Ex-Asashouryuu sued in the North

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Ex-Asashouryuu is being sued for 15,000,000 together with an event planning company based in Sapporo for not showing up at an event after allegedly signing a contract to do so. Around last August, he agreed to show up for an event at 2 pachinko parlors in Saitama, but did not receive permission from the Kyokai as there was a jungyo the following day. He tried to change the date, but later didn't appear citing health problems. Nobody appeared in court today from Asa's side, and it is looking like he will lose the case. In the end, Kokonoe had to go to the two places to apologize.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Kintamayama

[Jejima 1,415]

Ex-Asashouryuu is being sued for 15,000,000 together with an event planning company based in Sapporo for not showing up at an event after allegedly signing a contract to do so.

That's about US$160,000! Quite a penalty.

[Orion 431]

Ex-Asashouryuu is being sued for 15,000,000 together with an event planning company based in Sapporo for not showing up at an event after allegedly signing a contract to do so.

That's about US$160,000! Quite a penalty.

Right. But these are two different things: not turning up for an official sumo event where it is important for the yokozuna to show his face and be available to the fans is an annoyance to the Kyokai that eventually leads to 'voluntary' retirement. Signing a contract to get money to show up for a commercial event is a different matter, and renders you liable. When he signed up, presumably Shoryu knew when the jungyo was starting.

I continue to like and respect Shoryu and would like to go on regarding him as a friend, but this does not blind me to the facts of the case.

Orion

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Are the facts of the case exactly as the complainant and media have stated? I've no doubt there are two sides to every story, and the the recently retired yokozuna has had his difficulties. Yet I'm somewhat reluctant to accept everything I come across in the media or from businessmen as the unvarnished truth...

[Kuroyama 715]

Are the facts of the case exactly as the complainant and media have stated? I've no doubt there are two sides to every story, and the the recently retired yokozuna has had his difficulties. Yet I'm somewhat reluctant to accept everything I come across in the media or from businessmen as the unvarnished truth...

True, but... there either was or was not a contract. If there was, and he failed to perform on it, then he's liable with or without varnish.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Are the facts of the case exactly as the complainant and media have stated? I've no doubt there are two sides to every story, and the the recently retired yokozuna has had his difficulties. Yet I'm somewhat reluctant to accept everything I come across in the media or from businessmen as the unvarnished truth...

True, but... there either was or was not a contract. If there was, and he failed to perform on it, then he's liable with or without varnish.

Something seems off. Doesn't the NSK have the rights to an active rikishi's image, and needs to give consent for commercial appearances? If that's the case, the event planning company would have been obligated to request Asashoryu's services through the NSK, and by attempting to cut the NSK out the event planning agency may have violated the NSK's rights. Or maybe not. I dunno...

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Are the facts of the case exactly as the complainant and media have stated? I've no doubt there are two sides to every story, and the the recently retired yokozuna has had his difficulties. Yet I'm somewhat reluctant to accept everything I come across in the media or from businessmen as the unvarnished truth...

True, but... there either was or was not a contract. If there was, and he failed to perform on it, then he's liable with or without varnish.

Something seems off. Doesn't the NSK have the rights to an active rikishi's image, and needs to give consent for commercial appearances? If that's the case, the event planning company would have been obligated to request Asashoryu's services through the NSK, and by attempting to cut the NSK out the event planning agency may have violated the NSK's rights. Or maybe not. I dunno...

Main point- if Kokonoe himself made the rounds to apologize, it kind of says it all..

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Does an apology equate with admission of fault...?

[Chiyozakura 148]

As the usual Asashoryu defenders seem to be on vacation I feel the urge to take their place:

This is all racism. Businessmen only sue him because he is a gaijin. It is all part of a major plan to get him out of sumo and stop him from breaking Taiho's yusho record. First the media, then the NSK, now businessmen. And he only did it for the children, can't they see?

Phew, I feel better now...

[Orion 431]

Does an apology equate with admission of fault...?

When it's Kokonoe, I'd say "Yes". He's the big gun.

Orion

[Orion 431]

Something seems off. Doesn't the NSK have the rights to an active rikishi's image, and needs to give consent for commercial appearances? If that's the case, the event planning company would have been obligated to request Asashoryu's services through the NSK, and by attempting to cut the NSK out the event planning agency may have violated the NSK's rights. Or maybe not. I dunno...

You make an interesting point. It's not rights to the image, but the simple fact that, if you want to interview or otherwise engage a sekitori for any purpose, the approach has to be made officially through the Kyokai. In my own file I have several of these forms, all stamped with "No objection -- but the man himself may refuse" -- and that was just for an unpaid interview for the foreign-language press (or in two cases, press tours to the Kyoshujo, the sumo school inside the Kokugikan). But at the same time we always had to negotiate with the proposed interviewee or his master, who were free to accept or refuse.

In the nature of things my office, which assists foreign media, does not handle highly-paid contracts offered by Japanese businesses. But a famous and busy yokozuna may leave it to his manager to enter into contracts on his behalf. This may prove to be such a case.

FWIW,

Orion

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Does an apology equate with admission of fault...?

The apology is not the point-the fact that Kokonoe was the one apologizing, and no one was saying it was Asa's personal problem, says it all.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

You make an interesting point. It's not rights to the image, but the simple fact that, if you want to interview or otherwise engage a sekitori for any purpose, the approach has to be made officially through the Kyokai.

It probably was, hence the Kyokai's apology.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asa's manager is saying that he does not intend to contest the allegations, as was hinted from the start.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Asa's manager is saying that he does not intend to contest the allegations, as was hinted from the start.

They will be contesting the suit after all. Although they (the organizers from Asa's side and Asa) did not show up for the first hearing, they did show up yesterday and have appointed a lawyer. Next hearing- May 21st.

[Sashohitowa 6]

Are the facts of the case exactly as the complainant and media have stated? I've no doubt there are two sides to every story, and the the recently retired yokozuna has had his difficulties. Yet I'm somewhat reluctant to accept everything I come across in the media or from businessmen as the unvarnished truth...

True, but... there either was or was not a contract. If there was, and he failed to perform on it, then he's liable with or without varnish.

[...] Doesn't the NSK have the rights to an active rikishi's image, [...]

I was always wondering the same thing regarding rikishi's shikona. Asashoryu was always treating it like his own property, setting up "Asa-circus", "World Chanko Asashoryu" -- so I just wondered what would happen with all that if Takasago has decided to change his shikona (like he, as his shisho, has the power to do) to something like Azumayama, for example..

[Harry 67]

I am a bit surprised by ワールドちゃんこ 朝青龍 as I thought the kyokai might have rights to the 朝青龍 name. If it were ワールドちゃんこ アサショウリュウ then I wouldn't be surprised.

[Asashosakari 19,664]

My understanding is that the shikona is for the rikishi to use as he wishes, unless it's a historical name like Konishiki or Kashiwado that has been used by several important rikishi (and in which case the adoption of it by a new rikishi is usually meant to invoke the past holders).

I don't really know if it's true or just an urban legend, but I recall reading that Asashoryu was offered the Asashio name but didn't want it in part for these reasons.

[Kintamayama 45,530]

This is still alive. The case was discussed a the Tokyo District Court today. Although X-Asa maintains the promoter was at fault for not organizing the event well, the judge was of the opinion that this was not an excuse for Asashouryuu's not showing up.

More to come.

[Kimyouzan 2]

I hope he saved his money....

[Kintamayama 45,530]

Both parties have reached a settlement today at the Tokyo High Court. The details of the settlement were not made public.