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Teen wrestler said to have been denied food before death

NAGOYA, Japan - Masato Saito (C) speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 8 a day after former sumo stable master Tokitsukaze and three senior wrestlers were arrested over the death of Saito's son Takashi, a 17-year-old wrestler known as Tokitaizan.

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Ex-sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze arrested

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 7 after police arrested former stablemaster Tokitsukaze and three senior wrestlers from the stable for their suspected involvement in the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan during training last June after two days of alleged hazing.

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Ex-sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze arrested

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze bows in apology during a press conference at his stable in Tokyo on Feb. 7 after police arrested his predecessor, the former stablemaster Tokitsukaze, and three senior wrestlers from the stable over their suspected involvement in the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan during training last June after two days of alleged hazing. (Pool photo)

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Disgraced former sumo coach dies

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in September 2007 shows Junichi Yamamoto, a former sumo wrestler and coach. Yamamoto, who was fired by the Japan Sumo Association for his involvement in the death of a junior wrestler, has died at the age of 64 after suffering from lung cancer, a JSA source said Aug. 12, 2014. Known as the head stablemaster of Tokitsukaze, he was given a five-year prison sentence in the manslaughter case.

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Disgraced former sumo coach dies

TOKYO, Japan - File photo taken in October 2007 shows head sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze (L) surrounded by the press when an urgent board meeting of the Japan Sumo Association was convened at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan following the death of a junior wrester. Tokitsukaze, whose real name was Junichi Yamamoto, has died at the age of 64 after suffering from lung cancer, a JSA source said Aug. 12, 2014. He was fired by the JSA for his involvement in the death and was given a five-year prison sentence in the manslaughter case.

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Komusubi Toyonoshima ties the knot

TOKYO, Japan - Toyonoshima (L), a 28-year-old komusubi belonging to the Tokitsukaze stable, and his newly wed wife Sunaho Takeuchi, a 30-year-old singer, pose for photos at a Tokyo hotel on Oct. 1, 2011, where their wedding reception was held the same day.

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JSA fires Kotomitsuki over gambling scandal

NAGOYA, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze, who gambled on baseball when he was a wrestler, speaks to reporters at a hotel in Nagoya on July 4, 2010, after the Japan Sumo Association decided to demote him to ''toshiyori'' in the sumo hierarchy and to keep him at the lowest rank on probation for five years. (Pool photo)

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Ex-sumo stablemaster given 6-yr prison over wrestler's death

NAGOYA, Japan - This Feb. 7, 2008 file photo shows the ring in the building in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, that the Tokitsukaze sumo stable used as a temporary lodging before a July 2007 tournament in Nagoya. The Nagoya District Court ruled May 29 that a former stablemaster was involved in fatal violence against a 17-year-old wrestler in the ring in June 2007.

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Wrestlers admit to hazing, causing teen wrestler's death

NAGOYA, Japan - Masato Saito, father of Takashi Saito who died from hazing at the Tokitsukaze stable, enters the Nagoya District Court on Oct. 7 for the first session of a trial over his death. Three sumo wrestlers at the stable admitted to hazing the 17-year-old stablemate who later died from a multiple-trauma shock in June last year.

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JSA suspends 3 wrestlers indicted over death of junior wrestler

OSAKA, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi (R) speaks at a news conference in Osaka on March 6 after the end of an extraordinary meeting of JSA executives. The JSA decided to suspend from competition three wrestlers indicted for the assault and subsequent death of a 17-year-old junior wrestler last June. At left is stablemaster Tokitsukaze, whose predecessor allegedly instructed the wrestlers to beat Takashi Saito.

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JSA head Kitanoumi apologizes to parents of dead wrestler

NIIGATA, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi visits Oct. 12 the home in Niigata of the family of a junior wrestler who died as a result of injuries sustained apparently from hazing at the Tokitsukaze stable in June, apologizing to the family for the incident.

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New stablemaster Tokitsukaze oversees sumo practice

TOKYO, Japan - The new Tokitsukaze (2nd L), who inherited the Tokitsukaze sumo stable from the disgraced former sumo elder Takitsukaze, oversees the sumo practice of junior wrestlers at his stable in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, on Oct. 11. The new Tokitsukaze, 33, who fought under the sumo name Tokitsuumi in the Makuuchi division, inherited the Tokitsukaze name and took over the stable on Oct. 9, after the former Tokitsukaze was fired by the Japan Sumo Association over the suspected hazing death in June of Tokitaizan, a 17-year-old wrestler in the stable.

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New stablemaster Tokitsukaze oversees sumo practice

TOKYO, Japan - The new Tokitsukaze (C), who inherited the Tokitsukaze sumo stable from the disgraced former sumo elder Takitsukaze, oversees the sumo practice of junior wrestlers at his stable in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, on Oct. 11. The new Tokitsukaze, 33, who fought under the sumo name Tokitsuumi in the Makuuchi division, inherited the Tokitsukaze name and took over the stable on Oct. 9, after the former Tokitsukaze was fired by the Japan Sumo Association over the suspected hazing death in June of Tokitaizan, a 17-year-old wrestler in the stable.

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New stablemaster apologizes to family of dead wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze speaks to reporters in front of his stable in Tokyo on Oct. 10 after returning to Tokyo from Niigata, where he visited the family of the deceased wrestler Tokitaizan to offer his apology. The visit by Tokitsukaze to the family came after he took over the stable from its previous head, who was fired by the Japan Sumo Association for his alleged involvement in the hazing that led to the death of the 17-year-old Tokitaizan.

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Tokitsuumi takes over stable from dismissed elder

TOKYO, Japan - Makuuchi division wrestler Tokitsuumi meets the press in Tokyo on Oct. 9. after taking over the running of the Tokitsukaze stable from his dismissed sumo elder.

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Stablemaster Tokitsukaze fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi speaks at a news conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5 after an emergency meeting of JSA executives unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing.

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi (C), along with other JSA executives, bows in apology during a press conference after an emergency meeting of JSA executives at Tokyo's Rogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5. The meeting unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing.

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze is surrounded by reporters as he comes out of an emergency meeting of Japan Sumo Association executives at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5. Later in the day, the executives decided unanimously to dismiss Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing.

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi heads for an emergency meeting of association executives at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Oct. 5. Later in the day, the meeting unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing.

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Sumo association to dismiss Tokitsukaze over wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi suggested Oct. 2 the association plans to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze (file photo) over the death of one of his junior wrestlers apparently from hazing.

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Kitanoumi called in on hazing death of teen wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association chairman and former yokozuna Kitanoumi speaks to reporters after meeting with Kisaburo Tokai, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, at the education ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 28. Kitanoumi briefed Tokai on the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan who belonged to the Tokitsukaze sumo stable.

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Kitanoumi called in on hazing death of teen wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association chairman and former yokozuna Kitanoumi (L) meets with Kisaburo Tokai, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, at the education ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 28 to brief him on the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan who belonged to the Tokitsukaze sumo stable.

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Kitanoumi meets education minister over death of wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi meets with Education Minister Kisaburo Tokai (C) and Senior Vice minister of Education Kenshiro Matsunami (R) at the education ministry on Sept. 28 to explain about the hazing death of junior sumo wrestler Tokitaizan, 17, at the practice ring of his stablemaster Tokitsukaze.

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Sumo wrestler's father seeks to know truth behind son's death

TOKYO, Japan - Masato Saito, the father of 17-year-old sumo wrestler Takashi Saito who died in June, speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Sept. 27. Senior wrestlers are suspected of having beaten and kicked Takashi on the instructions of stable master Tokitsukaze during a sparring bout in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on June 26 prior to the July Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

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(2)Kakizoe, Shimotori promoted to komusubi for spring sumo

OSAKA, Japan - Maegashira No. 7 Shimotori (L) points at his name in Osaka on March 1 after he was promoted to Komusubi. The Japan Sumo Association announced the rankings the same day for the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. At the right is his stable master Tokitsukaze.

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Toshimitsu Kitanoumi

TOKYO, Japan - Toshimitsu Kitanoumi, chairman of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA). Former yokozuna Kitanoumi 48, was elected unanimously by the 10-member board at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Feb. 1 to succeed Tokitsukaze, a former ozeki who served two two-year terms as JSA boss and reaches the mandatory retirement age of 65 August, 2002.

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Kitanoumi elected JSA chairman, 10 board seats decided

TOKYO, Japan - Former yokozuna Kitanoumi meets the press at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Feb. 1 after being elected new chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. Kitanoumi, 48, was elected unanimously by the 10-member board and will succeed Tokitsukaze.

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Sumo association to downsize provincial tours

TOKYO, Japan - Tokitsukaze (L), chairman of the Japan Sumo Association (JSA), and Sumo elder Futagoyama in charge of the JSA's regional training tours, meet the press at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo's Sumida Ward on May 7. They said the JSA will downsize its regional training tours, which have ceased to be profitable over the last few years.

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JSA rejects governor's request to appear on ring

OSAKA, Japan - Japan Sumo Association (JSA) chairman Tokitsukaze (L) shakes hands with Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota at her office March 7. He explained to Ota about his association's decision to turn down, for the second time, her request to become the first woman to appear on the ring to present a trophy. Tokitsukaze said the JSA's stance to preserve the traditional ''men only'' culture of the ancient sport remains unchanged

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Akebono tenders his resignation to sumo association

TOKYO, Japan - Yokozuna Akebono (file photo), sumo's first foreign-born grand champion, tendered his resignation to the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) on Jan. 22. The JSA accepted it. Akebono, 31, and stablemaster Azumazeki called on JSA Chairman Tokitsukaze earlier in the day to discuss the yokozuna's future. During his career, Akebono was repeatedly sidelined with knee problems and various injuries.

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Toki grounded by JSA after fatal road accident

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo wrestler Toki, shown in this file photo, is ''grounded'' on Dec. 22 by the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) and ruled out of next month's New Year tournament. The mid-maegashira sumo wrestler hit and killed a pedestrian in a car accident on Dec. 18. JSA chairman Tokitsukaze gives Toki a ''stay-at-home'' punishment.

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Playwright picked as first woman member in yokozuna council

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Tokitsukaze (L) on Sept. 12 commissions popular playwright Makiko Uchidate as a member of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council, which oversees the promotion of wrestlers to sumo's highest rank. Uchidate is the first woman to be named a member of the association's advisory body.

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Chirac hands over 'Chirac Cup' to Sumo Association head

NAGOYA, Japan - French President Jacques Chirac (R) hands over the ''Chirac Cup'' to Japan Sumo Association head Tokitsukaze after watching the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at the Aichi prefectural gym in Nagoya on July 19. Chirac is in Japan for the three-day Group of Eight (G-8) summit, which begins July 21 in Okinawa.

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Chirac watches grand sumo tournament in Nagoya

NAGOYA, Japan - French President Jacques Chirac (C) watches the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at the Aichi prefectural gym in Nagoya on July 19. Chirac is in Japan for the three-day Group of Eight (G-8) summit, which begins July 21 in Okinawa. Seated next to Chirac are his wife, Bernadette, and Japan Sumo Association head Tokitsukaze.

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Kitanoumi called in on hazing death of teen wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association chairman and former yokozuna Kitanoumi speaks to reporters after meeting with Kisaburo Tokai, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, at the education ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 28. Kitanoumi briefed Tokai on the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan who belonged to the Tokitsukaze sumo stable. (Kyodo)

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Kitanoumi called in on hazing death of teen wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association chairman and former yokozuna Kitanoumi (L) meets with Kisaburo Tokai, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, at the education ministry in Tokyo on Sept. 28 to brief him on the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan who belonged to the Tokitsukaze sumo stable. (Kyodo)

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Sumo association to dismiss Tokitsukaze over wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi suggested Oct. 2 the association plans to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze (file photo) over the death of one of his junior wrestlers apparently from hazing. (Kyodo)

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze is surrounded by reporters as he comes out of an emergency meeting of Japan Sumo Association executives at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5. Later in the day, the executives decided unanimously to dismiss Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing. (Kyodo)

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi heads for an emergency meeting of association executives at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Oct. 5. Later in the day, the meeting unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing. (Kyodo)

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Stablemaster Tokitsukaze fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi speaks at a news conference at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5 after an emergency meeting of JSA executives unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing. (Kyodo)

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Stablemaster fired over teen wrestler's death

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi (C), along with other JSA executives, bows in apology during a press conference after an emergency meeting of JSA executives at Tokyo's Rogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 5. The meeting unanimously decided to dismiss stablemaster Tokitsukaze over the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June, apparently due to hazing. (Kyodo)

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Tokitsuumi takes over stable from dismissed elder

TOKYO, Japan - Makuuchi division wrestler Tokitsuumi meets the press in Tokyo on Oct. 9. after taking over the running of the Tokitsukaze stable from his dismissed sumo elder. (Kyodo)

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New stablemaster apologizes to family of dead wrestler

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze speaks to reporters in front of his stable in Tokyo on Oct. 10 after returning to Tokyo from Niigata, where he visited the family of the deceased wrestler Tokitaizan to offer his apology. The visit by Tokitsukaze to the family came after he took over the stable from its previous head, who was fired by the Japan Sumo Association for his alleged involvement in the hazing that led to the death of the 17-year-old Tokitaizan. (Kyodo)

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New stable master Tokitsukaze oversees sumo practice

TOKYO, Japan - The new Tokitsukaze (2nd L), who inherited the Tokitsukaze sumo stable from the disgraced former sumo elder Takitsukaze, oversees the sumo practice of junior wrestlers at his stable in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, on Oct. 11. The new Tokitsukaze, 33, who fought under the sumo name Tokitsuumi in the Makuuchi division, inherited the Tokitsukaze name and took over the stable on Oct. 9, after the former Tokitsukaze was fired by the Japan Sumo Association over the suspected hazing death in June of Tokitaizan, a 17-year-old wrestler in the stable. (Kyodo)

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New stablemaster Tokitsukaze oversees sumo practice

TOKYO, Japan - The new Tokitsukaze (C), who inherited the Tokitsukaze sumo stable from the disgraced former sumo elder Takitsukaze, oversees the sumo practice of junior wrestlers at his stable in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, on Oct. 11. The new Tokitsukaze, 33, who fought under the sumo name Tokitsuumi in the Makuuchi division, inherited the Tokitsukaze name and took over the stable on Oct. 9, after the former Tokitsukaze was fired by the Japan Sumo Association over the suspected hazing death in June of Tokitaizan, a 17-year-old wrestler in the stable. (Kyodo)

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JSA head Kitanoumi apologizes to parents of dead wrestler

NIIGATA, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi visits Oct. 12 the home in Niigata of the family of a junior wrestler who died as a result of injuries sustained apparently from hazing at the Tokitsukaze stable in June, apologizing to the family for the incident. (Kyodo)

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Ex-sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze arrested

TOKYO, Japan - Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze bows in apology during a press conference at his stable in Tokyo on Feb. 7 after police arrested his predecessor, the former stablemaster Tokitsukaze, and three senior wrestlers from the stable over their suspected involvement in the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan during training last June after two days of alleged hazing. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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Ex-sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze arrested

TOKYO, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Feb. 7 after police arrested former stablemaster Tokitsukaze and three senior wrestlers from the stable for their suspected involvement in the death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan during training last June after two days of alleged hazing. (Kyodo)

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JSA suspends 3 wrestlers indicted over death of junior wrestler

OSAKA, Japan - Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi (R) speaks at a news conference in Osaka on March 6 after the end of an extraordinary meeting of JSA executives. The JSA decided to suspend from competition three wrestlers indicted for the assault and subsequent death of a 17-year-old junior wrestler last June. At left is stablemaster Tokitsukaze, whose predecessor allegedly instructed the wrestlers to beat Takashi Saito. (Kyodo)

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Mongolian Tokitenku nursing malignant lymphoma

Sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze talks on Jan. 8, 2016, in Tokyo about former komusubi Tokitenku's status. The 36-year-old Mongolian wrestler was diagnosed with malignant lymphoma but is recovering, Tokitsukaze said. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo