The violent scandal of sumo wrestlers,
which caused retirement of yokozuna Harumafuji, seems to be settled with
dismissal of retired yokozuna Takanohana from the director of Japan Sumo
Association. Takanohana is accused of his behavior not to report the injury of
one of his disciples Takanoiwa and not to cooperate with investigation of the
association. However, it is likely for Takanohana to return to his position in
the next election of board members within few months.
According to the gossip news that have been
active in reporting the scandal, it is confirmed that Harumafuji hit Takanoiwa
for tens of times in the bar in Tottori, causing absence of Takanoiwa in Kyushu
tournament in November with injury on his head top. Yokozunas Hakuho and
Kakuryu were there, but did not stop Harumafuji hitting Takanoiwa. JSA already
decided to pose penalty of cutting salary of Hakuho and Kakuryu.
As the mentor of Takanoiwa, Takanohana has
been refusing interview of JSA on the issue, because he thought that having
contact with JSA would confuse investigation of police on the case. JSA
repeatedly requested Takanohana to appear to Crisis Control Committee,
Takanohana has been refusing it until the investigation of the police would
finish.
An extraordinary meeting of the board of
directors on Thursday decided to propose dismissal of Takanohana to Council
meeting scheduled in January 4th. It is likely that the council will
approve the proposal, which will be the first case of a director to be discharged.
Although the board asked Takanohana of his voluntary resignation, he refused it
in front of other members. If the move of dismissal is passed, Takanohana will
be dropped by two ranks and become an ordinary board member.
It is not unusual for a person concerned to
a criminal case to keep information not to disturb investigation of police. But
JSA board of directors unanimously, except Takanohana, decided that his
behavior was seriously opposed the responsibility of director to find the truth
of scandal. It is supposed that there is a sharp antagonism between the board
that protects Mongolian star wrestlers and Takanohana who is frustrated with
Mongolian community among the wrestlers. Mainichi Shimbun raised a headline of
Curious on Xenophobic Tendency for its editorial on Friday.
Having said that, Takanohana can run for
the election of the directors after January tournament next month. It is likely
that once-dismissed director, Takanohana will be elected again with necessary
support from other board members. JSA evaded displacement of former popular
yokozuna, being afraid of backlash from Sumo fans. The scandal after all is
something about survival of Sumo wrestling, which is not one of the sports but
exhibition of traditional culture of Japan.
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