[sumo] Tokitsukaze beya rikishi dies

[Scott Kahn]

This is genuinely sad.  While it sounds as though the Kyokai suggests 
that Tokitaizan had a heart valve problem, such a problem should have 
been looked for and diagnosed upon his acceptance into sumo.  If, indeed 
he suffered from a round of exuberance during practice, such beatings 
may have caused brain swelling, and panic could have set in at the 
beya.  Instead of Tokitaizan being rushed to the hospital to relieve the 
swelling, and to save his life, his oyakata could have tried to save his 
own hide rather than the rikishi's life.  I can see this having severe 
repurcussions regarding the treatment of new rikishi if it is ruled that 
this was the result of negligence.  Actually, even if there was an 
underlying medical condition, the Kyokai can and should put regulations 
into place in this day and age that protect new rikishi from the most 
severe of customary "hazings" that are intended to build up the 
rikishi's threshold to pain and character.  This would be a productive 
course of action by the members of the YDC, if it is within their realm 
to suggest such measures, and if the Kyokai is willing to change long 
established behaviors.

I don't know what kind of heath measures in place to take care of 
retired rikishi, this is an interesting question.  Considering the risks 
that accompany a sumotori's physical adaptations, the Kyokai should have 
an excellent comprehensive program in place.  Furthermore, deny it or 
not, confidential monitoring for the long term consequences of anabolic 
steroid use by rikishi should be a part of this care.

A saddened Sukubidubidu.

Sumobaba wrote:

>Having sent the info below, and looking further on the web, I also see that
>the Kyokai is attributing the boy's unfortunate death to "heart failure". He
>only entered sumo around 3 months ago. Would the physical screening not have
>shown some symptom of heart disease? I really am asking, not being cynical,
>because I would like to know the answer, not imply that the Kyokai's
>physician(s) weren't doing their jobs. We all know that brutal training does
>take place, specifically involving the newer- and lower-ranked boys. I would
>think that if he was severely beaten around the head, well.........but,
>again, that is again, just another scenario that comes to mind. I love the
>Tokitsukaze boys, and it is a true tragedy to even remotely think that this
>could be a result of "beatings" to build stamina.
>
>Sumobaba 
> 
>See my blog http://sumobaba.vox.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sumo-bounces at webtrek.com [mailto:sumo-bounces at webtrek.com] On Behalf
>Of Sumobaba
>Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 6:53 AM
>To: 'Sumo Mailing List'
>Subject: RE: [sumo] Tokitsukaze beya rikishi dies
>
>Found this on the web from http://www.gaijinpot.com/read_news.php?id=11653
>
><<Sumo wrestler Tokitaizan dies after collapsing under suspicious
>circumstances 1:01pm Thursday, June 28
>
>Professional sumo wrestler Tokitaizan died from heart failure after he
>collapsed during practice in Aichi Prefecture, his family said.
>
>Tokitaizan, a native of Niigata Prefecture, was 17. He collapsed during
>practice at the Tokitsukaze stable in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture on Tuesday
>afternoon. Doctors declared him dead after he was rushed to a local
>hospital.
>
>His body was taken to his home in Niigata on late Tuesday night. After
>finding several bruises on his face, the wrestler's relatives asked the
>Tokitsukaze stable and police for an explanation about his death.
>
>On Tuesday, the Tokitsukaze stable told the family that Tokitaizan collapsed
>during practice.
>
>Earlier on June 17, Tokitaizan left the stable and visited his home in
>Niigata, telling his family that he wanted to come home and stay with his
>relatives.
>
>Tokitaizan joined the Tokitsukaze stable in April. (Mainichi)>>
>
>
> 
> 
> 
> 
>See my blog http://sumobaba.vox.com
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sumo-bounces at webtrek.com [mailto:sumo-bounces at webtrek.com] On Behalf
>Of Scentsashn at aol.com
>Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2007 11:47 PM
>To: sumo at webtrek.com
>Subject: Re: [sumo] Tokitsukaze beya rikishi dies
>
> 
>In a message dated 6/27/2007 1:17:51 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>sumo1 at dichne.com writes:
>
>17 year  old Tokitaizan of Tokitsukaze beya who entered in May, has died
>suddenly  today. He felt bad and was rushed to a hospital where he was
>pronounced  dead.
>
>
>
>How terrible! Do they have any idea what the cause is? Had he been ill
>recently?
> 
>Kathy
>
>
>
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