New scandal-kyokai member in adulterous affair?

[Kintamayama 45,081]

The Kyokai will be investigating Ikazuchi Oyakata (ex-Kasugafuji), head of Educational Guidance, after the "Shukan Shincho" weekly accused him of an "adulterous affair" with a female worker of the Kyokai. The weekly accuses Ikazuchi of handing in a receipt from a "love hotel" as an expense, explaining he stayed there alone in his capacity of riji. Ikazuchi has been "absent" from his duties at the ongoing basho. "I haven't checked this out so I don't know," said Hakkaku Oyakata, head of PR. Ikazuchi was elected as a riji in January and is also a member of the Yaocho iInvestigating Committee and the Planning Department.

[krindel 671]

Sounds very Educational and Guiding!

[Asashosakari 19,274]

Sounds very Educational and Guiding!

Clearly a case of a very hands-on, one-on-one type of educational effort.

I was wondering if this was going to be picked up for wider circulation, it's been going around the rumour mill as "riji on 'house arrest' for relationship troubles" since the early days of the basho.

[Asashosakari 19,274]

The woman involved with Ikazuchi quit her Kyokai job on Monday; Ikazuchi himself apparently has tried to resign from his riji post, but saw the attempt rejected for now, while the investigation moves forward.

[Orion 431]

I've been thinking around the women Kyokai employees I know, and haven't come up with anyone I can imagine as a femme fatale....

(Whistling...)

Orion

[Asashosakari 19,274]

If it helps the deductive investigation ;-) she's reportedly in her 40s and married.

Rumour has it that this could set back the reform process not just through the mere fact that a high-profile Kyokai member is embroiled in scandal, but also because ex-Kasugafuji is recognized as one of those young'uns who's been pushing for the reforms and is apparently one of the few internal go-to guys for the legal requirements of the new status that the Kyokai is trying to attain, so his potential exit from the board of directors could leave a crucial know-how hole on the board.

Edited September 20, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 19,274]

Bombshell news fresh off the wire: Ikazuchi-oyakata leaves Kyokai altogether, according to Sports Hochi. :-O

Edit: Sponichi carries it, too, so I guess it's official...

Edited September 20, 2012 by Asashosakari

[krindel 671]

Hmmm... So I guess in the Big Book of Oyakata Crimes, "Sleeping around with a co-worker" ranks lower than "Beating a kid to death" and "Participating in fixed matches", but higher than "Dealing with the Yakuza", "Giving dangerous drugs to a wrestler" and "Beating a kid (but not to death)".

I guess its my South European mentality, but (assuming no coercion was involved) that order seems strange to me... Losing a promising senior executive over that seems a waste.

Then again, in my neck of the woods, something like this would traditionally be settled by a double-feature of a catfight between the wives and a fistfight between the husbands (assuming anyone would want to get into a fight with a former sumo wrestler) :-)

[Asashosakari 19,274]

FWIW, much of the press focus has been on the alleged misappropriation of Kyokai funds through the bogus expense statement. The "immorality" angle has served more as an attention grabber but less as a substantive charge against Ikazuchi, as far as I can tell.

Ikazuchi is either the most upstanding wrong-doer the Kyokai has seen in a while, or there's more to the story that can now be conveniently buried thanks to his departure.

And how convenient is it that he passed his stable on to ex-Hamanishiki not so long ago? Cases like this are exactly* why I'm in favour of divorcing the managing and coaching sides from each other, but it's rather odd that the one guy who actually did it now finds himself on the outs soon after.

* Okay, not exactly. I was more concerned about scandals on the coaching side hurting the management...

Edited September 20, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Manekineko 200]

And how convenient is it that he passed his stable on to ex-Hamanishiki not so long ago?

Maybe this whole scandal came as a less of a surprise to Kyokai then it looks... (Eh?)

[Asashosakari 19,274]

Ex-Ikazuchi's riji responsibilities have been redistributed now: The general enterprises department has gone to Kokonoe-oyakata, who also takes over as head of the anti-yaocho inspection committee (Laughing...), newly in charge of rikishi lifestyle guidance and the security department is Hakkaku-oyakata. Ikazuchi's spot on the Sumo Museum committee remains unfilled for now.

[yorikiried by fate 2,021]

I hear Ronald McDonald will become CEO of Weight Watchers.

[krindel 671]

Ex-Ikazuchi's riji responsibilities have been redistributed now: The general enterprises department has gone to Kokonoe-oyakata, who also takes over as head of the anti-yaocho inspection committee (Laughing...), newly in charge of rikishi lifestyle guidance and the security department is Hakkaku-oyakata. Ikazuchi's spot on the Sumo Museum committee remains unfilled for now.

Who got his position as "Educational Manager of Female Employees"?

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Ex-Ikazuchi's riji responsibilities have been redistributed now: The general enterprises department has gone to Kokonoe-oyakata, who also takes over as head of the anti-yaocho inspection committee (Laughing...), newly in charge of rikishi lifestyle guidance and the security department is Hakkaku-oyakata. Ikazuchi's spot on the Sumo Museum committee remains unfilled for now.

Who got his position as "Educational Manager of Female Employees"?

The Rijicho. Is everyone scrambling?

[Asashosakari 19,274]

Just to put a log on the conspiracy fire:

You know, writing "general enterprises department" in the previous post reminded me that there were strong rumours of some behind-the-scenes grumbling over ex-Ikazuchi being picked for that post back in February. Being head of that department is generally seen as the #1 post below rijicho, and apparently some were unhappy that it was going to somebody who was "only" a career-high sekiwake in his active days, and a first-time riji to boot. Add in the acrimonious way in which Ikazuchi was picked as the ichimon representative on the riji ballot (or rather, the way that Tomozuna and Isegahama weren't picked), and you've got plenty of ingredients for a long knives scenario.

Edited September 28, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Yubinhaad 11,633]

I heard an interesting rumour yesterday that this scandal, combined with Harumafuji's ascension to Yokozuna, could have the knock-on effect of changing the ichimon name again. They could opt to flip the names, making it Isegahama-Kasugayama Rengo, or just drop the Kasugayama part altogether and make it Isegahama Ichimon. The latter seems more likely (and harsh) in my opinion, but I have no idea if this is being considered seriously and whether there is much appetite for more change.

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Disgraced Ikazuchi Oyakata came to the Kasugayama- Isegahama group's Ichimon meeting to apologize. "I apologize for the trouble I have caused after receiving your support.. in the future, I would like to support the rikishi till they retire," he apologized. Concerning as possible Ichimon name change, perhaps to Isegahama Ichimon, decisions will be made at the next meeting which will be held during the Kyushu basho.

[Asashosakari 19,274]

(crosslink to other relevant topic, regarding last posts right above)

In what seems to be a pretty unusual move, the Kyokai directorate have decided that a by-election will be held to fill resigned director Ikazuchi's spot. No details yet, but I imagine it'll be taking place right after Hatsu basho, same as the usual even-numbered year elections.

Edited December 21, 2012 by Asashosakari

[Kintamayama 45,081]

(crosslink to other relevant topic, regarding last posts right above)

In what seems to be a pretty unusual move, the Kyokai directorate have decided that a by-election will be held to fill resigned director Ikazuchi's spot. No details yet, but I imagine it'll be taking place right after Hatsu basho, same as the usual even-numbered year elections.

Additionally, the speculation is that the new riji will come from Isegahama Ichimon, where the disgraced riji came from.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Off-topic posts regarding shame culture/guilt culture moved here.

[Akinomaki 40,341]

In what seems to be a pretty unusual move, the Kyokai directorate have decided that a by-election will be held to fill resigned director Ikazuchi's spot. No details yet, but I imagine it'll be taking place right after Hatsu basho, same as the usual even-numbered year elections.

Additionally, the speculation is that the new riji will come from Isegahama Ichimon, where the disgraced riji came from.

Isegahama-oyakata (Asahifuji) from the same ichimon is candidate for riji. The election will be after the Hatsu basho, the ichimon will discuss it and maybe the new riji will be decided without vote. (Sponichi)

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Isegahama Oyakata has announced he will be running for the vacated post. If the Isegahama Ichimon will decide no one will be running against him, he'll get the post without a by-election.

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Isegahama will be the only candidate so it looks like it's a done deal.

[Asashosakari 19,274]

Guess they've muzzled Tomozuna better than the last time...

[krindel 671]

Isegahama will be the only candidate so it looks like it's a done deal.

That guy REALLY is on a roll :-)