Asa in hot water again?

[paolo]

Isenoumi Oyakata went to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,Science and Technology today to explain the Asashouryuu situation. The visit lasted some 40 minutes. "House arrest? What house arrest? No one said he is totally prohibited from leaving his house. After all, he will be going to the hospital for treatment etc.. From the Kyokai's point of view after he serves the 'punishment' we expect the return of a genki Yokozuna!!", he explained. On August 3rd, Ibuki Bunmei, the cabinet minister made it clear that he wanted to see a "normal show of leadership" in this matter, candidly saying what he thought on this matter.

That is very interesting: a dubitative sentence about the "arrest", and a formal statement they want Asashoryu back. I know they may be just formal, but it could be instead a first step towards a "normalization": I still do not see what the Kyokai have got to earn from the elongation of this personalized drama. By the way, is it "normal" that an explanation is given by sumo authorities to a Ministry ? Is some hidden intervention of Mongolian government presumable ? Interesting is also the sentence by the minister: if the accent was more on the word "normal" than on the word "leadership", then a clear message would have been given to the Kyokai.....

[Kintamayama]

By the way, is it "normal" that an explanation is given by sumo authorities to a Ministry ?

It's not a ministry, it is THE ministry in charge of Sumo. Nothing new there. The Kyokai explained to them about the yaocho thing a few months ago as well.

[Kintamayama]

In a somewhat bizarre twist, Takasago Oyakata has decided to go on holiday for 2 days after all. Seeing no physician will be seeing Asa till the 16th, he will be on holiday from the 14th. Asashouryuu's camp is bewildered , says the paper.

Paparazzi :

Edited August 13, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Guest haroda]

I keep reading Asahoryus camp. who or what is his "camp"?

I think the sumo association should pick one person to oversee what is going on. It is clear his oyakata is in over his head and has no idea what to do. pick someone else and stop all the visits by people trying to get on TV with interviews.

give him a choice. go to the hospital for treatment or retire and get out of sumo. the embarrassment to the yokozuna rank and sumo in general has gone on long enough.

he has brought shame on the yokozuna past and present and maybe even future. accept the punishment and tratment or go back to Mongolia and don't come back.

the whole mess is not just shameful it's stupid. send the boss to school on how to manage a business and people. he desperatly needs somebody to teach him how to do those things. and if he can't learn boot him also.

who I think is at fault

1. Asa for doing wht he did. not playing soccer but lying and leaving Japan without approval.

2. his boss for letting him get away with everything all these years. he seems to be afraid of his employee.

3. the sumo association for ignoring the situation for so long and continuing to ignore it even now. send the big guns in to se him and MAKE A DECISION. stop screwing around.

Well that's my 2 cents which is worth nothing but makes me feel better. and before complaining that I don't know what it's like I have been through it. If someone had not stepped up and helped me then I wouldn't be around now. he needs someone who cares to talk to him and discuss things. not different people every day.

that's another 1 cent worth.

[sekitori]

In a somewhat bizarre twist, Takasago Oyakata has decided to go on holiday for 2 days after all. Seeing no physician will be seeing Asa till the 16th, he will be on holiday from the 14th. Asashouryuu's camp is bewildered , says the paper.

His "camp", which apparently is in as much disarray as the yokozuna himself, shouldn't be bewildered. I don't think Takasago Oyakata's decision is bizarre at all. I don't know how Asashoryu has been looking lately, but his oyakata looks terrible. He's been under a huge amount of stress and he's going away for a couple of days to hopefully get away from this mess. When someone is in a situation where there seems to be no progress it's often good to leave it for awhile and then return later on. I hope that Takasago Oyakata will have some time to rest and relax and come back with a more positive attitude. But considering that this fiasco appears to be getting worse as time goes on, how much good that will do to help solve it is questionable. (Laughing...)

[Otokonoyama]

Don't let the door yer arse on the way out..., or something like that (Laughing...)

Asashoryu knew of sumo's time-honored traditions when he was invited to enter, and he chose to live in and benefit from this world within a world. However, this time, when he bent the rules just a little too far — as he has been known to do on numerous occasions — the rules materialized in the form of a major slap across the mouth.

That the "slap" was limited to suspension and a financial penalty just doesn't cut it with some long-term fans. The yokozuna got off lightly in the eyes of many Japanese in the street, and is adding insult to injury with his antics in recent days. It is time for him to retire. Be his retirement voluntary or in some way forced, it is time for the sport's 68th yokozuna to date to return from whence he came or to enter different employment here in Japan.

...via their online edition

Edited August 14, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Jonosuke]

Just adding my thinking on the latest.

Takasago oyakata finally realized that he could not move the mountain all alone. All he was doing was just spinning the wheels.

So here are the facts as stand now:

Fact: The original psychiatrist recommended by the Kyokai's medical committee is on vacation, out of country.

Fact: The same medical committee indicated to him it was preferrable to have one doctor dealing with him at this point.

Fact: Everyone and their dog in Japan is on a summer holiday at this time and nothing reasonable can be accomplished this week.

Fact: His family is clamoring that he devotes some of his time to them as he too was scheduled to go on vacation this week so since nothing meaningful can be done, he decided to visit a family cemetary plot and pay due respects to his forefathers like most other people are doing in Japan this time.

Fact: Asashoryu has basically spurned just about all his suggestions at the last meeting so it was prudent that both cool their heads for a few days.

Fact: Publicly stating there would be no meeting at Asashoryu's house this week will have some of media trucks parked in front of Asashoryu's apartment to move out and at least help steer away intense media attention.

Personally I think it's a good move. I really think it will be better to give Asashoryu a bit more of time as there is not much one can done as long as Asashoryu is refusing to go to a hospital to be treated right now.

And about Isenoumi oyakata going to Ministry of Eduation and Science to report the latest. The Sumo Kyokai is a public corporation. It is not a private enterprise as such they come under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Education and Science. Remember the chief mission of the Kyokai is not to make a profit but to dissiminate the culture of sumo.

[Otokonoyama]

Remember the chief mission of the Kyokai is not to make a profit but to dissiminate the culture of sumo.

That could well now be "The stated chief mission of the Kyokai is not to make a profit but to disseminate the culture of sumo." It's very difficult to suspend disbelief about the primacy of money in all that is ozumo these days. From massive amounts of koenkai money and kenshokin, to fleets of cars outside the honbasho venues looking like gatherings of oyabun from bad gangster movies, to all sorts of secret business deals (I've few doubts that Kyokushuzan's case was the mere tip of the iceberg), to rank & file maegashira men owning Hummers, it's increasingly all about the money. Asashoryu is a symptom of what has gone wrong, not the cause. With the focus on profit since the economic good times of the '60s, something along these lines was bound to happen sooner or later. The only reason he's not gone now is again the money. If the NSK cared not a lick for the financial repercussions, he'd a been turned out on his cauliflower ear two weeks ago.

Edited August 14, 2007 by Otokonoyama

[Kintamayama]

"His condition isn't going to deteriorate..We can wait till the 17th..", said the overseas-vacationing Doctor Imasaka(?) who was said to start treatment on the 16th.. So now all eyes are on the 17th. It has also been established that Asashouryuu has refused to be hospitalized. "I have heard he is not eating well. I recommended he be hospitalized and be treated internally , externally and mentally, but Takasago Oyakata told me Asa wished to be treated at home. The wishes of a patient should be adhered to-it's the best thing to do", said Dr. Yoshida of the NSK health corps. It looks like the apology interview that Takasago Oyakata is pushing for is now on hold indefinitely.

Edited August 14, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Personally I think it's a good move. I really think it will be better to give Asashoryu a bit more of time as there is not much one can done as long as Asashoryu is refusing to go to a hospital to be treated right now.

Papers are saying leaving him shisho-less and without medical treatment for days does not "look good". He is being abandoned, is some reporters' take.

One of them even said that Takasago is presenting his kyujo papers to Asa, and will be suffering a fusenpai..

Edited August 14, 2007 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Interesting interview with 80 year old doctor Hayashi, who was the Kyokai's head doctor for 37 years till 2001. Maybe someone could translate it? Essentially, he says when you treat a rikishi, the diagnosis should fit a rikishi and not a regular person and has a lot to say about the present physicians, Oyakata and Asashouryuu himself. After my mild heart attack, I need a holiday too, so please, someone, can you help? It also has a lot of idioms which I don't know.. I should try to see as many doctors as possible, or maybe one is better. Maybe I won't go on holiday at this time. Or just a short one.

http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/sports/sumo/76389/

[Kintamayama]

their online edition

I have to say this sums it up quite nicely . Well written, too.

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

http://nakata.net/jp/hidesmail/hml290.htm

[Sashohitowa]

http://nakata.net/jp/hidesmail/hml290.htm

It seems like it is from Hidetoshi Nakata's site... Care to provide a little translation?

[Sasanishiki]

He's basically saying that he can't really comment on the sumo world as he is an outsider but form what he saw it was Asa's wrist or arm that was the main injury. For example, he had difficulty holding things or using his arm properly. Nakata thinks that Asa had returned to Mongolia to get himself right for the next basho. According to Nakata, these injuries shouldn't really stop him from being both kyujo from the jungyo and helping out in a charity game for kids, for greater connection between the two countries, etc.

Nakata realises it has caused a big stink in the media but he'd like everyone to reconsider based on these things. He thinks Asa will overcome these problems and hopes that he will gambarize for the future.

[Peterao]

He's basically saying that he can't really comment on the sumo world as he is an outsider but form what he saw it was Asa's wrist or arm that was the main injury. For example, he had difficulty holding things or using his arm properly. Nakata thinks that Asa had returned to Mongolia to get himself right for the next basho. According to Nakata, these injuries shouldn't really stop him from being both kyujo from the jungyo and helping out in a charity game for kids, for greater connection between the two countries, etc.

Nakata realises it has caused a big stink in the media but he'd like everyone to reconsider based on these things. He thinks Asa will overcome these problems and hopes that he will gambarize for the future.

Yes, Nakata would certainly like to hold the middle ground here, since there are a lot people who seem to think this whole thing is his own fault!

Though Nakata does admit he's an outsider to the sumo world, surely he would realize that Asashoryu's participation on a jungyo tour does not necessitate his getting on a dohyo and fighting? If we are to accept Nakata's argument, then we are to accept that it is okay for Asashoryu to choose to help out children of another country, while also choosing not to provide support to his own sport and to the people of the country (especially those of Yubari) that made Asashoryu relevent to the world.

Maybe that is Asashoryu's right. But then it is also the right of Japanese people to feel outraged and offended about that choice as well.

[Peterao]

Though Nakata does admit he's an outsider to the sumo world, surely he would realize that Asashoryu's participation on a jungyo tour does not necessitate his getting on a dohyo and fighting?

I wouldn't be too sure about that. I had someone Japanese say to me today he thought all this would increase jungyo ticket sales. I was shocked and asked how he thought that would happen. His answer? Before last week he had never even heard of jungyo!

Well, he did post that article on August 10th, long after just about everything Asashoryu had long since been thrashed out in the media. Given that he was a key part of this story, I don't think he can claim ignorance of jungyo for that long.

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

The man with unnurtured mage has again stated his will to go to Mongolia but Takasago oyakata says he will deliver the intai notice if Shoryu leaves for Mongolia. No permission, not acceptable to return. Such is life in sumou now. Shoryu probably knows that if he leaves he will basically force oyakata to force him to retire so if Shoryu would leave he would probably leave without mage or kimono and we would see millions of pictures from Narita with Shoryu's long hair in wild mode, casual clothes and wall of silence. Shoryu is welcomed to take part in Kotozakura's funeral service on 21st.

[Jonosuke]

In a regular press conference held on August 15, Bunmei Ibuki, minister of Science and Education whose jusdiction the Sumo Kyokai falls under told reporters that the Kyokai would not be able to resolve the current problems by simply painting Asashoryu as "a heel" and keep criticizing him. He asked the Kyokai to adjust the curernt approach to find a way out of the impasse.

"More than Asashoryu's conduct and manners as a yokozuna, what is being asked here is, how the Kyokai got itself to the present predicament by allowing such conduct and manners," Ibuki pointed out. "I believe the Kyokai should be playing more visible role in instructing their rikishi."

"As a for public interest, educational foundation qualifying for non-commercial purpose status, the Kyokai has certain obligations. Their most important duty is to ensure to teach its highest ranking active yokozuna the deep understanding of Japanese culture and the weight of responsibility as the highest rank rikishi," Ibuki said, stressing more need of educating the role of yokozuna to the foreign born rikishi.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Jonosuke

[ilovesumo]

And with this, more and more pressure is added...

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

http://nakata.net/jp/hidesmail/hml290.htm

It seems like it is from Hidetoshi Nakata's site... Care to provide a little translation?

Here is correct English translation from

http://www.sumotalk.com/news.htm

Japanese soccer star, Hidetoshi Nakata, blogs about Asashoryu events

Japan soccer star, Hidetoshi Nakata, posted a message on his personal website telling Asashoryu to hang in there. Nakata was a participant with Asashoryu in the now infamous soccer match in Mongolia that led to the Yokozuna's current situation. This is a direct translation from Nakata's blog on his website nakata.net:

Honestly, from point of view I don't know what is real and what is false, but was Asashoryu really faking any injuries? Asashoryu never admitted to faking his injuries, but it's as if the press has already made the judgment that we was. It's hard to imagine that a person who was active enough to just win a yusho would make the claim that he has the sort of injury that would make him unable to walk. It's completely acceptable to think that a Yokozuna would take a wait and see approach regarding the exhibitions in order to heal from his injuries and prepare to fight as a worthy Yokozuna the next basho.

There's no denying he was injured, so what if he went back to Mongolia to heal from his injuries? The serious injury was to his elbow but what if it wasn't bad enough to prevent him from playing a little soccer with some kids? And so what if he felt it was okay to participate in the charity event for the kids because both the Mongolian and Japanese governments made the request, I was scheduled to participate, and it was for the good of both countries and the children?

I had no idea that he was missing the exhibition events, but he told me after the event that his arm was really bothering him. He even looked in pain as he reached for his plates over dinner. He said that he came back to Mongolia to receive treatment and that there was a good onsen (hot springs) in the area that helped the problem.

I realize there was a problem with Asashoryu's behavior that led to some misunderstanding, but from my point of view as an outsider in all of this, the only conclusion that I can reach is that the media is taking this opportunity to lynch Asashoryu. They don't really know the world of sumo, and they can't really say whether or not he's worthy to be a Yokozuna. It's not their place to make these kinds of comments. It's not as if they can't understand the concept that it isn't just enough for a Yokozuna to be strong.

He has 21 yusho, and he carried the Japan Sumo Association on his back as a lone Yokozuna and as a Mongolian. No one can deny what a superior athlete his is and the records he has set. I wish everyone would rethink things about him, and I wish people wouldn't let themselves be swayed so much by the media and the opinions of others.

In conclusion, if I may call him my friend, I can't wait to see Asashoryu defeat his current troubles and return to the dohyo and as one of the strongest Yokozuna ever.

Hang in there, Asashoryu!!

Hide

Here is translation into Mongolian

http://olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&...7&sid=64919

[Otokonoyama]

A report conflicting the story of the Embassy of Mongolia in the news:

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/529/

A wrap-up of the situation in the same Mongolian newspaper:

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/530/

[Ikh Mongol Dagvadorj]

A report conflicting the story of the Embassy of Mongolia in the news:

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/529/

Original interview in Mongolian lang. with L.DORJGOCHOO, general secretary of the Mongolian Football Federation

http://olloo.mn/modules.php?name=News&...7&sid=64765

Tone of the interview is completely opposite of what is in UBPOST. Somebody lost in translation or just trying to imitate Japanese media

[Shomishuu]

A report conflicting the story of the Embassy of Mongolia in the news:

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/529/

A wrap-up of the situation in the same Mongolian newspaper:

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/content/view/530/

The best of these two articles is the wrap-up of the second:

There does not seem to be much sympathy for Asashoryu among Japanese sumo fans. Answering the question

[paolo]

In a regular press conference held on August 15, Bunmei Ibuki, minister of Science and Education whose jusdiction the Sumo Kyokai falls under told reporters that the Kyokai would not be able to resolve the current problems by simply painting Asashoryu as "a heel" and keep criticizing him. He asked the Kyokai to adjust the curernt approach to find a way out of the impasse.

Again, very very interesting. All other considerations apart, the Kyokai has shown a very (how can I say) "traditional" approach to this case; they seem to have thought: here is a punishment, the man will pay for it, Takasago will manage it, fullstop. They seem to have been completely caught off guards by the evolution (Asashoryu's nervous breakdown or whatever it is), and this can be understood. After 15 days though it seems that not only have they done nothing to come out of the situation, but (what is worse) they do not have any ideas on what must be done. To my western eyes this looks very bad for a structure that is supposed to manage so important a business. Now very slow moves start to be performed: statements that say "we would like to have Asashoryu back", "his attendance at the funeral would be appreciated" and similar. But they are still very slow.... Is it because their way of approaching problems is very rigid ? Let me give an example: Takasago is not dependable and he doesn't seem to say and do anything intelligent ? OK. Then I am Kitanoumi and I want to see what the problem is with my eyes. I go to Asashoryu myself and tell Asashoryu directly how the situation is. Do the Kyokai really want Asashoryu back and maybe it would be a good idea to send the man to Mongolia ? What big difference does it make after all ? New meeting, new decision: considering the situation, he can go to Mongolia. And so on. How the hell can a situation like this be left without any decision ? I appreciate very much that in the end this is "clearly" stated by the Minister !!!