[sumo] Comments on Scott's reaction to Asashoryu's suspension

[Pierre Wohlleben]

Joshua Maciel wrote:
> Don't forget Takamifuji, as well, who was forced into retirement for
> bilking his sponsors to cover gambling debts. Again, Japanese.

I wasn't sure whether that example really fits. Reportedly, he was so shamed by being caught out that he insisted on leaving the heya and going intai, even though Azumazeki-oyakata didn't want to go that far. (At least that was Azumazeki's telling of the situation during his press conference; the reality may have been a bit different, of course.)

Still, it's clear that there would have been some sort of punishment if he had stuck around, perhaps confinement to quarters ordered by Azumazeki (rather than by the Kyokai as in Asashoryu's case).

As I've said on the Forum, the two-basho suspension struck me as surprisingly severe when I heard about it, but given the overall way in which such things are handled in Japan in general and in sumo in particular, I can understand why some others were equally surprised that they "only" suspended him and didn't just retire him altogether. There's certainly precedent for that; if this whole thing had happened during a honbasho that he'd left to go kyujo his career would almost certainly be toast now.

Asashosakari