Violence in Michinoku

[Muhomatsu 246]

Sandanme wrestler Yasunishi has reported being beaten by an elder (former Makushita wrestler, 28 years old - likely Kirinofuji).  The offender has since retired (hair cut ceremony in April).

Both Michinoku and head of compliance department, Hanakago, admit the incident occurred. The incident was reported in January - when it was determined that the assailant would retire.   There was an appeal filed by the victim in April, which was subsequently withdrawn.

Michinoku says he did not hide anything and since the perpetrator has retired and the victim has withdrawn his appeal to the compliance committee, no further hearings will be held.

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202305090001511.html

 

Trouble in Kiribayama's stable - hope it is not a distraction and we see him at 100 percent in a week.

 

Edit- adding another story and some more details:   

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0c67d7961da3357d7d48c0e18f5812ca2eb6d71c

According to this - he was told to "Die" and "I'll kill you" by Kirinofuji as well as being shot with an air-gun, hit with a frying pan, and punched mercilessly after a New Year's party.  The violence seems to have been long-standing and ignored by the Oyakata - until it could not be ignored any further.  Seriously?  A disciple of yours is shot with an air-gun!  That should automatically be game over for the perpetrator and a handing over of a resignation from the Riji post and #2 in the Kyokai.  Lots of his deshi were also implicated in the match-fixing scandals - and still Kirishima made it back to #2 in the NSK.  I am thinking he has some serious deficiencies of character.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Muhomatsu

[Yarimotsu 594]

I'll accept more than some that a bit of rough conduct is going to happen from time to time in a sumobeya, knowing how testosterone feels especially when using it all the time like these men are. But when someone starts going for weapons they need to be immediately given a final warning. Frying pan and then 'air gun' or the other way around, doesn't matter which. Glad he's out and I hope the oyakata wasn't just letting it stew.

[sumojoann 1,268]

I wonder why all this is just coming out now.  I thought there was going to be a new policy of transparency when it came to violence.  I sure don't see that here.  Seems like same old, same old.

[Fashiritētā 184]

2 minutes ago, sumojoann said:

I wonder why all this is just coming out now.  I thought there was going to be a new policy of transparency when it came to violence.  I sure don't see that here.  Seems like same old, same old.

When someone dies from the violence, then something will “officially “ be done to stop it.

Being the modern day gladiators they are, violence will always happen, sad as it is.

[Chartorenji 243]

8 hours ago, Muhomatsu said:

he was told to "Die" and "I'll kill you" by Kirinofuji

WTF? That seems a lot more then past incidents in Ozumo. 

[Inside Sport Japan 762]

11 hours ago, Muhomatsu said:

Seriously?  A disciple of yours is shot with an air-gun!  

Not the first time that's happened. Air guns and threats to kill other rikishi were involved in at least one other scandal that never came to light fully.

[dingo 1,294]

That's a horrible case of bullying. What makes it even more unbelievable is that the bullier was apparently given a nice sendoff, danpatsushiki and all. And after that the oyakata simply declares nothing to see here. I know this is nothing new in Japan or Kyokai, but cases such as this should really be dealt with much more firmly. 

[Seiyashi 4,108]

The question is, why isn't Michinoku suffering any consequences for it? 

[Asashosakari 19,667]

2 hours ago, Seiyashi said:

The question is, why isn't Michinoku suffering any consequences for it? 

Sadly, I suspect it's because he's less than a year from turning 65 and it would jeopardize his nice sendoff from the board of directors.
 

13 hours ago, Inside Sport Japan said:

Not the first time that's happened. Air guns and threats to kill other rikishi were involved in at least one other scandal that never came to light fully.

Chiyotenzan comes to mind. (That's even mentioned in his ja.wiki article.) I also vaguely remember allegations that a very young Miyabiyama was shooting off an air gun around the stable premises, though I don't believe he was said to have aimed at people. But given that both these cases were 20+ years ago, I guess there have probably been more recent incidents that were covered up.

Edited May 10, 2023 by Asashosakari

[WAKATAKE 2,671]

I guess the thing would be could it jeopardize his pending consultancy?

[dingo 1,294]

5 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

I guess the thing would be could it jeopardize his pending consultancy?

I freaking hope so, given his role in the case. But knowing Japan, probably not unless someone really stirs up the scandal more. 

[Yamanashi 3,904]

Silly me, I thought OF COURSE there's violence in Michinoku; after all, they're a Proresu group, they couldn't make money without it!

[Fashiritētā 184]

21 minutes ago, Yamanashi said:

Silly me, I thought OF COURSE there's violence in Michinoku; after all, they're a Proresu group, they couldn't make money without it!

Taka Michinoku has changed group names, hes now in just 5 guys, but still looking young as ever.

 

[Ripe 73]

On 09/05/2023 at 21:07, Fashiritētā said:

When someone dies from the violence, then something will “officially “ be done to stop it.

Being the modern day gladiators they are, violence will always happen, sad as it is.

Someone did die as a result of similar behavior... and oyakata responsible even ended up in prison, but as we see nothing really changed.

[sumojoann 1,268]

49 minutes ago, Ripe said:

Someone did die as a result of similar behavior... and oyakata responsible even ended up in prison, but as we see nothing really changed.

You're right, nothing has really changed.  I think the point Fashiriteta was making is that a rikishi has to actually die before the Oyakata and others are appropriately punished.  Threats don't count. 

[Akinomaki 40,800]

With Kiribayama going for ozeki, the damage to Michinoku-beya is kept down to a minimum.

[Akinomaki 40,800]

On 10/05/2023 at 12:34, Seiyashi said:

The question is, why isn't Michinoku suffering any consequences for it? 

It took time to decide the appropriate punishment. Michinoku steps down "voluntarily" from his post as kyokai no.2, management top and gets a pay cut of 20% for three months, the special rijikai announced it today. PR top Shibatayama is acting head of operations now.

https://www.sponichi.co.jp/sports/news/2023/06/23/kiji/20230623s00005000498000c.html

So he remains at his riji post

They also announced that he already retired offender would have got an intai recommendation o

 

Edited June 23, 2023 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,800]

Intersting that he got just the same punishment as last time

A repeat offender and not losing his riji rank is really very lenient. Isegahama stepped down both times

Edited June 23, 2023 by Akinomaki

[Katooshu 3,335]

Having an oyakata whose deshi was literally beaten blind at his command take over as head of operations in light of this heya violence - no irony there at all.

Edited June 23, 2023 by Katooshu

[Fashiritētā 184]

21 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

Having an oyakata whose deshi was literally beaten blind at his command take over as head of operations in light of this heya violence - no irony there at all.

All i can picture is the police officer in South Park saying: move along , nothing to see here(wink wink), very sad

[Akinomaki 40,800]

Zakzak gives a bit more details. https://www.zakzak.co.jp/article/20230624-OGTMPY4LJ5LEPJOU7CTTZ3DX2Y/2/

Michinoku had reported it to the head of compliance Hanakago in late January after he received complaints that sd Yasunishi had suffered violence several times by the hand of an ani-deshi in makushita. He reported no details and got the notice from Hanakago: Looks like a quarrel between brothers, deal with it at the heya.

- That was it for a while, Hanakago is the real culprit in covering up the whole affair, he didn't even report it to the committee.

Shibatayama denies a cover-up by Hanakago: he didn't know the details, information kept appearing later

Early in April the ani-deshi retired without getting punished, Yasunishi was flustered and reported it to the head of the compliance committee, former high ranked public attorney Aonuma, but withdrew the complaint three days later. Because of that, the NSK didn't make the thing public.

Before the Natsu basho Yasunishi did the unprecedented: he told the tabloid Daily Shincho the whole affair, giving his real name.

- During the whole basho the media focused on the whistleblower, also posting interviews where he justified his move.

Shibatayama now declared that because the media reported it, some thought the NSK had to deal with it thoroughly.

- that's why it took so long, but it doesn't explain why the punishment is so lenient and Michinoku remains riji. Without Yasunishi going to the media by himself, the whole thing would have been covered up by the NSK

Edited June 24, 2023 by Akinomaki