Sumo trainer's historic sacking over wrestling death
A sumo wrestling coach has been fired for the first time in the centuries-long history of the sport after a teenage novice was apparently beaten to death during training.
Police questioned stable master Tokitsukaze, 57, and the other trainees under his care after 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan collapsed following practice.
Tokitaizan, whose real name was Takashi Saito, died later in a hospital. An autopsy showed his body had numerous bruises and wounds that did not appear consistent with those sustained in normal sumo training.
The dismissal means the trainer was expelled from the sport indefinitely, the Japan Sumo Association chairman Kitanoumi said today.
“Tokitsukaze’s action was not appropriate for a trainer,” Kitanoumi said.
“The incident damaged the association’s credibility and honour significantly.”
Tokitsukaze, whose real name is Junichi Yamamoto, admitted he struck Saito on the head with a beer bottle the day before he died, and forced him to train so hard that he could barely stand on the day of his death.
Fellow wrestlers told authorities Saito had injured himself while training.
Tokitsukaze is not facing formal criminal charges.
