The Japan Sumo Association, which has been rocked by the gambling scandal, was dealt more blows last week. On Tuesday, NHK decided not to provide live television coverage of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. On Wednesday, police raided Onomatsu and other sumo stables for evidence of suspected illegal gambling among wrestlers and stablemasters, in which gangsters may have had a hand.
The development is a wakeup call for the JSA to end questionable practices traditionally tolerated in the sumo world and to sever whatever ties it may have with underworld groups. Such groups are suspected of having played important roles in staging sumo tournaments in local regions.
NHK started its live radio broadcast of Grand Sumo Tournaments in 1928 and live TV broadcasts in 1953. Even a 2007 hazing death of a young wrestler, a 2008 marijuana scandal involving wrestlers, and yokozuna Asashoryu's alleged assault on a man in January 2010 did not result in NHK's suspension of live broadcast of the tournaments. Live sumo programs bring NHK a high audience rating while the JSA receives a big fee for broadcasting rights. The amount is not disclosed.