DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SUMO FANS

The arrest of Wakakirin, a sumo wrestler in the juryo division, on
suspicion of possessing cannabis and his subsequent dismissal by the
Japan Sumo Association should be a great disappointment to many sumo
fans.

The incident has further tarnished the image of the JSA, which is
suffering from a series of scandals. The beating death in June 2007 of
a teenage wrestler led to the indictment and the JSA's dismissal of
the victim's stablemaster and three stablemates. Since then,
cannabis-related incidents have led to the dismissal of three
wrestlers from Russia - Wakanoho, who was arrested last August, and
then Roho and Hakurozan, who tested positive in simplified urine tests
that the JSA conducted in September.

Sumo fans no doubt hoped that cannabis-related scandals involving sumo
wrestlers were at an end. To their disappointment, though, Wakakirin,
who once fought in the makuuchi division, became the first Japanese
sumo wrestler to be arrested in connection with cannabis possession.

According to investigators, Wakakirin and a musician were found in
possession of 16 grams of dried cannabis when they were both arrested
during a police search, conducted in connection with another drug
case, of a CD shop office in Tokyo's Roppongi district. It is alleged
that Wakakirin admitted that the cannabis was for his own personal
use.

The JSA appears somewhat perfunctory in its handling of the cannabis
problem. One wrestler has not yet undergone the urine test that other
wrestlers took in September. Test results for Wakakirin were
"suspicious" twice and negative only the third time. The JSA reported
his test results to the Tokyo police but did not take specific action
against him.

The JSA stopped short of "expelling" Wakakirin from the organization,
which would have deprived him of the right to a retirement allowance;
it dismissed him instead. It also decided to raise the status of
stablemaster Magaki who had resigned as director following the arrest
of Wakanoho, his student. Without a drastic change in its attitude,
the JSA will have a hard time salvaging its devastated reputation.