on this day: 1932

["Rowan Klein" <rowanchan@hotmail.com>]

The Osaka Mainichi and Tokyo Nichi Nichi, Sunday 10th January 1932

Spring Sumo Tourney Indefinitely Postponed

Western Group of Grapplers Stands Pat Through Most of Demands Accepted

   The semi-annual sumo (Japanese wrestling) tournament slated to be held 
in Tokyo beginning January 14 will in all probability be postponed 
indefinitely because of the strike of the professional wrestlers of the 
Western Camp.
   Chief Director Hirose of the Nihon Sumo Kyokai, the sponsoring society, 
informally announced on Saturday that the contest will be postponed, if the 
trouble does not end within a few days.
   In view of the fact that the postponing of the bouts will deal a great 
blow to the society, Director Dewanoumi and others of the organization are 
endeavouring to pacify the discontented wrestlers.

Authorities Conciliatory
   Most of the demands for better treatment made by the wrestlers of the 
Western Camp were accepted on Friday by the Nihon Sumo Kyokai (Japanese 
Professional Wrestling Society), but the discontented wrestlers are not 
satisfied with the reply and their attitude is as firm as ever.
   In order to draft the reply to the second list of demands filed, the 
society held an emergency directors' meeting Friday afternoon at its office 
on Tokyo and handed the second reply to the strikers in the evening.
   This reply, among other things, promised to reduce the admission charges 
as demanded, to reform the time for exhibition contests in consultation with 
other wrestlers, police authorities and newspaper men, and to acknowledge 
the establishment of the wrestlers' association.
   Wrestlers' representatives met upon receipt of the reply. They decided 
to ask the permission of the society to look into its financial accounts. 
This permission was later given.
   Again the wrestlers asked whether they might be permitted to see the 
accounts accompanied by lawyers and accountants. Director Irimagawa of the 
society answered that he was not in a position to make an immediate reply, 
but promised to do so later.

Easterners Not 'Scabs'
   The professional wrestlers of the Eastern Camp made it clear on Friday 
evening to a representative of their striking colleges that they would not 
join in their movement, but that they would not take part in the forthcoming 
tournament in Tokyo if the members of the Western Camp do not participate.



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