Rikishi - kai convenes

[Moti Dichne]

The rikishi-kai, meeting of all sekitori, was held at the Edion Arena Osaka, the venue for Haru Basho, today. While closed to the press, the financial report for fiscal year 2025 was presented. Ozeki Kotozakura who serves as the association's chairman, explained that the meeting went smoothly. At the meeting, which is held before each tournament, each rikishi sets aside 10,000 yen per tournament since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The funds were used to support disaster-stricken areas, such as building sumo rings, but in June of last year, it was discovered that the gyoji in charge had embezzled over 20 million yen. The gyoji in question was subsequently dismissed for disciplinary reasons. After the meeting, Kotozakura responded to an interview with a serious expression, saying, "It's good for the rikishi to be fully involved. Depending on their ranking, some will participate and some won't. We need to report more regularly." Even though it's a "rikishis' association," and the money is collected from the rikishi, a specific gyoji manages the account. In order to prevent such a precedent from being repeated, Kotozakura explained that it is necessary to increase opportunities for each sekitori to understand the rikishi-kai's reserve funds and to continue transparent accounting.