Kumagatani-oyakata arrested

[Asashosakari 20,223]

I know I am getting dangerously close to ranting with my reaction to this whole business, but to be honest, I don't really give a fig about how this might affect the PR of sumo at the moment, I am just very angry that people who emphasize "dignity" have kept this sorry excuse for a human being around for that long.

I suspect it's just very difficult to get rid of a guy like that, absent an outright smoking gun like he seems to have delivered now. After all he's not just a simple employee, he's part of a membership organization into which he had to buy his way. (Okay, he didn't, but in general oyakata do/did.) They seem to have given him the proverbial corner office treatment pretty much since right from the start, never giving him any department role and taking away "his" stable as soon as they had a good reason. In that sense it's also not surprising that his latest affair involves a victim who isn't actually part of the sumo world.

Does he even do anything at Miyagino-beya? I'm not sure I recall seeing him in any keiko pictures since he got ousted five years ago. (Though it's not something I've particularly watched for, so I might be wrong.)

[orandashoho 720]

The problem will not quietly go away if that is what the Kyokai hopes.

Regardless of how many skeletons are rattling in the closets, the Kyokai has to take an active stand against criminal behaviour in their organization. They can start with preventing proven unsuitable people from gaining positions of power and stripping an abuser of power and rank when he has gone too far (as they appear to have done with ex-Kanechika).

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The NSK crisis committee suggests a severe punishment, discharge included - even if Yamamura ends up not indicted. The rijikai AFTER the basho on the 1st will decide on this, the head of the committee is against a special rijikai during the basho (they should have one at once: no sense of danger).
http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150904/sum15090417590006-n1.html

Meanwhile the victim is correctly called tsukibito, which is the general Japanese term for attendant - the mainly sumo variation "tsukebito" which was used at first in the news lets one rather think of a rikishi.

Edited September 4, 2015 by Akinomaki

[egparis18 622]

Very interesting posts everybody. I'm impressed by your knowledge. I've only been watching sumo for a year (on YouTube), so I don't know much.

[Orion 431]

The NSK crisis committee suggests a severe punishment, discharge included - even if Yamamura ends up not indicted. The rijikai AFTER the basho on the 1st will decide on this, the head of the committee is against a special rijikai during the basho (they should have one at once: no sense of danger).

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150904/sum15090417590006-n1.html

Meanwhile the victim is correctly called tsukibito, which is the general Japanese term for attendant - the mainly sumo variation "tsukebito" which was used at first in the news lets one rather think of a rikishi.

The Japanese term, both in sumo and in other circles like theatrical, is tsukebito -- tsuke=attached and hito (-bito in compound) = person. Many people do, however, pronounce it "tsukibito".

Orion

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The NSK crisis committee suggests a severe punishment, discharge included - even if Yamamura ends up not indicted. The rijikai AFTER the basho on the 1st will decide on this, the head of the committee is against a special rijikai during the basho (they should have one at once: no sense of danger).

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150904/sum15090417590006-n1.html

Meanwhile the victim is correctly called tsukibito, which is the general Japanese term for attendant - the mainly sumo variation "tsukebito" which was used at first in the news lets one rather think of a rikishi.

The Japanese term, both in sumo and in other circles like theatrical, is tsukebito -- tsuke=attached and hito (-bito in compound) = person. Many people do, however, pronounce it "tsukibito".

Orion

And it is written tsukibito - tsukibito is now rather used generally, tsukebito sounds old fashioned and is used for old fashioned things. Since the present general use mainly is sumo, one will find the 2 usually defined like I described.

In other words, the sumo world sticks to the correct use and the general world is used now to a deviation which has become the norm, like often in Japanese - and other languages.

With a person from the sumo world, the press should have used tsukibito from the beginning to prevent misunderstanding.

Edited September 5, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Orion 431]

The NSK crisis committee suggests a severe punishment, discharge included - even if Yamamura ends up not indicted. The rijikai AFTER the basho on the 1st will decide on this, the head of the committee is against a special rijikai during the basho (they should have one at once: no sense of danger).

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20150904/sum15090417590006-n1.html

Meanwhile the victim is correctly called tsukibito, which is the general Japanese term for attendant - the mainly sumo variation "tsukebito" which was used at first in the news lets one rather think of a rikishi.

The Japanese term, both in sumo and in other circles like theatrical, is tsukebito -- tsuke=attached and hito (-bito in compound) = person. Many people do, however, pronounce it "tsukibito".

Orion

And it is written tsukibito - tsukibito is now rather used generally, tsukebito sounds old fashioned and is used for old fashioned things. Since the present general use mainly is sumo, one will find the 2 usually defined like I described.

In other words, the sumo world sticks to the correct use and the general world is used now to a deviation which has become the norm, like often in Japanese - and other languages.

With a person from the sumo world, the press should have used tsukibito from the beginning to prevent misunderstanding.

Oh dear, how embarrassing. I took my own information directly from the Sumo Daijiten, the dictionary of sumo terms published in Japanese by the Sumo Kyokai and (last time I looked for it) on sale in the Kokugikan. Admittedly I haven't bought an updated version for some years, but I think I'll stick to my old-fashioned ways, especially as the sumo people I mix with tend to be a bit old-fashioned too.

Orion

[yorikiried by fate 2,038]

He always seemed to me to be in drag. Like Ronaldo.

The fat one? The smug one? Lee?

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The prosecuter's office indicted Yamamura today for inflicting bodily injury.

Now the victim is called the manager of ex-Kanechika.
http://www.sankei.com/affairs/news/150918/afr1509180054-n1.html
The suspect at the police office on the 2nd


Kitanoumi: "A serious thing. We have to respond to it." The rijikai in the 1st will decide on it.
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/sumo/20150918-OHT1T50159.html

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The NSK crisis committee suggests a severe punishment, discharge included - even if Yamamura ends up not indicted. The rijikai AFTER the basho on the 1st will decide on this

According to NSK connections, the rijikai will go towards sacking the suspect (kaiko shobun), without severance payment.

He is indicted by now. The crisis committee will have a final report ready tomorrow, proposing discharge.

Yamamura has been given the opportunity for an interview with the lawyer in charge of crisis management.

Kitanoumi: "Severe (punishment) is obvious, it must be severe."

4 oyakata have been sacked so far in the past.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/09/30/kiji/K20150930011235720.html

[Akinomaki 41,743]

According to NSK connections, the rijikai will go towards sacking the suspect (kaiko shobun), without severance payment.

And they decided to get rid of him, Kumagatani-oyakata is the 5th in history to receive a disciplinary discharge.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20151001/sum15100114450003-n1.html

Edited October 1, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Hakuhonofan 334]

Good riddance.

[orandashoho 720]

Amen!

[krindel 688]

According to NSK connections, the rijikai will go towards sacking the suspect (kaiko shobun), without severance payment.

And they decided to get rid of him, Kumagatani-oyakata is the 5th in history to receive a disciplinary discharge.

http://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20151001/sum15100114450003-n1.html

Admittedly though, he has the distinction of being the only one that truly deserved to be sacked on two separate occasions.

[Akinomaki 41,743]

Reasons for discharge, by the crisis committee:

1. Getting arrested for inflicting bodily injury and indicted

2. Grave injuries to the whole body of the victim

3. Using a metal bat, hammer etc. on several occasions: Aberrant behavior

He admitted to it in a letter to Kitanoumi, the testimony of the victim and photos are also material evidence.

He apparently shows no real repentance.

He is dashing the efforts of the NSK to eliminate violence, damaging the image of the NSK, causing the trust in the NSK in society to fall.

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1546663.html

Kumagatani hardly ever came to the heya for coaching. Miyagino-oyakata only met him at the heya's senshuraku parties.

Head of PR Dekiyama (ex-Dewanohana): "We caused trouble to society and that's really inexcusable."

http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/1546834.html

How to deal with the Kumagatani myoseki will be discussed later.

The sacked Kumagatani in the interview with the crisis management layer said discharge is premature and indicated he will sue the NSK.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/10/01/kiji/K20151001011240980.html

Of the other 4 discharged, 3 were due to one of the recent scandals, leading to a long slump for sumo

Tokitsukaze (ex Futatsuryu) Oct. 2007, the death of a young rikishi due to beating in the heya, the start

Otake (ex-Takatoriki) Jul. 2010, illegal gambling

Tanigawa (ex-Kaiho) Apr. 2011, Yaocho

The one I didn't know and which looks light in comparison is Yamahibiki (ex-Maenoshin) Jan. 1997, absent from the basho without permission

http://mainichi.jp/sports/news/20151002k0000m050047000c.html

Edited October 1, 2015 by Akinomaki

[krindel 688]

The sacked Kumagatani in the interview with the crisis management layer said discharge is premature and indicated he will sue the NSK.

Sure, why not? After all he didn't do anything wrong, did he? He can even use the same lawyer that's trying to keep him out of jail, probably get a discount while he's at it.

The one I didn't know and which looks light in comparison is Yamahibiki (ex-Maenoshin) Jan. 1997, absent from the basho without permission

Wow... That's in a different league than the others :-o. Does anyone remember the circumstances? If this wasn't a "cover excuse" for something, that sounds like a remarkably harsh punishment. Not to mention that I can't imagine that no oyakata has ever skipped a basho without permission before or after...

[Gurowake 4,148]

This is probably all that exists in English about Maenoshin: http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5382&p=48382

[krindel 688]

This is probably all that exists in English about Maenoshin: http://www.sumoforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5382&p=48382

Thanks :-). And indeed, running away to hide from bill collectors is not as innocent as "abandoning his duties without notice or permission during the Hatsu Basho" sounds... Not to mention that it also seems he found the arrangement agreeable, basically trading his kabu to get his debts paid.

[Asashosakari 20,223]

And indeed, running away to hide from bill collectors is not as innocent as "abandoning his duties without notice or permission during the Hatsu Basho" sounds...

The ja.wiki article on him is somewhat vague and says he disappeared "after Kyushu basho", so it's quite possible he was already missing for quite some time before Hatsu basho and didn't just skip a couple of weeks worth of duties in January.

Not to mention that it also seems he found the arrangement agreeable, basically trading his kabu to get his debts paid.

Also via ja.wiki it's said that his financial problems were related to his attempt to buy the kabu in the first place, so it sounds like he might have got involved with some dodgy money lenders or the like. He's probably far from the only one who did that at the time, but I'm sure the Kyokai didn't like seeing something like that dragged to the surface. As he obviously wasn't around to take the usual option à la Wajima ("voluntary" retirement), I guess they found it necessary to dump him themselves. Edited October 1, 2015 by Asashosakari

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The sacked Kumagatani in the interview with the crisis management layer said discharge is premature and indicated he will sue the NSK.

Sure, why not? After all he didn't do anything wrong, did he? He can even use the same lawyer that's trying to keep him out of jail, probably get a discount while he's at it.

He got a pretty good salary as oyakata for doing nothing in return.

He might argue that he isn't convicted yet and try to sue them for the salary till then.

He might also demand severance pay.

In any case he will try to do what is his fun in life, torment them as much as he can - and we know how long it takes the Japanese justice to reach a final verdict.

Depending on what is written in the contract he signed when he was kept as oyakata the last time, they might be able to disown him of the kabu, but maybe he succeeds in blocking the Kumagatani myoseki as long as he can. He can't expect money for it under the new rules, he isn't able to provide anything that qualifies as allowed payment.

It seems he still has no problems with the family, so he might have a considerable fortune at his disposition (I think it was reported that he himself has mainly debts).

Edited October 2, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 41,743]

Thanks to Rhyen, who found the video location for a visible video, I now found out that the hidden videos can be displayed and saved the same way, no need to use my old complicated ways.

From this NHK news page on the sacking of Kumagatani. http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20151001/k10010254901000.html

The video link to paste into VLC or a similar media player, to play the video and record it or use convert to directly save the raw input:
rtmp://flv.nhk.or.jp/ondemand/flv/news/k10010254901_201510011827_201510011832.mp4

the arrest is still there, but likely will vanish tomorrow

rtmp://flv.nhk.or.jp/ondemand/flv/news/k10010214781_201509031513_201509031514.mp4

Edited October 4, 2015 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 11,957]

Kumagatani hardly ever came to the heya for coaching. Miyagino-oyakata only met him at the heya's senshuraku parties.

I've been sifting through my archive of pictures from the Kyokai, and I could only find a single appearance by now ex-Kumagatani, in an asageiko session ahead of the Haru basho earlier this year. Clearly he kept a low profile after his earlier troubles, but perhaps he went so far under the radar that there was nobody keeping an eye on him. Well, he's now being dealt with by the judicial system and with any luck he won't be any further trouble to the Kyokai.

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The hyogi-inkai acknowledged the decision of the riji-kai (with satisfaction). The top of the crisis committee was there to explain.

Head of the hyogi-inkai, former vice education minister Yasuko Ikenobo: "The NSK acted quickly to settle the manner and draw the line", appreciating the strict stance of denying Yamamura severance payment.

They agreed to carefully discuss repeatedly how to handle the Kumagatani toshiyori myoseki.

It's the first scandal under the new corporate status.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/10/06/kiji/K20151006011271900.html

[Akinomaki 41,743]

The riji-kai today had again a report from the crisis committee. So far Yamamura hasn't sued the NSK, which he had announced to do if getting sacked at once - tomorrow his trial starts.

There was no progress in the question of how to handle the Kumagatani myoseki.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2015/11/15/kiji/K20151115011515230.html

[Ryoshishokunin 332]

Is there some chance the Kumagatani name gets changed at this point? Have any names left the list over the years?