Re: Itai on CNN

[Masumi Abe <abe@accesscom.com>]

There is a Japanese word "Kata Yaocho" in sumo society, which means "one-sided
fixed match". So, I believe that there are times that the winners don't know
anything about the fact that the match he won was actually fixed. This is
possible when his sponsor or Oyakata try to buy the match for their rikishi.

I still believe that it's next to impossible to pin point the fixed match. One
of the said-to-be-fixed match was one of the greatest matches between
Tochinishiki and Wakanohana-I. Without insider leak or rumor, it's impossible
to tell one or the other.

Without actual proof, I believe there are fixed matches before and now, but I
will never expect any active rikishi or oyakata will admit that they are
involved such fixed matches. On the other hand, even if no rikishi is involved
in fixed matches, we will never know that the Sumo Kyokai and Rikishi are
entirely clean.

So, it's up to us sumo fans whether I/you/we/ believe yaocho exist or not. In
my personal case, I enjoy sumo, with or without yaocho. That's my own and
personal decision and I won't force you to copy my stance. ;)

-Toshiyori Masumiriki

--
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* Masumi Abe (aka Masumiriki / Imanonami)
* mailto: abe@accesscom.com
* WWW: http://www.accesscom.com/~abe
* from Sapporo through Tokyo to Palo Alto, California
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