THE CRISIS in Japan’s national sport deepened over the weekend when sumo wrestling’s governing body dramatically scrapped a major spring tournament as it struggles to deal with match-rigging claims.
The decision on next month’s Basho championship – the first cancellation since the second World War – follows an admission by two top-division wrestlers and a retired coach that they had thrown bouts for money.
Japan Sumo Association chairman Hanaregoma yesterday dubbed revelations “unforgivable”. “Honestly, what I am about to say marks the darkest ever chapter in the long history of sumo,” he told reporters during a nationally televised press conference. “Until we can completely root out corruption in the sport, we cannot show sumo on the ring,” he said.
State broadcaster NHK, which has sole rights to cover the sumo tournaments, had already announced it was pulling the plug on live coverage of the March event. The government is also reportedly preparing to exact punishment on the once exalted sport with plans to nullify its semi-tax-free status. This would force the Sumo Association to dissolve itself and donate its assets to charity, says the Yomiurinewspaper.
Japan’s prime minister Naoto Kan has called the scandal a “betrayal” of the public. Tokyo’s outspoken governor Shintaro Ishihara poured salt on sumo’s wounds by saying its quasi-official status in Japan was “ridiculous”. “Match-fixing has been considered normal in sumo for years,” he said over the weekend. “It’s better to watch and enjoy the matches as though they’re rigged.”
Police say 13 wrestlers sent text messages instructing each other how and when to fake fights for thousands of euro at a time. The revelations confirmed long-held suspicions that much of the fighting in the ring was a front, and follow a string of damaging claims that have sent sumo’s reputation into a tailspin.
Last year the association disciplined dozens of wrestlers who admitted illegally betting on baseball games in deals brokered through Yakuza gangsters. In return, the mobsters were given ringside seats. Allegations of drug taking and fatal bullying have also dogged the sport.
The decision to cancel next month’s tournament in Osaka is the first since 1946 when delayed repairs to a bomb-damaged venue in Tokyo forced the opening to be postponed.
It follows last week’s admission by wrestlers Chiyohakuho, Enatsukasa and coach Takenawa that they had fixed fights. A panel set up by the association is investigating police claims against a dozen other men. Commentators say the claims are likely the tip of the iceberg and will permanently damage sumo’s national standing.
The governors of the Sumo Association were warned yesterday to get their house in order. “It is their responsibility to the Japanese people to clarify what happened and take firm action.” chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano said. “The situation does not allow them to hold a tournament if the facts of the matter are not clear and reprimands cannot be issued.”