One of the dozens of possible winning techniques in sumo is gassho-hineri (clasped-hands twist-down) in which a wrestler puts his hands behind his opponent’s back, as if in prayer, and twists him down.
The punishment meted out Monday by the Japan Sumo Association to Wakakirin, a juryo-division wrestler who was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana, could be likened to gassho-hineri, with the JSA clasping its hands together in prayer. Instead of meting out a punishment of expulsion, which would mean Wakakirin would not be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, the association decided on the lesser punishment of dismissal to allow him to receive the retirement benefit if he so requests.
A favorable interpretation of the punishment might view the JSA as having shown clemency by praying for the wrestler’s rehabilitation. The organization’s chairman, Musashigawa, said: “He’s only 25. Expulsion is too severe a penalty when considering the rest of his life.”
But it is also possible to interpret the punishment in a negative light. With the lynching death of a young sumo wrestler carried out under the pretext of training still fresh in our minds and court trials on suspected match-fixing, public attention is focused on the state of professional sumo.
In light of the sensitive timing, it is difficult not to wonder whether the JSA clasped its hands in prayer in hopes the wrestler would not disclose something detrimental to the sumo world after it handed him the lesser punishment of dismissal to allow him access to a retirement allowance. I hope this is nothing more than a petty suspicion.
The JSA currently is experiencing a mitokorozeme (three-pronged attack) over drug scandals, bullying during training sessions and the controversial behavior of yokozuna Asashoryu.
I would have preferred to see the JSA hand down an authoritative tsukidashi (pushing out), instead of the more equivocal gassho-hineri punishment.
The Yomiuri Shimbun. Musings.The following is a translation of the Henshu Techo column from The Yomiuri Shimbun.
退職金の出る「解雇」妙な暴露だけはしないでくれよ・・・ 編集手帳 八葉蓮華
数ある大相撲の決まり手の一つに「合掌ひねり」がある。片方の手を相手の腋(わき)の下から差し、肩の上からまわしたもう片方の手と合掌するように組み合わせてひねり倒す
大麻所持で逮捕された十両力士、若麒麟真一容疑者に日本相撲協会が下した処分も、協会が祈るように手を合わせた合掌ひねりと映らなくもない。退職金の出ない「除名」を見送り、退職金の出る「解雇」にとどめた
善意に解釈すれば「まだ２５歳、第二の人生を考えると除名はかわいそう」（武蔵川理事長）と温情を示し、更生を祈ったのだろう。別の、意地のわるい解釈もできる
リンチ死事件の記憶が生々しく残り、八百長疑惑が裁判になり、相撲界の内実に世間の耳目が集まっている時である。退職金はもらえるようにしてやったのだから、妙な暴露だけはしないでくれよ、そう祈って手を合わせた処分と疑うこともできる。下世話な勘ぐりであればいい
薬物汚染、“かわいがり”体質、横綱の品格…協会は角界不信の「三所(みところ)攻め」にさらされているさなかである。紛らわしい「合掌ひねり」よりも明快な「突き出し」が見たかった。
