Scandal at Kise beya

[Moti Dichne]

The Kyokai held an extraordinary board meeting on the 25th and decided to impose disciplinary action against rikishi ranked below makushita at  Kise beya. Kise Oyakata, former makuuchi Higonoumi, who was demoted from iin to toshiyori, left the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo without a word, saying, "I'm sure you have something you want to ask me, but I'm sorry." According to an investigation, on November 7th, at Kise beya's Kyushu tournament lodgings, rikishi A punched rikishi B in the face with all his might at least five or six times. After confirming that rikishi B had stolen cash from rikishi A's wallet, he became enraged. While rikishi B did not receive medical treatment, he suffered bruises around both eyes and was forced to withdraw from the Kyushu tournament. The Kyokai stated, "Although we acknowledge that rikishi B was also at fault for stealing cash, this is no reason to condone such heinous violence. Furthermore, rikishi B has confessed to having been subjected to violence by rikishi A in the past, and although rikishi A denies it, other rikishi have given eyewitness testimony, so we have no choice but to conclude that it was a habitual offense." Neither rikishi has ever been a sekitori. Rikishi A was deemed appropriate to be given a disciplinary punishment of a two-tournament suspension, but he has decided to take responsibility and retire. Kise Oyakata submitted a retirement notice to the Kyokai. At the board meeting that day, it was decided that the "voluntary retirement will be accepted." "While we have accepted his voluntary retirement, we have confirmed that if disciplinary action had been taken, it would have been equivalent to a two-tournament suspension." Kise Oyakata was demoted for violating his supervisory and reporting duties, as well as for having a history of disciplinary action. The Kyokai will work to prevent recurrence, stating, "Going forward, we once again remind all Kyokai members the importance of eradicating violence, and will ask Oyakata and elders to thoroughly instruct and supervise their deshi, and to report any incidents of violence."