Sumo Headlines and Sumo News - Japan
The Toshi-yori Group ... met yesterday to hold an emergency meeting in light of the news that second drug tests for Roho and Hakurozan came back positive. The group discussed the stance Kitanoumi Rijicho [boss of the Sumo Association] has taken despite the second test that points to the Russian brothers' usage of marijuana. The group demanded that an emergency meeting be held on September 8th by the board of directors to determine a punishment of the two rikishi before more test results are revealed later that day. During the meeting, Otake-oyakata[ = stablemaster] read a written statement from Roho where the Russian maintained his innocence, but as the oyakata read the letter, he was heckled by another unnamed oyakata who shouted out "That's enough! Stop right there!" Otake-oyakata and the other oyakata stared each other down creating an uneasy feeling in the room.
Remember: this is Japan, and this is the elders of Sumo, who are supposed to be the best examples of polite decency. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
elders of Sumo are supposed to be the best examples of polite decency.
Umm, they're human beings who compete with each other for power and prestige. Polite on the surface maybe, but decent....? Who are they kidding ? keep to the Fen Causeway
I add that in the current case, while many oyakatas might be also motivated by power, the push for doing something seems to come from public opinion (at least as represented by media and politics), including public calls for resignation from the sports ministry.
Then again, in the - in our Western eyes much more serious - scandal a year ago, when a wrestler died from brutal treatment during training, the public got a glimpse for a different standard for oyakata behaviour behind closed doors... *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
