A question of Sumo Protocol

[hodas@cs.hmc.edu (Joshua S. Hodas)]

Hi,

I am a brand new subscriber to the sumo list. I am a recent sumo convert
(my wife and I got hooked by the nightly broadcasts of the May basho while we
were on vacation in Hawaii) and a professor of computer science at Harvey Mudd
College on the side.

I have a question about Sumo protocol that came up during the last Basho.


On one of the later days of the most recent Basho (I believe it was day
11 or 12, or maybe 13, but I can no longer remember and have erased my tape)
my wife and I are fairly sure we saw Musashimaru (at the time still undefeated)
get thrown off balance and touch down with his right hand, unnoticed by all the
refs. We rewatched it in slo-mo several times and it definitely seems to have
happened.  Also, his fingers flexed enough that I am sure he has to have felt
it.

He subsequently went on to win the bout.

Initially we were quite disappointed that he did not turn himself in. But then
we wondered: What are the social issues at play here? Should he have turned
himself in, or would that be an insult to the judges (implying they missed
something)?

Hope someone can shed some light on this.

Thanks,

Josh Hodas

PS: We currently watch Sumo Digest on KSCI out of Pasadena.
Does anyone know if there is any way to  pick up the English language
broadcasts in this area?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josh Hodas                              Home Phone:   (909) 625-1179
Computer Science / Harvey Mudd College  Office Phone: (909) 621-8650
Claremont, CA 91711                     E-Mail:       hodas@cs.hmc.edu