Charges Likely Over Sumo Wrestler's Death

The Japanese sumo world suffered a fresh blow yesterday after it was reported that police are investigating a stable master and several wrestlers in connection with the sudden death of a 17-year-old recruit.

Takashi Saito, who fought under the name Tokitaizan, collapsed on June 26 while practising for a tournament in Nagoya and died in hospital a few hours later. The stable reportedly waited more than an hour to call an ambulance. He was initially thought to have died from a heart disorder, but a postmortem found he had sustained cuts and bruises more severe than those normally suffered in training.

Police, who are conducting further tests, are poised to charge his stable master, Tokitsukaze, with inflicting injury after he admitted striking the teenager on the head with a beer bottle following an attempt to run away from the stable. He is also suspected of forcing him to train until he could barely stand on the day of his death, local media said.

More serious charges, of causing injury resulting in death, could be brought against other wrestlers in the stable who allegedly beat and kicked Tokitaizan, apparently to punish him for trying to abscond. Saito, who had entered the stable only a month before, reportedly struggled to adapt to the grueling regime.

Sumo authorities were already on the defensive over allegations of match-fixing, and the sport's long-term future is in doubt as potential recruits decide they cannot cope with the sometimes brutal life. Trials planned for prospective wrestlers just before the Nagoya tournament were canceled after they failed to attract a single applicant.