Sumo in upheaval

Japan's ancient sport of sumo is making the headlines once again for all the wrong reasons. In the last few years, the sport has seen a bullying yokozuna being forced into retirement, wrestlers kicked out for smoking marijuana, and a young wrestler bullied and beaten to death. The latest scandal involves a group of wrestlers who have been betting illegally on baseball games. Ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake have been at the forefront of the allegations, but a total of twenty-six wrestlers and sumo elders have been suspended from the upcoming Nagoya Basho (tournament).

Kotomitsuki, pictured, is to be kicked out of the sport following his involvement, which is an ignoble exit for a popular wrestler - he is the favourite wrestler of the young Princess Aiko. His dismissal also means that, unbelievably, there is only one Japanese wrestler fighting in the top two ranks of Yokozuna or Ozeki, and that is veteran Kaio, who at thirty-seven years old is very much in the twilight of his career.

The Nagoya Basho will now be held, despite worries that it would be cancelled in the wake of the scandal, and NHK - the national broadcasting corporation - will screen the tournament as usual. Whatever happens, the sport needs a good shakeup.

Hopefully this will expose the mismanagement and arrogance that has been blighting the sport and bring some much needed dignity back.

HH