Yokozuna Asashoryu Scandal - The Final Chapter

[Harry 67]

Well, it is not just business culture but just culture.. just ask Harry!! He was "victim" to this on his trip to Japan where I should have realized he wasn't used to this and got in a bit over his head.

As he found out that you have to keep on "toasting" over and over to each person's speech and introduction... your glass never remains empty because someone else is pouring for you continuously. You never know how much you've actually had to drink.

I used to be drunk from these parties mostly related to schools I worked or companies I worked at so often. But in the past 10 years I started always driving to the parties and offering to take the others home so they won't need taxis after the last trains. They do NOT force you to drink if you are the driver! (Sign of disapproval...) On the other hand once or twice a year I do fully partake of the parties and use a train and end up just as Harry was!! At least I know it is coming.

Everyone is different drunk, happy, sleepy, violent.. it is their responsibility to know their type and if it is violence maybe avoid drinking, but hey, I'm American and I know this isn't possible for most. I've seen a zillion bar fights in my lifetime from those who get violent when they are drunk. It isn't right but it happens, one of the consequences of drinking. The later the hour the more often such bar fights happen...

Yes, I thought I was a capable drinker until I came to Japan. The filling others' glasses custom I knew but for someone like me who likes to drink it made it very easy to drink too much. Hey, at least I got some extra souvenirs, the keys they use to lock up your shoes! When you are so drunk you can't remember where you put the key they have other ways of opening them as I discovered. The trouble is sometimes you can't even remember which box your shoes were in and they have to open them all. Sorry for the rest of you, I had to go reinforcing gaijin stereotypes!

Luckily I've never been a violent drunk. I get happy, then silly, then sleepy... I was very happy in Japan I must say, except for the futsukayoi days...

[Harry 67]

Sorry for going too far off topic but speaking of drinking heavily, anyone who has taken the last train out of major restaurant and bar station in Tokyo knows, the last train will be packed with mostly people who had more than their share of booze.

...

One trick of not getting too drunk is just order a glass of Chuhai like Grapefruit Chuhai. These stuff are so diluted, hardly with any alcohol, it takes a lot to get drunk, likely your wallet empties out first.

In my time there the last train was really early, always before midnight, sometimes before 11:30pm! Yet many drinking establishments didn't open until after midnight, closing at 6am. At least there was something to do after you'd missed the last train! They were odd little places, closed during the day I wondered what they were but after midnight the doors rolled up and there was lots of booze and yakitori, et al. Crazy place, some nights we'd come home after work at 11pm or even after midnight and we'd go out but all the food only places were closed, only the sakaya were open. Not a good place if you have a problem drinking too much like I did.

After the last train it is worse, you must get a taxi which often moves slower than a walking pace once it hits popular spots like Akasaka and Roppongi. It was faster to walk. The continuous line of taxis was odd, hardly moving, I wondered why people used them. I guess they get you home eventually but I can see why people get frustrated in them. You must know how to politely say I think I'll get out and walk now.

With Tokyo prices it is easy to go bankrupt before you're drunk even with cask strength whisky! You just don't know you're out of money until later when all the entry and pouring fees and grauities are added on (and the food they give you without asking but which is not complimentary) and you get the hand written card with a single enormous number on it, presented on a silver tray, held by white gloves. Unbelievable prices though it was whisky that has long run out on the British Isles so I was happy to drink it. One whisky bar was good, they made me walk back to the entrance to read the English sign (again, in case I'd missed it the first time) about the cover charge and gratuities; I guess some foreigners had become upset at their final bill before.

The trains into work in the morning were often the most entertaining though, all the futsukayoi people asleep and falling out of their seats.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Harry

[Kintamayama 45,530]

All charges against ex-Asashouryuu have been dropped in the case today. He will not be investigated. "They settled out of court and he has left sumo in the meantime, so there is no point in pursuing this," said the judge.

[Sashohitowa 6]

"They settled out of court and he has left sumo in the meantime, so there is no point in pursuing this," said the judge.

This is very interesting motivation for a judge's adjudication.

By the way, is it already clear who are "they"?

[Kintamayama 45,530]

By the way, is it already clear who are "they"?

The attacked club manager and Asashouryuu.

[Sashohitowa 6]

By the way, is it already clear who are "they"?

The attacked club manager and Asashouryuu.

I am asking because all the time during the scandal there was some uncertainty about who was the victim of the attack: club manager, mobster, club manager-mobster, Asashoryu's manager were some of the suggestions.

And I never understood what is actually the reason for all that secrecy around the personality of the victim..

[Kintamayama 45,530]

I am asking because all the time during the scandal there was some uncertainty about who was the victim of the attack: club manager, mobster, club manager-mobster, Asashoryu's manager were some of the suggestions.

And I never understood what is actually the reason for all that secrecy around the personality of the victim..

There was no secrecy-more of an attempted cover-up. At the beginning, the manager tried to take the blame to make it look like it was an internal problem, as he knew that if the press would find out it was a club manager it would cause a lot of problems, which it did and ultimately led to what it led to..

Some say the club manager WAS a mobster, but that is just talk.