibono 11]

For as bad as it all is... one young boy pointed out to me today that "what about all of us who are not guilty of anything but training?? Why are we punished? I hate those stupid ones who have done this.."

If that doesn't break your heart....

I'm also very sympathetic to all those new rikishi doing "meaningless" keiko.Penalising everybody, including the fans isn't the best way to deal with the problem.Why can't those who have been found guilty, be stood down, charged or fired???The message will soon get through

[Flohru 176]

Yeah, I was thinking the same: the lower divison guys that never did anything wrong would suffer most from a canceled basho while the sekitori will get their salaries anyway.

Are you so sure the sekitori will get their salary? I mean, cancelling a basho seriously puts a financial dent into the NSK (tickets, TV) and I can see the option that the sekitori and oyakata salaries will be put on hold as well.

Well difficult question and a case for the lawyers I guess, because I assume that legally the NSK can't simply stop paying salaries altogether for 2 or more months (at least I could potentially see gachinko rikishi filing a lawsuit here). Possible a 50% cut or so at best?

[Jokkamura 4]

For as bad as it all is... one young boy pointed out to me today that "what about all of us who are not guilty of anything but training?? Why are we punished? I hate those stupid ones who have done this.."

If that doesn't break your heart....

I'm also very sympathetic to all those new rikishi doing "meaningless" keiko.Penalising everybody, including the fans isn't the best way to deal with the problem.Why can't those who have been found guilty, be stood down, charged or fired???The message will soon get through

That might need some time to decide what to do. You got to be sure that you get the right ones. And you got to make sure they would not tell the whole story. Very likely some or more of the current oyakatas have taken part during active times or might have taken action to help their rikishi keep their ranks. A fired Kasuganishiki might sell his knowledge.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Still nothing official of course (it's only 7am over there), but in addition to the persistent rumours pointing towards no Osaka basho Sports Hochi is reporting that Kyokai officials are indeed considering the possibility of holding a closed-doors tournament, but in the Kokugikan.

[Peterao 3]

For as bad as it all is... one young boy pointed out to me today that "what about all of us who are not guilty of anything but training?? Why are we punished? I hate those stupid ones who have done this.."

If that doesn't break your heart....

I'm also very sympathetic to all those new rikishi doing "meaningless" keiko.Penalising everybody, including the fans isn't the best way to deal with the problem.Why can't those who have been found guilty, be stood down, charged or fired???The message will soon get through

Because nobody has been found guilty yet. Most people have denied the charges, and even the people who've admitted to them may well be hiding the full scope of their involvement.

But there is overwhelming evidence of guilt, and sumo cannot go on under such circumstances. Ozumo is not a democracy, and Ozumo has no "right" to continue doing things as they always have. So unlike a criminal investigation, I think what needs to happen is not for the committe to prove a rikishi's guilt, but for all rikishi to prove their innocence.

If that's not possible, then I think we'll have a huge problem resuming sumo. This could well take not months, but years to work out.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Still nothing official of course (it's only 7am over there), but in addition to the persistent rumours pointing towards no Osaka basho Sports Hochi is reporting that Kyokai officials are indeed considering the possibility of holding a closed-doors tournament, but in the Kokugikan.

If this happens, all records will count. I repeat, all records of the "private basho" will count. If Hakuhou gets his 19th yusho and 7th straight one tying Asashouryuu's record, there will be no one there to see it. The reason- there is a clause in the Kyokai's "incorporated foundation" status that says "sumo matches testing the ability of the rikishi and other enterprises must be held ". Of course, the next banzuke will reflect this "ghost basho's" records. No prizes will be given out. Something similar happened back in 1945 in June, after WWII. The basho was canceled, but a private basho was held instead between June 7th-13th - a 7 day basho, which was won by Maegashira 1 Bishuuzan. Only people with special invitations were allowed to watch. All rikishi wore the simple chonmage topknot (except for the dohyo-iri) because of shortage of tokoyamas. Only Makuuchi and Juryo matches were held at the KKan, while Makushita and under bouts were held for five days at the Kasugano-beya keikoba. Incidentally, the great Yokozuna Futabayama went kyujo on day 2, and subsequently retired from sumo after that private basho, so his last dohyo-iri was actually done in an empty arena.

[Jonosuke 28]

The Board of Directors is expected to make an announcement after their special meeting this Sunday morning of the cancellation of Haru Basho.

They basically have no choice as the special investigation committee already said they would need another month or so to complete their investigation and Min of EduSci as well as Cabinet members already stated that Kyokai could not hold another basho until they settle this matter or else they would lose their charter as a non-profit organization.

It has been a foregone conclusion since most of sekitori have been reportedly saying to the committee they have no recollection of anything related to yaocho being talked about or discussed among themselves. The committee has said they would need to check the rikishi's celll phone log as well as their bank account transactions.

I would say even the May Basho may be in jeopardy now.

Edited February 5, 2011 by Jonosuke

[Peterao 3]

Still nothing official of course (it's only 7am over there), but in addition to the persistent rumours pointing towards no Osaka basho Sports Hochi is reporting that Kyokai officials are indeed considering the possibility of holding a closed-doors tournament, but in the Kokugikan.

If this happens, all records will count. I repeat, all records of the "private basho" will count.

It will be interesting to see how the website will be updated during a "private basho". Maybe they'll even have the stream going!

Maybe the sumo games will be able to carry through all of this?

[Kintamayama 44,354]

If this happens, all records will count. I repeat, all records of the "private basho" will count.

It will be interesting to see how the website will be updated during a "private basho". Maybe they'll even have the stream going!

Maybe the sumo games will be able to carry through all of this?

I somehow doubt the stream will be working, but daily results will surely be made public, so maybe you have a point about the games..

Edited February 5, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari 18,786]

I somehow doubt the stream will be working, but daily results will surely be made public, so maybe you have a point about the games..

I would guess the level of press coverage would be the same as always, too, except possibly with the Kyokai not allowing (or being forbidden from allowing) the publication of pictures. And I'd be thrilled if the stream was available for such a basho, but yeah, can't see that happening.

But so far it's just a bunch of speculation by unnamed Kyokai sources - the decision to cancel Osaka looks like a certainty at this point, but I wouldn't be surprised if they delay the decision about the "replacement" basho for a bit longer, to gauge public reaction to the possibility first.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Yeah, I was thinking the same: the lower divison guys that never did anything wrong would suffer most from a canceled basho while the sekitori will get their salaries anyway.

Are you so sure the sekitori will get their salary? I mean, cancelling a basho seriously puts a financial dent into the NSK (tickets, TV) and I can see the option that the sekitori and oyakata salaries will be put on hold as well.

A short blurb at Sponichi says the sekitori salaries would continue to be paid, but the lower-division would have to go without because their money is stipulated as a "basho allowance". The thing reads like a personal interpretation of the regulations by the writer though, there's no official comment in the article at all.

But another reason we might get a ghost basho, perhaps...

Edit: For those sacrificing their sleep right now - the board convenes at 11 am JST.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Asashosakari

[skycruiser 0]

Looks like it's cancelled, From Kyodo news:

Sumo in crisis as JSA axes spring tourney

National sport sent reeling by bout-fixing scandal

Kyodo News

The Japan Sumo Association has decided to cancel the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament over the match-fixing scandal that has plunged the sport into what may be its biggest crisis ever, sources said Saturday.

The 15-day tournament in Osaka was scheduled to start March 13. The association planned to formally announce the decision at an emergency board meeting Sunday, the sources said.

"If we go ahead with the tournament in the current circumstances, it will just create more turmoil and trouble for everyone," a JSA board member said. "The JSA executives made the call. Even the summer tournament could be in doubt depending on the outcome of the investigations."

It would be the first time ever that the sport's governing body has canceled a tournament over a scandal. The summer 1946 meet was scrapped, but that was due to a delay in renovation work at the Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo.

Before the association reached its decision, voices were split among its executives over how fast they should respond to the bout-fixing scandal.

Facing reporters earlier Saturday, board member Tomozuna said a decision on whether to cancel the tournament was unlikely to be reached at Sunday's extraordinary board meeting.

"We need to think about this once we have the results of the investigation," Tomozuna said. "I can't really say anything at this stage. I doubt a conclusion will be reached."

On Friday, association Chairman Hanaregoma said the tourney could be scrapped because of the scandal, which has angered politicians and triggered a public outcry.

"We'd like to go ahead with the tournament but we have to think about whether we can do that without the forgiveness of sumo fans," Hanaregoma said at his news conference.

In the wake of the scandal, the association postponed ticket sales for the spring "basho," or tournament, because the ongoing investigation into the 14 wrestlers and elders allegedly involved in the bout-rigging is taking longer than expected. Tickets were originally scheduled to go on sale Sunday.

An independent special investigative panel that was supposed to finish the questioning Saturday has said it may take longer to get the whole picture than just one round of hearings with the 14 involved.

The panel has also decided to ask the people in question to voluntarily turn in their cell phones and bank books for further investigation.

It has been asked to report its findings to the sumo association's executive committee this weekend.

Juryo wrestler Chiyohakuho, one of the grapplers who have admitted to fixing matches in major sumo tournaments, offered to quit the sport Thursday, while Chiyohakuho, Enatsukasa and sumo elder Takenawa have all admitted to involvement in bout-rigging.

Meanwhile, a regional summer tournament in Akita Prefecture scheduled for Aug. 8 has been canceled, meet organizers said Saturday.

NHK has already canceled its annual Fukushi Ozumo charity event scheduled for Friday and was also considering scrapping live coverage of the spring tournament.

News of the scandal broke Wednesday, when police officers involved in investigating illegal gambling on professional baseball in sumo circles last year discovered a number of cell phone text messages implying sumo bouts had been thrown.

Thirteen people were initially implicated in the scandal, although further probes carried out by the association revealed that a 14th person may have taken part.

Match-rigging claims are nothing new in sumo, but until now there had never been any public confessions by active wrestlers.

In 2000, Keisuke Itai, a former komusubi who wrestled under the name Itai, said he had been involved in rigging bouts during his 12-year career that lasted from 1978 to 1991, which he said coincided with "the worst period for match-fixing in the history of sumo."

Itai, who had made his allegations public in a series of interviews in the tabloid magazine Shukan Gendai, said, "From 1984 to 1991, sometimes as few as two bouts out of 30 were legitimate."

In 1996, Itai's former stablemaster, Onaruto, famously opened a can of worms by alleging in the Shukan Post magazine that sumo, a centuries-old sport steeped in tradition and an almost feudalistic moral code, was rife with fixed bouts, tax evasion, underworld connections, drugs and orgies.

At the time, the JSA dismissed the accusations as "scurrilous lies," but the plot thickened when Onaruto and another sumo insider, who had also contributed to the magazine article, died within hours of each other on April 14, 1996.

[Jonosuke 28]

I am not sure what the purpose of bringing up this "private" basho business. That basho in 1945 was held without spectators only because there were air raids over Tokyo. It was simply too dangerous for any number of people to gather around as one bomb and you would have hundreds of people perished.

This time it's not about having anyone viewing a basho, it's about whether they are in any condition to even hold a basho. And the answer is NOT, with or without spectators. Even before they postponed the Haru Basho ticket sales, Chaya have been receiving a whole lot of cancellation as well as their kensho sponsors were under serious consideration to withdraw their support. NHK has been said to be considering not covering the basho live again. The Kyokai officials were "strongly advised" by government people not to hold the basho.

As for salary, all Kyokai members will keep getting their paycheck coming in but their Basho allowances will not be issued. It will be a long three months before the May Basho for most of them, hoping that the basho schedule will be resumed a and normalcy will return somewhat.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

This time it's not about having anyone viewing a basho, it's about whether they are in any condition to even hold a basho. And the answer is NOT, with or without spectators. Even before they postponed the Haru Basho ticket sales, Chaya have been receiving a whole lot of cancellation as well as their kensho sponsors were under serious consideration to withdraw their support. NHK has been said to be considering not covering the basho live again. The Kyokai officials were "strongly advised" by government people not to hold the basho.

What does the bolded part have to do with their ability to hold a basho without spectators? (In a state of confusion...)

[Peterao 3]

It's now official. Haru Basho is cancelled.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Peterao

[Kuroyama 715]

It's now official. Haru Basho is cancelled.

This seems to be the case. It just came across on the CBS Radio's network news, here in the US.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Kuroyama