[sumo] [Long] Asashoryu Yaocho Article from Shukan Gendai

[Joe Kuroda]

Blowing a Whistle on Asashoryu’s Yaocho (Bout Fixing)
by Yorimasa Takeda, non-fiction writer

The Weekly Shukan Gendai, February 3, 2007 issue
------------------------------------------------

“Even though right now he is being called the most
powerful yokozuna, his sumo is almost entirely made up
of ‘Chusha’ (Needle). The last Kyushu basho (November
12-26, 2006), when he won all his bouts, out of the 15
bouts, there were only four bouts which were Gachinko
(not fixed). This shocking revelation was disclosed by
a currently active rikishi we call Mr. X.

He points out 26 year old Asashoryu, overwhelmingly
tough yokozuna from Mongolia, is right in the thick of
“Yaocho” (bout fixing), also known in sumo world by
its jargon, “Chusha”.

“The Yokozuna’s yusho at the Kyusho was pre-determined
in the last October. Back then he was publicly
stating, he ‘wanted to get 20 yushos as quickly as
possible’. Basically it meant, ‘I win both the 2006
Kyushu and 2007 Hatsu bashos consecutively to achieve
the 20th yusho’. This yokozuna never felt an ounce of
guilt when buying a bunch of wins with money so if he
ever wants to win a yusho he can do it anytime he
wishes.”

At the writing of this article (January 18), Asashoryu
has almost assured his yusho in the Hatsu basho. He
won every bout in the Kyusho basho to earn the yusho.
It may be difficult to believe such an undisputed
strength is coming strictly from Yaocho.

“Dorji (Asashoryu’s nickname) has been doing ‘Chusha
Sumo’ even before he became yokozuna,” said a source
we call Mr. P, currently associated with Takasago beya
which Asashoryu belongs.

“When he was sekiwake or ozeki, Dorji used to talk
openly with his opponent by cell phone to arrange his
bout. This fact has been already intimated by a number
of his opponents to those familiar with them. He would
say to his opponent, “I will come over to you this way
so you will come back to me with such and such,’ and
then the bout outcome got decided.”

“However after he got promoted to yokozuna, he felt
rather risky to call his opponent directly so he used
a ‘go-between’ known in sumo world as ‘Nakabon’ (
literally meaning the middle day of Buddhist holiday)
who would exchange the dealings.”

“Nakabon” is a special term used in Ozumo for someone
who assumes a role of go-between to expedite their
bout fixing. For Asashoryu, a certain Makushita
rikishi is playing the role, which we will come back
later in this article.

Mr. X states further:

“To put it bluntly the size of this yokozuna’s
‘Chusha’ is way out of proportion. Right now a market
value of a bout is said to be around 800,000 Yen
(roughly US$6,600). However depending on the
significance of the bout or opponent’s banzuke
ranking, this amount varies. So it could be as high as
10 Million Yen (around US$82,000) or low as below
500,000 yen. Regardless, in the current sumo world,
there is no one else except the yokozuna who could
afford this much money.”

Asashoryu arrived to Japan from Ulaanbaatar in 1997 to
attend Meitoku Gijuku High School in Kochi Prefecture
as a sumo exchange student. Two years later, he joined
Wakamatsu beya (now Takasago beya) headed by former
ozeki Asashio. In 2002 he became the first Ozeki from
Mongolia. At the 2003 Hatsu basho winning his second
yusho and he was promoted to yokozuna after the basho.

Since then Asashoryu has shown his extraordinary
strength by winning seven straight bashos starting
from the 2004 November basho and broke records
previously set by great yokozunas Taiho and Kitanoumi.
If some of his records were indeed set as a result of
yaocho, it’s definitely a conduct akin to betrayal of
the citizens in Japan.

Is Ashashoryu actually dipping his hand into the
Yaocho bowl? This writer decided to analyze the video
of Asashoryu’s bouts from the 2006 Kyushu basho.

Mr. X pointed out the next four bouts to be Gachinko
or no bout-fixing.
Day 2: Futeno
Day 4: Iwakiyama
Day 7: Aminishiki
Day 8 (the middle day of basho): Kisenosato

“These four rikishs are well known ‘Gachinko rikishi’
in the Ozumo world and have never known to get
involved in Yaocho bouts. Even if they were asked by
the yokozuna, they would never have accepted nor gone
along with the request. So to put it otherwise, we can
state all the remaining bouts were undoubtedly ‘Chusha
Sumo’,” Mr. X said.

The yokozuna was accused by sumo fans, when he
unleashed a rather uncommon technique of ‘Ketaguri’ in
the Kisenosato bout. The Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japan Sumo
Association) Chairman Kitnoumi, 53, even commented,
“It’s not something we can praise him for”.

However once the yokozuna got through this Gachinko
bout on the Eighth day, all he had left were ‘Chusha
Sumo’. He was home free then. There was no question
about the all-win yusho by this time. Perhaps that was
the reason he resorted to commit such a unusual
“forbidden technique” as far as he was concerned to
get through the hurdle.

Getting back to the video, out of the 15 day bouts of
the Kyushu basho, the most Yaocho like bouts were day
1’s Roho bout and day 10’s Kotomitsuki bout.

Previous to this bout, Roho has not won a single bout
against Asashoryu. Roho is known to favour
Migi-shitate (right underhand mawashi) and
hidari-uwate (left overhand mawashi) technique. On his
bout, coming out of the tachiai Roho hit Asashoryu
hard and got himself into Asashoryu with his right arm
in and his left hand to the mawashi but for some
reason, he hesitated. He also was avoiding to look
what Asashoryu was doing at all. I can only conclude
that he had no intention of taking any initiative to
bring himself into his favourable position.

“You can see Roho is involved in ‘Chusha Sumo’ when
you see him looking as if troubled even though he is
in his favourite position but he simply appears not
wanting to go after his opponent. In that situation he
is waiting for his opponent to make a move and come
back to him,” an Ozumo beat reporter says.

In a similar way, Kotomitsuki’s sumo was as atrocious
in the Kyushu. Even though he got himself into an
advantageous position by wrapping Asashoryu with a
Moro-zashi, for some reason he hesitated and refused
to push forward. Then he let Asashoryu change his
hands around and lost by rolling around when Asashoryu
threw him with a powerful Sukuinage, This resulted in
his 23rd consecutive loss to Asashoryu.

Further at this year’s Hatsu basho, Kotomitsuki faced
Asashoryu again on day 10 and while in his favourite
position of Migi-uwate, he didn’t move into any
offensive move. The next day’s morning papers all
accused him of losing submissively for his 24th
consecutive loss to Asashoryu.

“He managed himself into his ideal position but other
than half hearted dashi-nage thrown, he gave up going
for any offense. As if some invisible hand is grabbing
his left hand, he wouldn’t attempt to grab the
mawashi. Obviously no paper came out and saying it was
clearly a Yaocho. But among beat reporters here we had
a big laugh over it saying, here we go. Another
Chusha!” (the aforementioned sumo beat reporter)

Kotomitsuki belongs to Sadogatake beya which belongs
to Nishonoseki Ichimon group. A young rikishi with the
group made the following revelation. “For Mitsuki-zeki
and the yokozuna bout, there used to be a simple
‘exchange’ between them but lately the yokozuna
apparently is constructing a scenario prior to their
bout and directing Mistuki-zeki of the moves to make.”

So the last few bashos’ rather active offensive and
defensive sumo moves by both rikishis were exactly
played out according to Asashoryu’s set script. Why
would Kotomitsuki who even won a Hiramaku yusho back
in the 2001 September basho blindly obey Ashashoryu’s
order like his servant?

“Mitsuki-zeki like Miyabi-zeki (sekitori Miyabiyama)
is a fanatic gambler. Especially he is crazy about
‘Hanafuda’ (Japanese card game). When he won his first
yusho, he received 70 Million Yen, but he played the
game with his senior rikishis at the Ichimon’s
Futagoyama beya, Aki-zeki (Akinoshiama, current
Sendagawa oyakata) and Riki-zeki (Tatakoriki, current
Otake oyakata) during a Jyungyo tour and lost almost
all of the prize money.” (afforementioned Nishonoseki
Ichimon rikishi)

For many this story may be difficult to believe but
within the Ozumo world, Hanafuda game is actually in
its traditional sub-culture and some oyakatas have
been known to recommend it to their recruits as they
feel it will help them “develop a killer instinct”. A
sight of rikishis sitting on cushion circling around
the cards can be often seen during a Jyungyo tour and
has become one of the familiar sumo scenes. But now
Hanafuda playing during a Jyungyo tour is becoming a
major gaming stage where ten thousand yen notes are
seen flying around.

A theory of rikishis paying their Hanafuda debts by
performing Yaocho is often attributed to the rise of
the incidents. In Kotomitsuki’s case it may well have
started out under such a circumstance..

Compiling Mr. X’s story and other Ozumo insiders’,
currently out of 42 Makuuchi rikishis, there are only
eight more Gachinko rikishis in addition to the
previously mentioned four. They are (with their 2007
Hatsu basho banzuke ranking):
Dejima (Maegashira lead)
Homasho (Maegashira 4)
Takamisakari (Maegashira 5)
Tochinonada (Maegashira 6)
Takekaze (Maegashira 8)
Kakizoe (Maegashira 9)
Tamakasuga (Maegashira 11)
Tamanoshima (Maegashira 14)

It means over 70% of Makuuchi rikishis have committed
Yaocho in the past but the real problem resides with
the top ranking rikishis. In Sanyaku ranking and
above, only Gachinko rikishi is Kisenosato alone. Five
ozekis, Kotooshu, Tochiazuma, Chiyotaikai, Kaio and
Hakuo, and sekiwake Miyabiyama are all collapsing
under Yaocho spells.

What is unexpected is in the list of Yaocho rikishis
are European rikishi names like Roho, Kokkai, Kotooshu
and Baruto. Not so long ago, European and Mongolian
rikishis disliked each other profusely and there were
scenes of them getting into petty fights during jyugyo
tours. One time, a major sumo magazine tried to
feature a cover picture with Asashoryu and Kokkai but
the photographer could not even get them together to
stand next to each other.

However a story goes that Yaocho money transactions
eventually brought them together. As if to symbolize
their relationship, we witnessed such scenes in a
recent Fuji TV network program “New Year’s Eve in
Japan with Kazuko Hosoki” aired on December 31 last
year. In the program Asashoryu was shown surrounded by
Kotooshu, Kokkai and Baruto from other Ichimon groups
eating foods cooked by Hosoki and talking to each
other like one big family.

Yoshio Ishibashi, chairman of the Yokozuna
Deliberation Committee is not pleased with rikishis
appearing on such a TV show. “People who have seen the
program may well have gotten a strong impression that
foreign born rikishis are all so friendly to each
other. A yokozuna should not appear in a program that
could bring in such a doubt to the viewers.”

(Edit: I watched this program. My personal opinion was
that there was no such exchange between Assahoryu and
Kotoooshu as they simply behaved civil. While
Miyabiyama and Kotomitsuki looked more like a loving
couple. Especially Miyabiyama looked totally drunk.
Regardless the writer got this one wrong. In this
program neither Kokkai nor Baruto were there although
Kotooshu was there. Hosoki did not cook as she had
professional chefs preparing food. The food tab was
said to be over six million yen (she served 20 bottles
of red wine from Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour,
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild). Other rikishis invited
were Ozeki Chiyotaikai, sekiwakes Kotomitsuki and
Miyabiyama.

Hosoki is a controversial figure and is well known for
her acid tongue fortune telling and “straight talk”.
She is often fond of telling showbiz types that they
would “fall to the hell.” She has several popular
weekly TV shows of her own on network TV as well doing
private counselling and publishing fortune telling
books. She is one of Asashoryu’s favourite people to
be with and Asashoryu is known to commute to a
hon-bassho arena in a chauffeured white Rolls Royce
Hosoki owns. Asashoryu even says she even treats him
like her own son. She was one time a nightclub owner
and was even accused of prostitution as well as having
close relationships with organized crime groups.)

Asashoryu has gone into this Hatsu basho without
participating in even a single training session since
a Soken (practice training session held for Yokuzuna
Deliberation Committee members and other Kyokai
officials) on December 25. “He must have been thinking
there was nothing to it as the most bouts were already
spoken for but it was clear that he lacked necessary
training. This basho’s his real strength was clearly
visible in the Dejima bout on day 3 when he was easily
pushed down squarely out of the dohyo in one sweep”
(the previous sumo beat writer).

Incidentally Takasago beya insider Mr. P which we
quoted is also familiar with other Mongolian rikishis
like recently retired Kyokushuzan of Oshima beya.
“When he was still ozeki, Dorji only bought several
bouts. But once he was promoted to yokozuna and
started connecting with the European group, the number
of ‘Chusha Sumo’ has increased tremendously. As a
result there was an urgent need of go-between, in
other words ‘Nakabon’. The current Nakabon role is
said to be played by Makushita Kyokutenzan.”

Kyokutenzan came to Japan with the first wave of
Mongolian rikishis in 1992. Currently he is performing
a Tsukebito duty for another rikishi from the group,
Maegashira 3 Kyokutenho. Kyokutenzan has already
acquired a Japanese citizenship and is reported to
become a manager of Oshima beya sometime in future.

One sumo beat reporter says with a disdain look.

“His activity during a basho cannot be considered
normal, actually extremely suspicious in fact. He is
allowed to go back and forth between the East and West
Dressing Rooms without any chagrin. In Ozumo, it’s
strictly forbidden to frequent between the two
dressing rooms to prevent illegal activities. Even
though Kyokutenzan is a Makushita rikishi he has been
around so long that he is known by everyone. As a
result no oyakata tries to admonish him in any way.”

When this writer went to the Kokugikan’s dressing
rooms during the Hatsu basho to ascertain the
allegation, it was obvious that his conduct could have
been only described as highly suspicious. The yokozuna
arrives at the Kokugikan and moves into the East
Dressing Room around 3 P.M. If Kyokutenho is coming
from West Side then as his Tsukesbito, Kyokutenzan
should situate himself in the West Dressing Room. But
when the moment all the sekitori rikishis assemble in
the corridors for their dohyo-iri ceremony,
Kyokutenzan scatters over to the East Dressing Room.
Then he goes over to the yokozuna who is still in the
room. Kyokutenzan then sits close to the yokozuna and
then they start a conversation in whisper.

About 10 minutes later Kyokutenzan comes back the West
Dressing Room. Then moments later he goes back to the
East Dressing Room. You will never see any other
rikishi acting this way. Then he lies down and starts
smoking. There is absolutely no other Makushita
rikishi misbehaving like him.

The reporter from this magazine decided to talk
directly to Kyokutenzan.

Reporter: We find your coming and going between the
dressing rooms to be highly suspicious. How do you
respond?
Kyokutenzan: I have made a great deal of efforts while
living here in Japan for the last 15 years. So when
young Mongolian rikishis are going back home for
instance, they would come to ask me about how to
obtain the visa. As well things like which cell phone
service offers the best rates For instance they are
asking me, “which offers the cheapest service, Docomo
or au?” You know that’s the reason everyone is calling
me ‘104’ (free telephone information service in
Japan).

R: Are you actually a “Nakabon”?
K: I am often labelled that way but I have done
nothing of sort. I am talking to the yokozuna about
things unrelated to sumo.

R: Don’t you think you should quit any conduct that
can be considered to be rather suspicious?
K: Why should I have to refrain myself doing something
when I am not committing any illegal activity? I am
only talking to others and as a matter of fact I
really like offering my advice to others.

The previously quoted Mr. P laments:
“I personally cautioned Kyokutenzan about his
behaviour through an intermediary last year. I said,
‘if you insist on keep doing what you are doing, you
will be eventually expelled from Ozumo. So stop doing
(Nakabon activity) before it will be too late.’”

But according to Mr. P., Kyokutenzan responded rather
powerlessly:
“But there is not much I can do. The yokozuna and
everyone else are depending on me.”

So from this point on, rightly or wrongly we felt we
needed to confront the yokozuna. This magazine
reporter went to talk to the yokozuna in front of his
house in the afternoon of January 17. Before he even
finished listening to the question fully, he started
shouting. “You son of bitch! If you ever write a bunch
of crap like that, I will sue you!”

In an interview with the writer, the man who should
guide Asashoryu, his shisho, Takasago oyakata
responded this way:

“You are saying the yokozuna committing Chusha? There
is no person in the sumo world, who professes anything
like that at the moment. Besides you can’t even see it
in his sumo at all. I have no intention or need to
confirm it with the yokozuna.”

Asashoryu is keeping winning while smearing Japan’s
national sport. In the next issue we will elaborate on
the Yaocho structure in Ozumo with Asashoryu as its apex.

.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique      &#24515;&#12288;&#25216;&#12288;&#20307;&#12288;>

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