Society

Takanohana submits letter of resignation

Sep 26 (NHK) - Former yokozuna grand champion and stablemaster Takanohana has submitted a letter of resignation to the Japan Sumo Association. He says reasons for his written complaint filed to the government about one of his sumo wrestler pupils over an injury incident have been deemed groundless by the association.

Takanohana made the remark at a news conference on Tuesday with his lawyer to explain the reasons for his resignation.

Takanohana said that in March he submitted the letter of complaint to the Cabinet Office regarding an incident in which a wrester in his stable, Takanoiwa, was hit and injured by former yokozuna Harumafuji. Harumafuji apologized and retired over the incident last year.

Takanohana revealed that the association concluded that reasons for submitting the complaint were not based on fact in a letter he received in August. He said the association demanded that he admit the complaint was groundless as a condition for him to join one of the existing groups of stables.

Takanohana said the complaint was based on truth, and that he can't change it. He added that he made the tough decision as it is the best way for the members of his former stable.

The association dismissed Takanohana from the post of director in January, saying he had failed to cooperate in internal investigations into the assault incident. He has since left the group that his stable belonged to.

In July, the association's board decided that all stable masters must become members of one of 5 current groups of stables.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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