[sumo] More on young rikishi murder (my words, not theirs)

[Scott M. Kahn]

As an earlier poster replied, I have not read a prior report where
it was stated that his ear was ripped off.  This, by itself, is
strong evidence that hazing took place.  Had this fact been
reported at the beginning, early speculations that this death was
the result of an underlying medical problem would not have held
water.  There is also quite a difference between getting hit in the
head once with a hard beer bottle, and getting hit in the head TEN
times.

The Kyokai apparently did nothing to sidetrack the cover-up attempt,
and according to reports, it was only at the behest of the family
that his body was properly autopsied.  If you remember, some
members of this mailing list, including myself, suggested that the
Kyokai investigate this death at or near the beginning.  First, it
was unclear why appropriate measures were not taken by the Kyokai
to diagnose underlying heart symptoms.  Then, when the initial
diagnosis became murky, a number of us on the mailing list
suspected the worst.

It is unsettling to me that more and more damning evidence is being
reported as this case unfolds.  My interest in this case is that
the family is afforded their due justice.  Less important, but
necessary is that the Kyokai institutes appropriate reforms.  Many
of us from the mailing list were well ahead of the curve in Japan
on this issue.  As an aside, I do not see how the senior members of
the Kyokai remain in power after this incident and cover-up, that
they were not shamed into resigning.

If you are indeed interested where I've been the last 6 months, I'd
be happy to provide you with my recent traveling itinerary off list
;).


Quoting Doreen Simmons <jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp>:

> I'm not sure where Scott's been for the past six months or so,
> but all
> this information came out within a very short time of the
> eruption of
> the scandal. It was absolutely clear, from the moment that the
> news
> came out that a cover-up had been attempted, and the family
> insisted on
> the body being delivered to them intact,  that a hazing was
> involved.
> The idea that more investigation is needed, when the police
> authorities
> have taken so many months to build an airtight case, doesn't add
> up.
> Only two new items of new information  have come out very
> recently (to
> those of us in Japan, at least) :  (1) the stablemaster hit the
> boy on
> the head with a beer bottle not once but about ten times; and (2)
> the
> three anideshi (older apprentices) have been finally named.
> Everything
> else has been in the public domain for months.
>
> Doreen Simmons
>   jz8d-smmn at asahi-net.or.jp
>
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