Sumo veteran Kaio said Tuesday that harsh treatment of wrestlers in training is an integral part of Japan's ancient sport and is partially responsible for his own success.
Japan's ancient sport has been rocked by several recent scandals, including one in which a trainer was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in the fatal beating of a young wrestler during training.
Junichi Yamamoto, who went by the name Tokitsukaze when he was master of a sumo stable, where wrestlers train and live — ordered three wrestlers, in the name of practice, to beat 17-year-old Tokitaizan, hitting him with beer bottles, a baseball bat and hosing him with cold water.