Hokuseiho Out- Hakuho Demoted - Miyagino-beya Closing

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Hokuseiho has been accused of bullying several Miyagino-beya stablemates. The charges of bullying were brought to the Kyokai at the beginning of this year and an investigation has been ongoing. Hakuho faces a reprimand and demotion as Hokuseiho's supervisor. Hokuseiho is facing a suspension and there have even been calls for his intai. The fates of the two will be decided by the Kyokai on 2/23. 

Story in Japanese

 

Edited March 9 by Kaninoyama

[Akinomaki 39,797]

This was already in the tabloids - Daily Shincho during the basho alleged that Hokuseiho was forced to go kyujo because of this https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2024/01311058/, Weekly Post mentioned it earlier this month http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20240207_1939560.html

[Akinomaki 39,797]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Hakuho faces a reprimand and demotion as Hokuseiho's supervisor. Hokuseiho is facing a suspension and there have even been calls for his intai. 

The latest articles tell that Hokuseiho will get an intai kankoku and be forced to retire, Hakuho will be demoted 2 ranks (to the lowest rank of plain toshiyori) http://www.sanspo.com/article/20240221-6ZNNS45PGJNHXAXTQQW76TVRV4/

Hokuseiho obviously was too big for that heya

Edited February 21 by Akinomaki

[I am the Yokozuna 187]

Well Hokuseiho never struck me as a bully 

rather probably for me this came out of a situation where he was tasked to do something that he is not capable or willing to done, as for example, as one of the heya elders he was expected to train/supervise the younger ones and being incapable he became frustrated 

[since_94 650]

Rumors confirmed, apparently, all very bad news for Miyagino stable. Most regrettable, this alleged misconduct and the fallout. How will this impact Miyagino’s ability to coach and run a heya?

[Kishinoyama 582]

So the rikishi with arguably the weakest tachi-ai in the paid ranks is bullying people. Rather ironic.
 

No sympathy from me. Get him out of sumo. 

[just_some_guy 256]

11 minutes ago, Kishinoyama said:

So the rikishi with arguably the weakest tachi-ai in the paid ranks is bullying people. Rather ironic.
 

"Sources say Hokuseiho stood up and leaned on the victim for 30 seconds until they became bored and allowed him to push them slowly across the room."

Joking aside he's one of the last I'd expect to be getting aggressive with anyone.

[ryafuji 807]

Wasn't Hakuho specifically warned to be on his best behaviour when the Magaki kabu was approved? I'm sure they will throw the book at both him and Hokuseiho. Obviously there must be no tolerance of bullying and yet I can't help feeling disappointed at a career wasted. I'm sure it will be intai for Hokuseiho.

[Kintamayama 44,354]

Kleptomania (apparently, since his high school days..), stealing from the other rikishis' wallets during keiko as well. One rikishi complained to the Oyakata, but he apparently did nothing. There was a rift already between the Oyakata and Hokuseihou- Hakuhou and ex-Ishiura accused him of being lazy and even threatened to keep him off the dohyo when he went kyujo in January. Hokuseihou and Miyagino were summoned today to the compliance committee meeting. "I am reflecting on my deeds humbly," said the perp. The Kyokai got wind of this after reading related stuff on social media.

Edited February 21 by Kintamayama

[Koorifuu 886]

This certainly wasn't on my bingo card.

[junsan 170]

Who woulda thunk? I always saw him as a well groomed young man, saying all the right things in interviews and meets. 

Edited February 21 by junsan

[Akinomaki 39,797]

1 hour ago, ryafuji said:

Wasn't Hakuho specifically warned to be on his best behaviour when the Magaki kabu was approved? I'm sure they will throw the book at both him and Hokuseiho.

Hakuho had to sign a contract with the NSK to be accepted as oyakata - could be that the heya is taken from him as a result and Magaki (Ishiura) takes over - a quite recent keiko video (with still the Kyushu banzuke) had the former Miyagino watching keiko, maybe he'll be external advisor now

Edited February 21 by Akinomaki

[Asashosakari 18,786]

Colour me surprised that there's actually fire here beyond the smoke. The initial Shukan Shincho article was remarkably vague about the violence allegations, spending more time to talk about Hokuseiho being a slacker who likes to oversleep, skip training and other duties. I could totally see that part being true, though that impression of mine was obviously influenced by his dohyo persona.

The Shukan Post follow-up essentially alleged that the compliance committee sprung into action because of the Shincho article, which did seem a bit odd. I guess somebody related to the violence incidents must have stepped forward after it made the press. Edit: No, I need to walk that back; I almost certainly misunderstood the Post's reference to the "first report" that was being made. Apparently it was an allegation by some NSK member outside of Miyagino-beya that started the proceedings (although that's pretty odd in itself).

The theft stuff sounds pretty bad, to be honest, as does Miyagino's lack of action about it if that's true. For better or worse, while "unnecessary roughness" is often still largely tolerated, breaches of trust among heya members have tended to end careers pretty quickly in the past, in my impression.

Edited February 21 by Asashosakari

[Akinomaki 39,797]

2 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

Colour me surprised that there's actually fire here beyond the smoke.

I'm not quite THAT surprised that a tabloid article I didn't find worthy of posting actually was close to reality, while nearly all that I post are far away from it. The same law applies that has the rain delayed when I carry an umbrella, while it definitely rains if I chose to go without one.

[Asashosakari 18,786]

13 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

The theft stuff sounds pretty bad

Hmm. I thought this was something entirely new from today's coverage, but reviewing the two tabloid articles, both used the phrase 金銭的なトラブル ("financial troubles"). I think when I originally read it, I just figured they're saying he's no good with his money, but maybe somebody more in tune with the intricacies of the Japanese ways of expressing things can say if an accusation of potentially criminal behaviour was already implied by that?

[Kintamayama 44,354]

5 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

Hmm. I thought this was something entirely new from today's coverage, but reviewing the two tabloid articles, both used the phrase 金銭的なトラブル ("financial troubles"). I think when I originally read it, I just figured they're saying he's no good with his money, but maybe somebody more in tune with the intricacies of the Japanese ways of expressing things can say if an accusation of potentially criminal behaviour was already implied by that?

Reads like financial troubles to me with no undercurrent of kleptomania. It's probably purposely not more detailed just in case.

[Kamitsuumi 384]

トラブル is closer to "dispute", where there is more than one party

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

This is the thing that Chris Sumo has been covering for the last month, right?

[Benihana 1,901]

5 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

This is the thing that Chris Sumo has been covering for the last month, right?

Yeah, i'm surprised it didn't pop up here earlier.

[Hoshotakamoto 256]

4 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Kleptomania (apparently, since his high school days..), stealing from the other rikishis' wallets during keiko as well. 

now I remember where I've seen that tachiai before

it's around the 30 second mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5pZQrbL_H0

 

 

Edited February 21 by Hoshotakamoto

[Koorifuu 886]

31 minutes ago, Hoshotakamoto said:

now I remember where I've seen that tachiai before

it's around the 30 second mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5pZQrbL_H0

 

 

Incredibly lighthearted considering the situation, but there's definitely a "wallet beneath the mawashi" joke somewhere.

[Hoshotakamoto 256]

4 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

Incredibly lighthearted considering the situation, but there's definitely a "wallet beneath the mawashi" joke somewhere.

I think everyone else but me had long given up on Yokozuna Hokuseiho. This is a hard time for me. (then again my backup prediction that he can be a WWE star is fully in play)

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Among the reported bullying accusations: hitting the victims and torching them with fire (what?!).

Given that the investigation was already ongoing during Hatsu, the timing suggests that his bum knee wasn't the only reason he went kyujo. 

Edited February 21 by Kaninoyama

[Fashiritētā 169]

Sad to hear , theres a Sumo school for new deshi, can they add a class on how to behave or treat others , couldn’t hurt.

Hazing is one thing, but using fire seems a bit extreme.

[Akinomaki 39,797]

16 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Among the reported bullying accusations: hitting the victims and torching them with fire (what?!).

Given that the investigation was already ongoing during Hatsu, the timing suggests that his bum knee wasn't the only reason he went kyujo. 

It's rather that this was the only reason