behavior punishments

[the italian halibut 0]

this is a question asked of me by someone on the weightlifting forum

has anyone ever been suspended from sumo for bad behavior or any other kinds of infractions?

[Andreas 0]

There was even a Yokozuna forced to leave because of misbehavior - Futahaguro. I dont know any other cases, but im not an expert and I think the sumo kyokai doesnt like that kind of publicity so they will try to keep it secret. Also I guess that most of these problems are solved inside the sumobeya.

[Jonosuke 28]

Well we know of a recently retired sekitori who has been suspended for a traffic accident.

I actually was thinking of doing a rikishi for SumoFanMag's Rikishi of Old but not many people recognize him so I passed him up but his story was so interesting that a book based on his life was written.

From the beginning he showed a great potential and promise but the initial success got too much of him and he started playing around so much that the Kyokai finally had enough and kicked him out permanently.

After drifiting all around Japan, he realized he missed sumo and he wanted to try again but the Kyokai did not want to deal with him or talked to an intermediary despite his insistence that he transformed himself and was a reformed man.

Obviously the story does not end here as that itself isn't such a unique case but in this one, Kyokai's never did not turn out to be never. He was eventually re-admitted but only after his father committed suicide and left in his will asking for him to continue competing sumo and the Kyokai to have his son reinstated.

True to his words, he was a changed man, knowing fulll well that his father paid the ultimate sacrifice so he could contiue doing what he loved best.

He won two all-win Makuuchi yushos. On another he also was in a yusho race with a yokozuna and won the yusho.

He eventually made it to Ozeki just as his father wanted.

His name?

Ozeki Shimizugawa.

Edited June 5, 2006 by Jonosuke

[Blue_Wolf 24]

Wow, great story. Tnx a lot.

[Asojima 2,874]

After retirement, Wajima, one of the great yokozunas, was kicked out of the Sumo Association for associating with some shady characters, gambling activities and some underhanded dealings in his Sumo Association stock.

[Toonoryu 1]

I think Rikishi of Old does not necessarily have only to be about very well known and prominent fighters, but about interesting stories of old, so this one is, on my opinion, definitely worth a full story. After all, Takanobori wasn't known from most sumo fans (at least to me...).

Keep on the great job, Joe !