Kotoviki 16 Posted February 7, 2011 Semantics, because the committee members were hand-picked by the Kyokai's directors. The point is that the committee is not operating at the direction of the directorate whatsoever and Ito is pretty much saying that the members aren't concerned with what problems their investigations might cause as the directors are desperately trying to get sumo back into quieter waters. The key point is that they were picked by the directorate, whatever Ito says. The NSK Directors picked the people who would be investigating the NSK. Do you honestly believe that there is absolutely no chance that not a single one of the committee members was selected because they might be willing to do a favor or two for the NSK? Because the selection of the committee smells of another attempt at cover-up and business as usual to me. Talked with a co-worker about this today, this is Japan and he felt the members were picked because they may be sympathetic or owing someone a favor and willing to do a favor for the NSK. On the other hand he doesn't care if they are or aren't because he said this is Japan and this is what he expects in every day life. I've come across a lot of people in 23 years who really have no problem with bribes of whatever type because they are expected. Once someone said "is a bribe any different than when someone gives you an end of year gift and you are expected to give a gift in return?" So I talked about this today and some co-workers said this is how they feel about yaocho as well... If this is the society no wonder the rikishi doing it feel is is ok.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted February 8, 2011 So why are jungyo being preemptively canceled for an entire year? This is just my opinion, but assuming that Ozumo does eventually move forward, I think that they will have to completely re-evaluate what a jungyo will be. Will fans still be receptive to comedy sumo displays? Will the tournaments themselves have to be full out gachinko? Will they have to worry about someone uploading a lighter moment on YouTube as "proof" that they haven't changed? The answer may well be that fans will be perfectly content with jungyo carrying on just as it always has. But it may also be that radical change may be necessary. Much is yet to be learned in the post-yaocho revelation world, so I guess that the Kyokai has shut down all jungyo until they can figure out what they'll need to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,018 Posted February 8, 2011 So why are jungyo being preemptively canceled for an entire year? This is just my opinion, but assuming that Ozumo does eventually move forward, I think that they will have to completely re-evaluate what a jungyo will be. Will fans still be receptive to comedy sumo displays? Will the tournaments themselves have to be full out gachinko? Will they have to worry about someone uploading a lighter moment on YouTube as "proof" that they haven't changed? The answer may well be that fans will be perfectly content with jungyo carrying on just as it always has. But it may also be that radical change may be necessary. Much is yet to be learned in the post-yaocho revelation world, so I guess that the Kyokai has shut down all jungyo until they can figure out what they'll need to do. Slow news day, eh? Your speculations are getting zanier and zanier, even for you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted February 8, 2011 What is the significance of the cancellation of the jungyo for August 8 in Akita? Does that mean all the scheduled jungyo prior to that one will be held? I am coming to see jungyo at Yasukuni on April 8, but I can't imagine that will still be held if the Natsu Basho is cancelled? And what about the YDC soken at the end of April? Dang! Yasukuni is not a jungyo (which is a for-profit tour organized with local interests) FWIW, Yasukuni is listed along with the "jungyo" schedule still on the Japanese sumo website (for now) http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/chiho_jungyo/index.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted February 8, 2011 I think there's hardly a sumo fan alive that wasn't aware that yaocho was a part of the sumo culture, and has made their peace with it. The question has always been how much, and in what context. Diving for a 7-7 ichimon mate is one thing, fixing a yusho quite another. This is hardly the first credible allegation of yaocho. People may have questioned Itai's 80% figure, but did people really think that he made the whole thing out of whole cloth? The Kyokai is not concerned with rooting out the whole of yaocho in Ozumo. They know that by tying a rikishi's lifestyle to the banzuke and requiring huge amounts of money for toshiyori kabu and other expenses, they are inviting it. They also know that people will enjoy sumo as long as the yaocho tatemae holds. The problem is that here the tatemae has been broken, so they are working hard to patch it up. The suspects are all non-star rikishi, and they'll be punished, and things will get back to the old routine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted February 23, 2011 JSA aims to hold summer tournament by speeding up match-fixing probe The scandal-hit Japan Sumo Association agreed Tuesday that it will aim to hold the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in May with a proposal to expedite its ongoing investigation into match fixing, sources said.The agreement came after a special investigative panel informed the JSA board in the day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryafuji 814 Posted February 24, 2011 JSA aims to hold summer tournament by speeding up match-fixing probe Wow, what a surprise. Never saw that one coming... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asashosakari 19,216 Posted February 24, 2011 JSA aims to hold summer tournament by speeding up match-fixing probe Wow, what a surprise. Never saw that one coming... It doesn't sound like the Ministry is terribly enamoured with the notion that the promised "full accounting" may not be coming after all before the Kyokai restarts its tournament operations, but unless the current guy in charge is a lot tougher than all his predecessors they're eventually going to cave again... Can't say I'm too happy with those recent comments, not least because it kills any hope they might have had (yeah, if they did...) of making a rikishi talk by dragging things out long enough. Then again, perhaps the reticence on the part of the wrestlers just means they always expected the Kyokai to blink first anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chankosan 0 Posted February 26, 2011 If the May basho is held, is there any chance that the YDC soken in late April would be held as well? I am still trying to salvage some of my sumo trip if possible... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted February 26, 2011 Anything is possible. That's about all that anybody could honestly say on the matter at this time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chankosan 0 Posted February 27, 2011 I just noticed that the Kyokai website lists the Yasukuni Shrine Honozumo as merely "postponed" whereas it lists the Ise Shrine Honozumo and all the jungyo events as definitively "cancelled" -- has anyone heard when the Yasukuni event might be held?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted February 27, 2011 I just noticed that the Kyokai website lists the Yasukuni Shrine Honozumo as merely "postponed" whereas it lists the Ise Shrine Honozumo and all the jungyo events as definitively "cancelled" -- has anyone heard when the Yasukuni event might be held?? They've said that Yasukuni might be rescheduled for sometime in autumn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted February 28, 2011 As it appears that all parties are intent on ramming through the investigation and holding the Natsu Basho, I imagine the focus will eventually shift towards whether or not NHK go through with airing the live broadcast. My guess is that they would, as the pro-sumo contigent will no longer assume that a broadcast is a given, and will make their voice known to NHK in near equal numbers to the protestors. As long as there is a significantly vocal minority, I think that NHK would have enough cover to go on with the show...unless enough people who were in favor of the broadcasts last year have been turned off on sumo from this latest scandal and the way it is being handled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted March 4, 2011 New NHK head Masayuki Matsumoto mentioned in an interview with Mainichi today what would be required for NHK to televise a potential Natsu Basho: "It all depends on how much the fans who are looking forward to watching sumo are satisfied by the conclusions of the Investigation Committee and the resulting actions of the Kyokai. We will look over all of this before deciding. There is a long history of sumo broadcasts. But it's all dependent on honest sumo. The fans expectations have been betrayed, so this issue must be thoroughly resolved." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peterao 3 Posted March 7, 2011 Despite recommendations from both the Governance Committee and the Yokozuna Deliberation Committee that Natsu Basho should go on, Hanaregoma riji has not yet ruled out a cancellation. "When all is said and done, we will decide based on the results of the investigation. [Cancellation of the Natsu Basho] is still a possibility." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
