Sumo. A sport wrapped in legend, and history. An ancient Japanese sport that can trace its roots back for over 500 years. A sport that has seen long periods of stability, and not a lot of change since then! The ring is the same, the hairstyles are the same, the rules have not really changed much, training regimes remain locked in the past with wrestlers being tied to a stable, and locked into a rigid system of ranks.
However, this is a sport that exists in one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and where we now see problems. Sumo, as a very rigidly controlled "closed shop," has been able to keep is dirty laundry well and truly hidden. However, with the internet, mobile phones, and tablet PC's, this veil is slowly being lifted, and the muck is slowly oozing out.
Recently, there was a big scandal over Sumo wrestlers placing bets on Baseball. This may not seem like such a big deal, but in Japan, betting is illegal, and Sumo wrestlers are expected to maintain the very highest ethical standards. And to make it worse, these bets where being placed with the Yakuza. This scandal spelled the end for the popular Ozeki, Kotomitsuki.
During the Polices further investigations, further e-mails in mobile phones where recovered. These e-mails pointed to match-fixing. Whilst this has not come as a surprise to the Japanese (about 70% believe it goes on), it has made public something that can now no longer be denied. Rumours have circulated about match-fixing for years. For example, a fighter with a 7-7 record looking to secure his ranking, could have a fight with a wrestler who had secured his ranking with 8 wins (if you get over 50%, your rank is safe). In such cases, 80% of the time, the fighter with the 7-7 record, won!
However, the Sumo Association operates as an Old Boys club. There is very little new blood in the top levels, and people in the higher echelons dont "get" the modern era of communications. Sumo needs to change, but they refuse to do so, for "tradition."
This new scandal has offered the public proof conclusive of something that was long suspected, and denied. Over many years, there have been stories run alleging that various fighters have either taken money, or paid money to influence the victor of a fight. Including allegations that 2 Yokozuna paid bribes, Akebono, and Hakuho. Both they and the JSA denied the allegations, took the media to court, and won big damages against those writing the stories.
The JSA has announced on the back of this scandal that the March tournament in Osaka is to be cancelled to allow Police the time to complete their investigations, as well as the JSA doing their own. Though I doubt how effective that will be. They asked wrestlers to submit to questioning, as well as submitting their mobile phones to forensic study.
However, some fighters have not handed over their phones giving a myriad of excuses. Ranging from the potentially plausible "I bought a new one." to the vaguely ludicrous "Dropped it in water" and "My wife broke it."
Will Sumo ever be the same again? No. Simple as. The JSA has said they will expel any and all who are proven to be linked to this scandal. We already have 3 implicated fighters, Chiyohakuho, Kasuganishiki, and Enatsukasa. None are Ozeki, or higher ranked, so that is a little bit of a saving grace.
However, it leaves Sumo and its lone Yokozuna Hakuho in a huge fight.Hakuho has done his best to prove the nobility of Sumo and is hugely popular. He is a hugely talented fighter, and fun to watch.
However, without his nemesis, Asashoryu, it makes his efforts less visible. In wrestling terms, Hakuho was the "face" with Asashoryu being the "heel." Both where fun!
Without that competition, Sumo needs its top fighters to pull the sports out. It needs to wow the crowds. Hakuho will play his part, as with some of the other foreign Ozeki, but Sumo needs its Japanese fighters to step up.
Will Sumo survive? That is the big challenge. It will be difficult. This scandal has really rocked the sport, and threatens its future. NHK is the only broadcaster, and ponies up about 2.5 billion yen a year. Accounting for 25% of JSA's total revenues in one fell swoop. NHK dropped one tournament during the Baseball betting scandal, and this new scandal puts NHK's continuation in the sport in doubt.
Also, the government is threatening to change Sumo's status as a charity. This would boost its tax rate from 20% to 40% overnight, stripping yet more funds from the sport. '
Also, with this scandal rumbling on, will those who where forced to pay after litigation, seek to get their money back? Along with the city of Osaka who want compensation for the loss of income after the JSA cancelled the spring tournament due to be held in March. The first time a tournament was cancelled since 1946!
What will happen? In truth, no one knows. One thing is clear, the JSA needs to bring new blood in. New blood that can understand the new world in which the sport finds itself. Sumo will never be the same again.
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