Author: Herouth

Tokitsukaze oyakata hands in resignation over flagrant COVID regulation violation

Herouth COVID-19 ,

Shortly after Hatsu basho has been over, a Japanese tabloid published preliminary information, revealing that Tokitsukaze oyakata (former Tokitsuumi, 47) has been going out of the heya during the basho, to various destinations, including 5 consecutive days at a Mahjong parlor, and various excursions to less reputable establishments.

While in normal times such conduct may have raised at most some outraged voices from the more conservative section of society, doing so in the middle of a pandemic, against explicit guidelines, was not likely to pass quietly. Moreover, this is his second offense, after he went golfing in Miyagi prefecture before Aki basho – a violation which cost him a demotion by two ranks.

The crisis management committee has taken up the story, and the compliance committee has started an investigation following a hearing. Following the investigation, the procedure is to hand the recommendations to the board, which would hold a meeting and decide on a proper punishment. This punishment is expected to be severe, under the circumstances.

Yesterday, when interviewed by Nikkan Sports, the oyakata was still attempting to provide alternative explanations about his actions (saying, for example, that he did visit the Mahjong parlor, but not to play Mahjong but to give them tickets to the basho). However, at around the same time, the aforesaid tabloid started releasing more information, including photos. This may have been what drove the oyakata to hand in his resignation on January 27, stating his resolve to take responsibility.

Current expectation is that the NSK will hold on to the resignation papers until after it completes the investigation and punishment procedure. Of course, keeping precedents like Abi and the former Shikimori Inosuke in mind, it’s not a certainty that the resignation will be accepted immediately or at all.

Gyoji Kimura Motoki positive for COVID-19

Herouth COVID-19, Gyōji (行司)

The NSK announces that on January 4th 2021, in the morning, the Makuuchi-ranked gyoji from Minato beya suffered from high fever and coughing, and took a PCR test, which came back positive.

Kimura Motoki, whose real name is Okamura Hiromichi, 53 years old, belongs to Minato beya. However, his contact tracing investigation showed that he has not been in contact with any of the heya members recently (older, married gyoji, tokoyama and yobidashi usually live outside the heya). However, the NSK, on its own initiative, will give everybody in the heya a PCR test, as an extra safety measure.

We wish Motoki-san a full and speedy recovery, and we will keep you posted if any updates come in.

New COVID-19 case and an update on Minato oyakata

Herouth COVID-19 ,

The NSK officially informs us that a new COVID-19 case has turned up at Tatsunami beya, bringing the total number of infected in that heya to 11. The rikishi is not a sekitori and therefore his name was not disclosed. He tested negative in the first round of close contact testing, but on the 18th he came up with a runny nose and other light symptoms, and got re-tested, and this time he was positive.

Since the first test, he has not gone out nor has he mixed with the other rikishi still in the heya, so there are no close contacts to test at this time. He will be sent to a hotel, according to the instructions of the local health authority.

Elsewhere, Minato oyakata, who has been confirmed positive on the 15th, his been admitted to hospital on December 17th, says Shibatayama oyakata, who serves as the NSK’s spokesperson.

We wish both the unnamed rikishi and Minato oyakata a quick and full recovery.

Minato oyakata positive for COVID-19

Herouth COVID-19

According to this statement from the NSK, Minato oyakata (Ichinojo’s shisho) felt unwell on December 14th, and took a PCR test, which confirmed that he has contracted COVID-19.

According to his contact tracing, he has not been in the practice grounds with his rikishi for the previous 3 days, and therefore they are not considered “close contacts” and not eligible for official testing. However, the NSK had them all tested privately as an extra measure, and the results will be known later today. We will keep you updated.

Minato himself will be admitted to a medical facility or a hotel according to the local health authority’s instructions.

Minato oyakata is 52 years old. We wish him full and speedy recovery, and we will keep you updated on the results of the heya members’ tests if in when those are made public.