Former yokozuna Takanohana submits resignation to Japan Sumo Association

Let's not forget that Takanohana refused to allow the victim in this case, to be questioned by the sumo association, and not forget as well that Tachinoiwa went against the rules of his stable master in joining that party the night he was assaulted.

Haramafuji stood up and admitted his guilt and took the punishment.

Takanohana played games with the Sumo association and never allowed anyone to tell the other side of the story.

If he had nothing to cover up in the matter, he should have just told the truth. But he is too proud to do that!

I think this is another typical example of Traditional Japanese Culture butting up against Newer Social Norms. Basically.... I'd be willing to bet a lot of lower ranked Rikishi got their asses beat for stepping out of line in the past but now Japan is changing and corporal punishment is being stomped out. Of course this is a good thing but when you got slapped for a minor infraction and you see guys now just getting yelled at.... you might be a bit resentful that the guy gets off easier that you did. In the past few years Japan has been going through a lot of maturing pains in this regard. However, that said, I think Takanohana may've ticked the powers that be off a bit too and this is retribution.

Just say no to steroids, kids.

Takanohana was a grand champion yokozuna in sumo but his mentality is not of that level. He is only an odd ball.

 I think Takanohana may've ticked the powers that be off a bit too and this is retribution.

Retribution? He is the one who resigned. He also could just as easily stood up and told the entire story and allowed his wrestler to do the same.

He comes across as an arrogant man in many ways, he seems to think that he is "sumo royalty" because of his lineage and that allows him to be aloof of others. The problems he had within his own family are legendary, and he wants things to go "his" way.

I always liked the Hanada brothers when they burst onto the scene.

However, in the case of Takanohana, between his success and his pedigree (his father being a famous rikishi), I think he became arrogant and behaved arrogantly.

And, in the end, he put himself before the sport. Which is the kiss of death in the sumo world.

In October, one of his wrestlers, Takanoiwa, became embroiled in a fight with Harumafuji, a top-ranked yokozuna, which left him with a fractured skull.

Harumafuji, who is Mongolian, stepped down over the assault and was fined 500,000 yen.

AFP throwing a race/nationality slant into the mix. They fail to mention that Takanoiwa is also Mongolian. And Harumafuji lost his temper because Takanoiwa was disrespectful to Hakuho, who is also Mongolian. So pointing out that "Harumafuji who is Mongolian" is ridiculous.

There's something else going on that is omitted from this article. Over the past several weeks a number of sports tabloids reported that Takanohana suffered some sort of physical collapse. Plenty of speculation on what caused it, but no details. I suppose we may be hearing more about this --- although I hope the news is not too ominous.

Takanohara stable master collapsed at Akita on Aug. 21 while he was giving a training to his stable wrestler - he himself wearing a mawashi belt. He was hospitalized but the next day or the day after next he returned to Tokyo. He was reported OK and he was at the tournament as a judge. It has nothing to do with his resignation of this time. I think.

Being a wrestler and becoming a member of an organization is very different. Many great wrestlers left the Sumo Association. They became yokozuna champion winning races as a good wrestler but after retirement a different race is waiting them. Some cannot forget their glories and lose in a different race and leave the organization.

Thanks@Schopenhauer. As I recall, several of the articles compared Takanohana's unhealthy life style with his late father's, including the heavy smoking that led to his father's early demise from throat cancer. Also, as I'm sure you agree, media reports of the health conditions of public figures in Japan are often whitewashed so as to obscure the real situation. But as I said, I hope the resignation does not portend anything ominous. It's sad to see the successor to the former Futagoyama Stable -- which was one of the strongest in its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s -- come to an end in this way. (A stable with the same name was reestablished in Saitama on April 1 of this year, but I'm talking about the one near Asagaya founded by Wakanohana the 1st.)

I was a fan of Wakanohana the 1st. About Takanohana, a Japanese paper says "Yowatari ga heta"

He does not know how to make a good use of life.

Yep he fought the soshiki, and the soshiki won. Straight out of a collective playbook. And the moral of the story is?

I was a fan of Wakanohana the 1st.

This actually explains A LOT to me about your stance and comments on numerous topics. With much respect and a different view now on how to read what you write, thank you for sharing this!

Steroids have addled this guy' brain.