Sumo: "Kamikaze" Campaign Only Strengthened Asashoryu

After a turbulent 18 months, Asashoryu is back. The Mongolian sumo champ claimed his 23rd Emperors Cup on Sunday in a climactic final day play-off against fellow countryman, Hakuho.

Tearful scenes added to the drama at the New Year’s tournament in Tokyo amid tight security following a much-publicized death threat posted against him over the Internet.

"I'm back," beamed Asashoryu after the win. "Asashoryu has finally returned. This win feels a lot different to all the others."

Even he seemed surprised by the comeback, his first tournament win in over a year. Many had expected him to have quit the sport due to injury, depression, and scandal, the last straws in a controversial 10-year career.

Public opinion has always been divided on whether he was a cocky maverick or just a talented delinquent. The wrestler’s nonchalance didn’t go down well upstairs, his alleged disregard for the strict sumo protocols angering many within the inner sanctum of the ancient sport. 

Witch Hunt
Before World War Two, “kamikaze” referred to the "divine wind" (typhoon) that twice repelled the Kublai Khan armies back in the 13th century. Some believe that there has been a conspiracy to force this modern-era Mongolian warrior back over the sea.

Labeled as "The Badboy of Sumo," the gravity of his sins seems pretty innocuous outside the context of the sport’s sacred traditions.

Let’s examine his crimes:

1. Pulling an opponents hair—More sissy, than sinner.
2. Having a fight in a bathtub—People pay good money to see women mud-wrestle, have soapy bathtub exchanges;  in some states, it’s big business. Given their sex symbol status in Japan, the pair could’ve sold tickets and made a fortune. But they didn't.
3. Breaking his bathtub opponent’s wing mirror—Considering he could have picked the car up and eaten it whole, the car got off lightly.
4. Worst of all, the unspeakable: playing soccer with his friends while injured.

Seeing as EPL stars, NFL stars kill dogs; commit rape, assault, death by dangerous driving; stub cigarettes in peoples eyes… there might be some sympathy for the way the big man has been portrayed.

For his treacherous kick-around with his mates, he was banned from the next two bashos and fined 30 percent of his salary for four months.  He was also asked not to leave his house in Tokyo, except to come to his sumo stable and to visit his doctor.

The JSA harshly concluded that the injuries had been faked or exaggerated and the medical certificate produced had not been genuine.

Perhaps playing ping-pong and snooker are also banned when injured. The judgment seemed to be a little disingenuous given the fun nature of the game. And really, who in their right mind is going to go into a tackle against a Sumo wrestler?

It was the most severe punishment ever imposed on a sumo champion since the Grand Tournament system was adopted 80 years ago. They made their point abundantly clear.

Mongolian Invasion
There are other reasons than personal dislike to want the Mongolian out. Many Japanese are disillusioned by the recent change in sumo with its influx of foreign champions. Sumo is so culturally specific to Japan, that there is a natural sense of ownership. The Scots would surely feel the same if the winners of the Highland Games were regularly coming from Russia or Vanuatu.

Such hard-line Japanese fans haven’t had anything to cheer about for years. Not since the brothers Wakanohana and Takanohana  bossed the ring have homegrown talents endured real success.

If there was a plan to oust Asashoryu, it worked, albeit temporarily. Japan is often described a "shame" society, and the subsequent stigma of the ban sparked a bout of clinical depression in Asashoryu. He fled home to Mongolia to consider his future, much to the delight of his detractors.

Unfortunately for them, none of the Japanese ozeki could seize the opportunity presented to them. Instead, the champion's exit merely enabled the promotion of a new Mongolian yokozuna, Hakuho. Like a hydra of sumo breeding; one goes, one more appears.

The period even saw the first European to win a tournament, the Bulgarian Kotoushu.
Asashoryu himself came back stronger and more determined than ever. The final once again culminating in a battle between the two Central Asian rivals. 

To their credit, the JSA this week criticized the Japanese ozeki for not showing enough fighting spirit.

Despite the intense speculation about his latest comeback, Asashoryu seems to want to stick around, offering the hand of reconciliation to the Japanese public after his victory on Sunday:

“Asashoryu has finally returned,” he said in a bout of man tears.

“It's been a long road back,” he sobbed. “At times I didn't think I could make it. But I love Japan. I'm Japan's yokozuna.”

Many will argue this was merely the intention of the authorities all along: to reform the wrestler, make him the great champion he should be.

Whatever the reasons, it’s good to have him back.