Toki killed somebody?

[Odoriou 0]

When reading this article http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getart...p20050825jg.htm I stumbled over this paragraph:

And yet when Japanese sumo wrestler Toki -- who is prohibited from driving while an active wrestler -- ran over and killed a woman in Osaka a few years back while behind the wheel of an automobile, it hardly rated a mention in the Japanese media.

Before you knew it, Toki was back in the ring.

Is that true? Toki really killed somebody? (Gyoji...) When, what, how, who, why, where...? (A sekitori...) Do you know more about the accident?

(Search function didn't work, as words like 'Toki' and 'car' are too short for it.)

[Zentoryu 154]

When reading this article

Is that true? Toki really killed somebody? (Gyoji...)  When, what, how, who, why, where...? (A sekitori...) Do you know more about the accident?

(Search function didn't work, as words like 'Toki' and 'car' are too short for it.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's true, happened several years ago. I don't remember all the details, but he hit an ederly woman who was crossing the street and she subsequently died. He was suspended for a tournament for violating the kyokai's rule against rikishi driving, but returned to the dohyo afterwards.

I'm sure those with a more clear memory of the details of this event will chime in... but it is a true story.

[Takanorappa 97]

Yep. Toki was involved in a car accident. If my memory isn't failing me, the NSK decided to stop letting sekitori drive after that. Here are a few links from the SML:

Toki accident & More. Should be plenty of info if you follow those two threads.

(edit) Yeah. my memory IS failing me. Thanks, for getting it straight, Zentoryu.

Edited August 31, 2005 by Takanorappa

[Jonosuke 28]

The Japan Times' writer's recollection is far worse than those of us here. I am sure Moti can tell you that it was prominently mentioned in the Japanese media at length.

If I recall Toki was in Makuuchi at the time and he fell down to a lower Juryo due to his suspension. It was Toki's fault for not seeing the lady crossing (or waiting to cross the street) the street. He also violated the Kyokai's rule. The Kyokai subsequently had a special session for sekitoris to ensure they follow the rule.

When he came back, he did hear jeers and boos as well as being called a killer from Osaka fans but as far as I know he did not wear ear plugs like Rafael Palmeiro did last night after coming back from his suspension for allegedly using steroids.

[madorosumaru 7]

The incident in question occurred in December 2000 in Osaka. For violating a Kyokai rule by driving a car and for causing the death of a person in the accident, Toki was "confined to quarters" and received a reduction in pay of 20% for 3 months. As a result of his punishment, Toki missed the entire Hatsu Basho 2001 and dropped from Maegashira 8 west to Juryo.

Because it was determined that the victim was also negligent in having ignored a red light, "felony" charges were not pursued and he was subjected to a lesser charge of "negligence resulting in death" and fined 200,000 yen.

His confinement to quarters ended in February and he resumed his career at the Osaka Basho where he did well enough to return to Maegashira 13 east for Natsu Basho.

[Odoriou 0]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge about that topic.

What a weird story. So (Annoyed...) was rather punished for driving a car than for accidentally killing a person... :-/

[Sasanishiki 57]

This is part of the reason that rikishi aren't allowed to drive: so that they don't get into trouble through accidents causing death or damage, thus compromising their 'exalted' position.

[Takanorappa 97]

Again, fuzzy memory. Wasn't the no driving rule fairly new at the time? I seem to remember it being instituted soon after some sekitori had an accident. Ex-Yamato or Ex-Akinoshima, maybe? (Annoyed...)

Edited September 1, 2005 by Takanorappa

[madorosumaru 7]

There is an interesting story in Wakanohana III's autobiography, "Dokuhaku," regarding cars and driving. Masaru relates that he had loved speed since a child and couldn't wait to be successful and own a car.

"I got my driver's license after I was promoted to juryo [in 1990]. My father [the oyakata] gave me permission to attend driving school and I was extremely appreciative of that.

My dad used to tell me that a man cannot be considered a true 'professional' unless he was able to buy and maintain his own car. However, I heard that to others he had said, 'Masaru might not become very successful [at sumo]. In case he fails, a driver's license will be useful in finding another line of work.'"

He then tells of how the media found out about his obtaining a license and mentioned it in a magazine. "My oyakata was summoned by Futagoyama Rijicho and was told in no uncertain terms, 'Don't ever allow him to drive.' As soon as he got back to the heya, my oyaji confiscated my license. . . .

"[Knowing how much I loved cars] he must have thought I just might go out and drive without a license so, when I reached makuuchi, he returned the license to me. However, during my active days, I didn't drive and relied on friends and family members."