Wakanohou arrested for drug possession

[Kintamayama 45,529]

Pictures from the interview:

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

It's interesting about tabloids. In Canada, I found them quite popular in laboratories and teachers' lounges. They were viewed as a great way to relax during a break with a little light, entertaining reading...

[Jonosuke 28]

I saw the video clip Otoko san posted and read other stories but there was no mention that he specifically named any rikishi. So I am not sure where Asashoryu reference came other than the fact that the court case does involve Asashoryu.

He basically said in the press conference in Russian he was forced to engage in an "unfair" bout and money was exchanged. He also said he was involved him in yaocho bouts that he could not "refuse". He says he will name the names in court.

Regardless he says he still wants the Kyokai to accept him back and wants to keep compeiting.

But has he ever thought how could the Kyokai take someone back regardless of what he was dismissed for before but now after admitting to be engaged in yaocho bouts?

Post Edit:

Wakanoho (the reason for speaking up now) : The current sumo world is dirty. To going back, I want to cleanse the world.

He also said he was asked to do yaocho as soon as he got promoted to Makuuchi (if I recall this is after the Yaocho case started).

Edited September 29, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Jonosuke 28]

Statement read in Russian (with an interpretor) By Wakanoho at his press conference today

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First I'd like to apologize once again for causing disturbances. I love Sumo. I believe I will be able to return to Ozumo once again. However even if I can get back, I cannot take the current conditions. Because I am afraid what may happen to me.

I wanted to be strong, I wanted to be an ozeki and yokozuna but once I entered Makuuchi, I was forced to be in an unfair bout and was given a money. If I refused, I'd get hazed. Oyakata all knew what was going on and did not stop it. In my active days I have engaged in "unfair" bouts.

I will be appearing in court as a witness for the Weeky Shukan Gendai magazine. The Kyokai demoted Chairman Kitanoumi from his chairman's post and handed down severe penalty of dismissal to Roho and Hakurozan even though they maintained they have not smoked marijuana. But why wouldn't they also punish other rikishi and oyakata who have been smoking marijuna?

I want to tell to the court as much as I know. I would like to speak on other awful truths the Kyokai has been committing. The reason I decided to speak up now is that I want to cleanse the Ozumo world I love and to resotore the honor of foreigners.

Q: Give us specific examples of "unfair" bouts?

Wakanoho: I will state them in court.

Q: Tell us how contact was made between the Weekly Shukan Gendai and yourself.

W: No comment.

Q: Any material evidence of your accusations?

W: I myself is the witness

[Zentoryu 154]

I guess it was only a matter of time before this started getting ugly. I wonder if the brothers with take this route as well.

[Kintamayama 45,529]

A bit more:

"I was threatened with hazing if I didn't do yaocho. My Oyakata knew about this but did nothing.That's because the Oyakata himself did "unfair" stuff while he was active!!", declared Ex-Wakanohou. He also promised to name names and sums of money at the trial. His "wanting to clean up Sumo" isn't being "bought" by the press. Sources close to him: "It's all about money. It seems he met with the Gendai's editor in chief on Friday and agreed to appear in court as a witness for them". He will be paid handsomely for doing that, say the close people. The editorial department of the Gendai have acknowledged that they have asked him to testify. "We are not at liberty to say", was their answer when asked how much they will be paying him, but did not deny the payment. Others have said that Wakanohou is down to his last 200,000 yen. ($2000). His friends told him that instead of going into debt, he should return to Russia, but he refused to do so. "The Gendai is probably paying him something like 10 million yen", said a source close to the action. Asked about trying to recruit the brothers as well, the Gendai did not deny it.

Edited September 29, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,529]

Some articles in English:

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Banned...-the.4539901.jp

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080930a3.html

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/arch...9/30/2003424571

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/as...ons-945984.html

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...07-2703,00.html

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...NcSfS3Ea1LwZ31g

For Nishi in Welsh:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/...2724572933.html

[Jejima 1,414]

The Wakanoho story was the main news story on the back-page of today's South China Morning Post - the main English-language newspaper of Hong Kong. Normally I would be very happy to see sumo getting so much coverage...

Edited September 30, 2008 by Jejima

[Asashosakari 19,661]

And here comes the return volley... According to Sports Hochi, Magaki-oyakata will be submitting papers to the foreign ministry today in order to cancel his sponsorship for ex-Wakanoho's visa, citing his decision to appear as a witness for Shukan Gendai. The visa is currently set to expire November 21st, but with the sponsorship gone the proceedings may be expedited.

[Kintamayama 45,529]

Wakanohou's lawyer is fuming. A day after the press conference, he's even angrier. "I'd like to beat the crap out of him, but I won't since he can't make a mature judgement..He told me he wanted me to defend him till the end, but I'd like to split his head open and see what's inside!", he said, obviously outraged at Wakanohou's lack of understanding of the seriousness of the matter at hand. As Wakanohou had his first Makuuchi appearance last Kyushu, he was not a part of the Shukan Gendai-Kyokai trial. Now , with his possible testimony as early as this Friday, the weekly will attempt to establish that yaocho is an ongoing, everyday thing. But the lawyer is attempting to re-instate Wakanohou in Sumo by legal means. If Wakanohou takes the stand and testifies against the Kyokai, any chance there was for a return will vanish forever. Hence, the lawyer has vowed to do everything he can to stop him from testifying. "He wanted to return to Sumo as soon as possible, but by doing this rash deed, will be making this extremely difficult. I will try to persuade him to think it over!", said the lawyer. It's highly unlikely Wakanohou will be listening though, as he has been "working" for 8 basho only and probably is running out of funds, a fact not unnoticed by the weekly that has certainly offered him a nice bundle to testify. "It could very well be he was tricked and doesn't even know it", added the lawyer. There is also the small problem of actually meeting him, as the time is short and there is no guarantee they will find the right time to meet before it's too late.

Edited September 30, 2008 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 45,529]

And here comes the return volley... According to Sports Hochi, Magaki-oyakata will be submitting papers to the foreign ministry today in order to cancel his sponsorship for ex-Wakanoho's visa, citing his decision to appear as a witness for Shukan Gendai. The visa is currently set to expire November 21st, but with the sponsorship gone the proceedings may be expedited.

"If Magaki Oyakata decides to withdraw his sponsorship, I'll replace him!", said the somewhat zigzagging lawyer of Wakanohou, who just two minutes ago said he'd like to kick his ass..

[ilovesumo 12]

And here comes the return volley... According to Sports Hochi, Magaki-oyakata will be submitting papers to the foreign ministry today in order to cancel his sponsorship for ex-Wakanoho's visa, citing his decision to appear as a witness for Shukan Gendai. The visa is currently set to expire November 21st, but with the sponsorship gone the proceedings may be expedited.

"If Magaki Oyakata decides to withdraw his sponsorship, I'll replace him!", said the somewhat zigzagging lawyer of Wakanohou, who just two minutes ago said he'd like to kick his ass..

the whole story will give him a big name...

[Jonosuke 28]

Currently the Weekly Shukan Gendai's lawyers put 32 individuals as their witnesses - the list includes not only Wakanoho but also Roho and Hakurozan. However sources close to Roho and Hakurozan are saying they will not appear in court for the Shukan Gendai.

Basically the Shukan Gendai legal team wanted all three and not just one released rikishi saying there is yaocho in Ozumo but having all three testifying in court saying it's going on. One man may be saying it for a grudge but three saying more or less the same thing will definitely make their case stronger.

Reports are that Gendai really put the pressure on Wakanoho as well as offering him certain amount of money as well as helping him in his pursuit to return to the Kyokai. Obviously they are trying the same tactics to Roho and Hakurozan however since there are two of them, the negotiations have not been going well for the Gendai.

The Shukan Gendai has been reporting more innuendos against Wakakirin whose first test turned positive but his subsequent tests proving negative as well Chiyohakuo who missed the test according to them intentionally not showing up for the test. They also quote unnamed sources describing their unruly daily behavior. They even state Wakakirin hates Mongolian rikishi but is friendly to Russian rikishi and has been frequenting certain bars that marijuana has been seen. The Gendai says both Roho and Hakurozan knew Wakakirin had a positve result but they never told others as they didn't want to tell on a Japanese rikishi.

On Chiyohakuho, the Gendai says he is a drunkard and causes troubles often as well as seen going to the same bar Wakakirin used to in Kinshi-cho operated by Toki's family where there were hash pipes.

On their latest issue the Gendai says since they have reported on Asashoryu yaocho stories during 2007 Hatsu Basho Asashoryu's winning percentage went down from 80.6% to 54.6%. However one must realize since the 2007 Hatsu Basho Asashoryu was suspended for 2 basho and they count 30 days as Fusen losses. They attribute Asashoryu's lack of winning as their yaocho stories as Asashoryu could no longer buy his bouts.

Edited October 1, 2008 by Jonosuke

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

...On Chiyohakuho, the Gendai says he is a drunkard and causes troubles often as well as seen going to the same bar Wakakirin used to in Kinshi-cho operated by Toki's family where there were hash pipes.

A contributing factor to the car accident resulting in a dead pedestrian back in December 2000? Was Toki tokin'?

[Asameshimae 220]

I really wonder about whether there was any or much drug/marijuana use outside of the Russian circle. Drugs are so demonized in Japan and sumo is such a conservative world that I find it hard to believe that any real number of wrestlers were also doing it. I am sure some or all of the yaocho/throwing matches is true, so I wish he would just stay away from the drug issue. The throwing matches issue is a much bigger one in my opinion.

[Jonosuke 28]

The throwing matches issue is a much bigger one in my opinion.

Though this is not a Yaocho thread, I do agree with you. Drug issue is really a secondary to Ozumo though it is socially significant.

To Ozumo, this yaocho is more crucial as they are now fighting it out in court. Not just throwing bouts but more systematic one with a Nakabon going around rikishi and possibly seen handing out an envelope as being alleged by such a magazine like Shukan Gendai.

When one competes for 15 days straight, there are days he gets up in morning and have a headache or hangover or whatever. His injury may be acting up again. Or a variety of other factors that may contribute to his on-dohyo performance. All are natural and rikishi are human too. There are days just like us even though they are professional.

So if they see a bout with 7-7 ozeki going up against another and if he wins like Kotooshu did, some may scream there was a yaocho committed by Chiyotaikai. This is totally unlikely. If any yaocho has been committed, it's never as obvious that we the viewers could identify. These guys are not amateurs, they won't make it obvious so if it looks like one, chances are more than likely it wasn't one.

But in this bout I do suppose Kotooshu had far more stake in this one as the difference is whether he goes on kadoban or not. Sure for an ozeki it won't difficult to get at least 8 bouts next basho but one never knows one may get injured and has to withdraw and then there will be a demotion waiting. So for Kotooshu in this bout had far more motivation to do well but on the other hand for Chiyotaikai, the 15 days of dredging could have caught up to him and much was not at the stake like he was going after a yokozuna.

Getting back to Wakanoho, he simply does not realize the intent of Shukan Gendai people that they really don't care about him. Wakanoho gets the money but once his appearance is over and they sell more copies, he will be dropped like an excrement. And that may be apt as once during training sessions with yokozuna and other sekitori, he all of sudden quit the session saying something incomprehensive like "Sh** leaked".

[Kintamayama 45,529]

Wakanohou's mother has ordered him to return to Russia immediately. Apparently, she is enraged with his actions. She called him on the phone and said : "You are an embarrassment to Russia. Come home quickly!!" "My mother scolded me..", he acknowledged, depressed. Although he is frantically searching for a way to survive, it looks like he has no choice but to obey her.

In the meantime, Magaki Oyakata has withdrawn his sponsorship over Wakanohou, and he will soon have a problem as well, visa - vis the visa.

[ilovesumo 12]

Mama's call might be the tactic of a lawyer...who knows...

[Walnut Creek 0]

I am sure some or all of the yaocho/throwing matches is true, so I wish he would just stay away from the drug issue. The throwing matches issue is a much bigger one in my opinion.

I remember a bout, right after Wakanoho became a sekitori, I don't remember who the opponent was though, he surprisingly didn't frog-leaped to do hatakikomi! and then lost the bout!

HE MUST HAVE BEEN PAID! (On the banzuke...)

[Peterao 3]

Even if yaocho exists, there are still reports of "gachinko" rikishi who don't engage in the practice. So it must be somewhat optional, meaning that if Wakanosho participated, he did so willingly.

[Kimyouzan 2]

I think the strict policy of drugs in Japan is rediculous, but honestly it doesn't downplay the fact that Wakanoho was an idiot for smoking weed and also making it so obvious. However, I would be ashamed to no end if I found out that there was still a lot of match-fixing in Ozumo, but I would also like it to be exposed if it was.

[James H 0]

I really wonder about whether there was any or much drug/marijuana use outside of the Russian circle. Drugs are so demonized in Japan and sumo is such a conservative world that I find it hard to believe that any real number of wrestlers were also doing it.

Dope use in Japan is more common that most people realize, and the kind of people who enter sumo - high school dropouts, working class kids from the countryside etc are the kind of people who partake.

When I lived in Fukushima a few years back, it was an extremely popular past time for freeters and part timers. Most of the stuff smoked where I lived grew up in the mountains and was unlikely to make it into the cigarettes of Russians in Roppongi.

The stigma is greater - sure - and of course famous people get in lots more trouble than they do in the west, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if some of these homegrown rikishi like a homegrown smoke.

Not that Shukan Gendai is necessarily right about Wakakirin or Chiyohakuho, of course (although the press club during the Aki basho seemed to have a don't ask, don't tell policy about those two)

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

I will second James' remarks. I know of a lot of Japanese folks up on the mainland who go to rave parties in the countryside, complete with many choices of chemical party favours. Bars where certain things are smoked openly (in relatively small cities), and these bars are owned and patronized by a mainly Japanese crowd. A lot of straight-laced, professional types also admit to trying it in their university days (salarymen in their 40s and 50s). The legal/social issues aside, it is not at all uncommon.

[Kintamayama 45,529]

So, is he testifying this morning or what? According to sources close to him, he is. His lawyer promised to try to dissuade him, but X-Wakanohou's sources say he will be dismissing said lawyer altogether. "This has nothing to do with our office. The Gendai has directly asked him to take the stand. As for our dismissal, no document has arrived concerning that so far..", said the lawyer's office.

[Jonosuke 28]

The judge, Yasushi Nakamura, reserved his judgment whether he would allow ex-Wakanoho to appear in court for the current case.