The violence and scandals that have plagued Japan's sumo world came full circle just after the year's sixth and final tournament, leaving maiden victories by the sport's young up-and-comers in the shadows. Revelations of violence, harassment and antiquated traditions dogged the country's once-venerable sport in ...
Ticket sales brisk despite Takanoiwa scandal
Once again, sumo finds itself embroiled in a violence scandal. It is of course depressing that the sport can't seem to get out of its own way, but perhaps these problems are a side effect of the transition from a hidden world to one where ...
The Japan Sumo Association accepted the resignation from Takanoiwa, who himself was a victim of assault last year that led to the resignation of Harumafuji.
The Japan Sumo Association said Wednesday that rank-and-file wrestler Takanoiwa, whose beating by former yokozuna Harumafuji caused a scandal last year, assaulted an attendant of his stable during the ongoing regional tour. Just two months after the sport's governing body issued a "declaration to eradicate ...
Takanoiwa drops lawsuit against ex-yokozuna Harumafuji over assault
Wrestler Takanoiwa on Tuesday dropped a damages suit filed against former yokozuna Harumafuji for an assault last year, saying his family in Mongolia has been subject to abuse over the legal action. In the civil suit filed earlier this month, Takanoiwa sought ¥24 million ($213,000) ...
Five percent of sumo wrestlers suffered physical abuse over past year according to investigation
A third-party investigation found physical abuse persists in Japan's traditional sport of sumo, according to its final report. The investigative panel, under the guidance of former prosecutor Keiichi Tadaki, questioned wrestlers and sumo elders and reported that over the past year, 5.2 percent of the ...
Sumo wrestler Takanoiwa filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking ¥24 million ($210,000) in damages from Harumafuji, claiming the former yokozuna's assault last year forced him to miss matches due to injuries and caused him financial loss. Harumafuji faced a summary indictment in December for assaulting the ...
Takanohana steps down from JSA
The Japan Sumo Association attempted to force stablemaster Takanohana to admit that the accusations he filed to the Cabinet Office in March were false. Instead, the former yokozuna who won 22 Emperor's Cups in his illustrious career opted to retire from professional sumo. Takanohana submitted his ...
Takanoiwa, the wrestler who was injured in a beating by former yokozuna Harumafuji last fall, took part in training Thursday and appeared ready to let fate determine his participation in the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. In his first public appearance since the scandal that ...
The knives begin to sharpen for Hakuho after sumo scandal
At the start of last November’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Shukan Taishu magazine (Nov. 20) led off its issue with a four-page article titled “What you need to know to enjoy the year’s final tournament tenfold.” If only they had known. Shortly before the Kyushu Tournament, ...
Takanoiwa, who sustained head injuries as the victim of an assault case in late October, has withdrawn from the upcoming New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association said Friday. The meet begins on Sunday at Ryogoku Kokugikan. In a meeting to discuss the bouts ...
Sumo body looks to demote stablemaster Takanohana over Harumafuji scandal
The Japan Sumo Association on Thursday recommended that sumo elder Takanohana be removed from his post as director, asking that he be demoted over his role in the assault scandal that led to the retirement of grand champion Harumafuji. A decision on Takanohana's punishment was ...
