Rikishi kai money scandal

[Kintamayama 45,974]

The rikishi-kai (all-Sekitori association) had some money put aside for charity. At their  gathering of the 70 sekitoris, the rikishi-kai resolved to set aside 10,000 yen each for each tournament before the Natsu tournament of 2011 to support children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The gyoji in charge of keeping it decided it was a good idea to use the money for his gambling habits. Millions of yen. Investigation ongoing.

"Where's the money? Show us your bank book!"

"I'll definitely bring it with me the next time.."

Is what seems to have transpired, until the rikishikai got fed up and demanded an investigation. According to sources, when questioned by the compliance committee, the gyoji confessed that he had spent tens of millions of yen on gambling and other things. The association is continuing its investigation, and is expected to impose sanctions after approval by the rijikai in June. The crime of touching the sacred savings of the sumo wrestlers to support disaster victims is serious, and severe punishment is expected. One association source said, "It's such a shame this has happened at such a happy time for Oonosato."

Edited May 27 by Kintamayama

[Katooshu 3,416]

Could be coincidence, but makuuchi gyoji Kimura Ginjiro (Shibatayama beya) was absent throughout the basho.

[Jakusotsu 6,188]

The dumbness of people never ceases to amaze me.

[Tigerboy1966 1,539]

2 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

The association is continuing its investigation, and is expected to impose sanctions

I would have thought that this would be a matter for the police rather than an internal investigation. Embezzlement?

[Gurowake 4,123]

12 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

At their  gathering of the 70 sekitoris, the rikishi-kai resolved to set aside 10,000 yen each for each tournament before the Natsu tournament of 2011 to support children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The gyoji in charge of keeping it decided it was a good idea to use the money for his gambling habits. Millions of yen.

If I'm reading this correctly, it would be somewhere around 14 years * 6 basho/year * 70 sekitori * 10,000 =  58.8 million.  Google says that's around USD 400,000.

[Asashosakari 19,941]

16 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

If I'm reading this correctly, it would be somewhere around 14 years * 6 basho/year * 70 sekitori * 10,000 =  58.8 million.  Google says that's around USD 400,000.

Obviously the rikishi-kai hasn't just been collecting money for 14 years, a significant part of it will have been spent on actual projects throughout the years. We also don't know if this gyoji was the assigned treasurer for the entire period of time.

[code_number3 709]

Is the 2011 earthquake donation is still ongoing for East Japan area until now or also used or other disaster fund like Noto 2024 earthquake?

[Yarimotsu 614]

7 hours ago, code_number3 said:

Is the 2011 earthquake donation is still ongoing for East Japan area until now or also used or other disaster fund like Noto 2024 earthquake?

I'm sure they would still accept donations somewhere, but all the ones I have seen in person have been for Noto 

[Asashosakari 19,941]

21 hours ago, Katooshu said:

Could be coincidence, but makuuchi gyoji Kimura Ginjiro (Shibatayama beya) was absent throughout the basho.

An article by Sponichi today is much shorter than Nikkan's coverage, but does include the outright statements that the gyoji in question was absent from the entire tournament and is makuuchi-kaku, so...

Meanwhile, Nikkan's original report has seen a follow-up stating that the gyoji has already tendered his resignation, which the Kyokai has not accepted at this time pending the finalization of their internal investigation. Criminal proceedings may still follow depending on where the NSK decides to take this whole thing.

Edited May 28 by Asashosakari

[Yubinhaad 11,856]

From January 2019 until May 2025, Kimura Ginjiro embezzled 25.19 million yen to use on kyotei (boat race) gambling and other entertainment activities. He repeatedly lied to cover his tracks, and even had other gyoji withdraw 3.32 million yen from an account on his behalf, claiming he had been asked to do so by a Yokozuna to pay for celebration or condolence expenses. While the money withdrawn from the account has been repaid, the vast majority amounting to 21.87 million yen was never paid into the account in the first place. It is recognized that his acts violate criminal laws such as embezzlement and fraud.

Despite his eventual admissions and remorse, Ginjiro's misconduct was so severe and conducted over a lengthy period of time that it constitutes a serious breach of trust, which erases his achievements as a gyoji over 35 years. Therefore, the Compliance Committee finds that it is appropriate to dismiss him for disciplinary reasons and withhold all of his retirement benefits, and have submitted that opinion to the Rijicho. (The Kyokai has approved the findings, Ginjiro has been dismissed)

In future, the rikishi-kai will appoint one of its own members to deal with the donations, which will be fully reported every year at their annual meeting. The Kyokai will also provide oversight to ensure there is no outflow of funds other than for their intended purposes.

Full text of the report:
https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202506090000923.html

[Yamanashi 3,986]

This is godawful.

[Churaumi 749]

Good to see they're going to be reporting on it to the rikishikai. I know the guys aren't trained much in business and the gyoji are supposed to be respected, but the naivete shown by the wrestlers is just as shocking to me. But, hopefully the prosecutors throw the book at the guy. 

[Churaumi 749]

Mrs. Churaumi is an accountant. She goes to small towns to audit banks. She said the situation reminds her of fraud she and her coworkers have found in them it's always an employee everyone trusts that they've known forever. They also would usually have been caught earlier if someone else was being diligent in their own job. 

Edited June 16 by Churaumi
English is hard yo

[Akinomaki 41,179]

On 09/06/2025 at 14:06, Yubinhaad said:

From January 2019 until May 2025, Kimura Ginjiro embezzled 25.19 million yen to use on kyotei (boat race) gambling and other entertainment activities.

I guess Ginjiro was too fond of traveling - and during Corona concentrated more on gambling - but who would have thought that of this nice guy

On 26/02/2021 at 11:44, Akinomaki said:

Soon to disappear Minezaki-beya's makuuchi gyoji Kimura Ginjiro wrote his first book, about sumo related trains and stations「大相撲と鉄道」"Ozumo and railway". Mineko Nomachi had intended to write it, with Ginjiro providing the information, in the end he wrote it himself.

A group of 6 gyoji are in charge of transportation, getting also the tickets for the trains to regional basho and jungyo.

oo

...

Ginjiro: "For a whole year I as well haven't been at Tokyo station. In July I want to go to Nagoya. Passing a tunnel with a train, there is always an exit. Regardless how long and dark it is, going forward the light will become visible. And then it's just escaping it. We mustn't stop. We are still in the tunnel, we have to put our efforts into quickly escaping it."