Kotomitsuki accused of gambling- dismissed from Sumo

[Asashosakari]

Not a Japanese citizen, but it's never occurred to me to think of sumo as a "higher-class" sport - it seems pretty normal that something that is more combat sport than martial art and enjoys popular appeal would be mainly appreciated by the lower strata of society. Additionally, Ozumo's grassroots were long found in rural areas, not the urban centres, so perhaps that's what your friend meant by lower class (rather than the contemporary Western concept based more on relative affluence)?

[Kintamayama]

Sadogatake : "The decision to suspend him was mine. I did not discuss this with him". The papers are saying his intai is unavoidable, as he will miss Nagoya and go kadoban, and it is highly unlikely he will be mounting the dohyo in September either, given the circumstances and the planned police investigation. It looks like his shisho has inevitably caused his retirement. Although Musashigawa rijicho has said he can do keiko despite his "house arrest" status, people close to sources are saying there is no way he can concentrate on keiko under the pressure of investigations etc.. "The future? Who knows.." summed Sadogatake.

Now, to how it all it all started. Kotomitsuki asked a middleman to pay him his gambling winnings. Another rikishi from another heya who was gambling on baseball as well has a gangster brother who heard of this, and decided to blackmail Kotomitsuki by threatening to go public with the fact that he was gambling on baseball. Kotomitsuki paid him 3 million yen, but the guy got greedy and demanded 100 million yen. The police are now looking into the blackmail story and have filed papers on the subject.

Edit:Some people from the Education ministry which is in charge of Sumo are suggesting the Kyokai cancel the Nagoya basho. "There is a possibility of 20 involved sekitori going kyujo, so what then??",

Edited June 15, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Tamaikazuchi]

Edit:Some people from the Education ministry which is in charge of Sumo are suggesting the Kyokai cancel the Nagoya basho. "There is a possibility of 20 involved sekitori going kyujo, so what then??"

Yeesh, that would be a nightmare.

[Kintamayama]

Among the 29 who admitted to betting on baseball, there are a few sekitori and some hairdressers but what is really worrying is that there are a few Oyakata as well, some of them heya owners. There are Oyakata among the 36 "lesser" gamblers as well. Who knows where we're heading now.

[Kintamayama]

The Kyokai's lawyer Ben Goshi is now saying that there may have been a serious procedural error on their part in this investigation. All details of the Kyokai's questionnaire were handed over to the police, names and all, but it was done without advising the people in advance, and there may have been a violation of their privacy . "We want to totally 'empty the sea' (this idiom has been used millions of times by everyone these last few days..) and some may not like our method, but that's how it's going down!", said Rij. Some are not liking it at all, and are threatening to sue for breach of privacy. "We broke paragraph 192 section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Code and passed the information off to the police, as some of the executives in the Kyokai thought it was OK.. It appears to have been inappropriate..," admitted Mr. Goshi. What started off as an internal Kyokai investigation ended up involving the police, and some people are not happy, not happy at all.

Edited June 16, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama]

Kotomitsuki decided to admit to everything after his family (pregnant wife included) were threatened as well, says Musashigawa Rij. "He came to me on the 13th and admitted everything, including the threats. He explained that his whole family was in danger so I guess he could not admit to this before.. He was very reflective and regretful," explained the Rij, hinting at some empathy towards the fallen Ozeki.

Edited June 16, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Jakusotsu]

Just imagine the same witch hunt would have happened to a recently retired yokozuna, and the inevitable outcries about xenophobia and racism.

[Fay]

Just imagine the same witch hunt would have happened to a recently retired yokozuna, and the inevitable outcries about xenophobia and racism.

didn't want to mention it ... Sukibidubidu

[Orion]

Just imagine the same witch hunt would have happened to a recently retired yokozuna, and the inevitable outcries about xenophobia and racism.

And in that case, what alternative punishment would have qualified as a 'slap on the wrist'?

Edited June 16, 2010 by Orion

[Asashosakari]

The old adage fits here: Never has so much been written about so little. With stuff like the drug incidents and (especially) the hazing I could at least understand where the outrage was coming from, but this time? I just don't get the feeling that there's any public outcry against rikishi gambling, and normally it seems to take at least a vocal minority of people to get the press interested in a particular issue, but this time it's just snowballing for no reason that I can discern. Perhaps the yakuza connections, but those seem to be tenuous at best for many cases - it's not like there's a nine-fingered guy standing around every time a bunch of bored rikishi are playing cards for money during a jungyo stop.

Would this stuff even have come to light at all if it wasn't for the temporal proximity to the Kise case? Just weird.

[Otokonoyama]

Could be the yaks themselves. NSK tries to distance themselves, so in response the mob exposes some of the Kyokai's dirty laundry. Classic tactics.

[ryafuji]

Just imagine the same witch hunt would have happened to a recently retired yokozuna, and the inevitable outcries about xenophobia and racism.

Would the Riji have "hinted at some empathy towards the fallen Yokozuna"? Doubt it.

[Asashosakari]

Could be the yaks themselves. NSK tries to distance themselves, so in response the mob exposes some of the Kyokai's dirty laundry. Classic tactics.

Sure, but why does the story have the legs it obviously does? Public opinion was very negative about the drugs and hazing incidents, but I don't get the feeling that particularly many people (fans and non-fans alike) care all that much about making a big deal out of gambling, much like nobody really cares about yaocho rumours over there. Are some journalists in the pocket of yakuza groups?

[Otokonoyama]

More likely editors and owners could be influenced than individual reporters, but...who knows?

Here's one take on the situation: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20100606a1.html

[Asashosakari]

Here's one take on the situation: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20100606a1.html

Thanks. The "Grappling with the gangsters" article linked at the bottom of that one is also quite interesting:

The ozeki [Kotomitsuki] might still be paying but he then asked the powerful oyakata Tokitsukaze

[Kintamayama]

Could be the yaks themselves. NSK tries to distance themselves, so in response the mob exposes some of the Kyokai's dirty laundry. Classic tactics.

Sure, but why does the story have the legs it obviously does? Public opinion was very negative about the drugs and hazing incidents, but I don't get the feeling that particularly many people (fans and non-fans alike) care all that much about making a big deal out of gambling, much like nobody really cares about yaocho rumours over there. Are some journalists in the pocket of yakuza groups?

My guess-Public opinion regarding sumo is basically split in two-those that follow sumo and those that don't. Those that don't couldn't care less about what's happening there, and those that aren't sumo fans but were still peeved about the drugs had so much more to get peeved about since then that they are tired of hearing the word "sumo" in any context. Followers of sumo are mostly ambivalent- it's been a while since even the die-hard fans regarded their idols as idols, as scandal after scandal kind of eroded that for most. On the one hand they are disappointed but on the other hand they don't want a basho devoid of 20 rikishi either. The undercurrent here is gambling- it's difficult to understand that illegal gambling is treated in Japan quite strictly, and I'm sure, what I said before notwithstanding, that the average man in the street is quite shocked at the latest revelations. The Japanese press wouldn't be wasting its time for a week now if they thought their merchandise was unsellable to the public.

[Harry]

So much for my chance at back-to-back yusho in "Guess the Kotomitsuki"..

0-0-15

1) yasumi

2) nobody

3) Day 8

4) nobody

5) no

6) zero

7) O2w

;-)

0-0-15

1) Intai

...

(Shaking head...)

[ilovesumo]

Could be the yaks themselves. NSK tries to distance themselves, so in response the mob exposes some of the Kyokai's dirty laundry. Classic tactics.

Sure, but why does the story have the legs it obviously does? Public opinion was very negative about the drugs and hazing incidents, but I don't get the feeling that particularly many people (fans and non-fans alike) care all that much about making a big deal out of gambling, much like nobody really cares about yaocho rumours over there. Are some journalists in the pocket of yakuza groups?

My guess-Public opinion regarding sumo is basically split in two-those that follow sumo and those that don't. Those that don't couldn't care less about what's happening there, and those that aren't sumo fans but were still peeved about the drugs had so much more to get peeved about since then that they are tired of hearing the word "sumo" in any context. Followers of sumo are mostly ambivalent- it's been a while since even the die-hard fans regarded their idols as idols, as scandal after scandal kind of eroded that for most. On the one hand they are disappointed but on the other hand they don't want a basho devoid of 20 rikishi either. The undercurrent here is gambling- it's difficult to understand that illegal gambling is treated in Japan quite strictly, and I'm sure, what I said before notwithstanding, that the average man in the street is quite shocked at the latest revelations. The Japanese press wouldn't be wasting its time for a week now if they thought their merchandise was unsellable to the public.

Jup. The "world outside" couldn't care less and people like you or me, who do care a lot, feel unhappy now. Sumo has a very important duty- to save the "Japaneseness". Think it was Moeller who wrote that....Sometimes I wonder if "Japaneseness" means to know how and when to apologize in tears...

It's always about bowing ones head deep enough...

No idea at all what is going on here....fact is, there are too many heya and some shrinking might help those who'll stay...I do not believe in coincidences anymore...

Ok, then clean out but don't forget the real scary ones who didn't turn emselves in....

and start with the encouragement of the use of prostitution (source Sharnoff)...abolish this and let em guys have a private life, no matter what league. Give em money, cause they do work and make oyakata real coaches - let em study to get a licence. Man, they deal with kids...one must be able to do so, must be able to understand the needs of those kids, especially those of a background like former Chiyotaikai (increasing number). Extra-care is needed. Concentrate on the kids, not on the F-word money.

But then again, I am afraid who might be the ones to be kicked out...several names mentioned would make me break down and cry...There are some real great people in there...

Only the good die young....right?

[Shibata-gumi]

Man what a nightmare...imagine them cancelling a basho? That would be HORRIBLE.

[Stelios]

On the other hand, Kotomitsuki may go intai and Kaio will soon follow (-1 win when he most needs it) (Shaking head...)

[Kintamayama]

Names of the others are slowly being revealed. A new article is naming Toyonoshima and Ootake Oyakata as baseball gamblers too. They were named by an ex-Makuuchi rikishi in said article. When asked if these were among those who admitted to gambling , Michinoku Oyakata answered: "I cannot say anything". "I am entrusting everything in the hands of the Kyokai, so I can't say anything,", said Toyonoshima, not saying anything. "Nothing can be said at this time. Everything is in the hands of the Kyokai, so I suggest you ask them," said Tokitsukaze Oyakata.

On a related note, the Education Ministry is demanding that the names of rikishi who admitted to gambling be made public. "That is not possible at this time," answered Michinoku Oyakata. "People are going to wonder if the yusho or sansho winners are also gamblers. Can Nagoya basho go on as usual in the current atmosphere? I doubt it.. If the Kyokai doesn't step up and take care of this, demands to cancel the basho will surely be heard!!" said an angry Ministry official. The Kyokai has agreed to form a committee consisting of "knowledgeable outsiders" (the 7 outsiders who are already members of the various Kyokai committees) to deal with this earthquake as requested by the Education ministry, but surprised everyone by insisting on adding Kyokai members (Michinoku himself and one other Oyakata) to the committee as well. The rijikai will be convening on Friday to decide if they will reveal all the names of the rikishi and Oyakata who admitted to gambling.

Edited July 4, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Otokonoyama]

Ok, then clean out but don't forget the real scary ones who didn't turn emselves in....

and start with the encouragement of the use of prostitution (source Sharnoff)...abolish this and let em guys have a private life, no matter what league. Give em money, cause they do work and make oyakata real coaches - let em study to get a licence. Man, they deal with kids...one must be able to do so, must be able to understand the needs of those kids, especially those of a background like former Chiyotaikai (increasing number). Extra-care is needed. Concentrate on the kids, not on the F-word money.

Are you referring to this? http://www.banzuke.com/96-3/msg00198.html

[tarako]

I don't care so much whether my favorite sekitori and his friends bet on a little card game amongst themselves. I care if their betting requires the services of scary dudes. I care if they bet on their own sport. I care if they take a dive for each other. I figured that they were trying to force Kotomitsuki to retire in order to make way for others to advance. Guess I was wrong. And get some help, guy!

[ilovesumo]

Are you referring to this? http://www.banzuke.com/96-3/msg00198.html

Nope. Wasn't at all about the old Onaruto-story.

Some infos indeed had been written down in books.

Am scared of the name list to come.................

just imagine em shutting half of the heya down and cancel the remaining basho this year...............

nobody had been killed........this feels like the soccer case...a touch too much (to say it with ACDC)

Edited June 17, 2010 by ilovesumo

[Orion]

Are you referring to this? http://www.banzuke.com/96-3/msg00198.html

Nope. Wasn't at all about the old Onaruto-story.

Some infos indeed had been written down in books.

Am scared of the name list to come.................

just imagine em shutting half of the heya down and cancel the remaining basho this year...............

nobody had been killed........this feels like the soccer case...a touch too much (to say it with ACDC)

Something tells me I'd better sit out this one. You either know too much or too little to join in this kind of correspondence.

Orion, who is not going to Nagoya for the first time in years, simply because all the Nakabi and Senshuraku tickets were sold out before she could make up her mind....