Sumo wrestler busted for smoking pot=Japanese freak out!
On Monday night, it was announced that Maegashira rikishi, Wakanoho, was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Russian accidentally dropped his handbag on a Tokyo street near a train station when a female passerby found the bag and turned it into police. Inside the bag was what appeared to be a Russian-manufactured cigarette, but upon further investigation, the police discovered a strange smell from the cigarette and realized it contained marijuana. In the meantime, Wakanoho visited a different police box to report that he had lost his wallet, and once the police made the connection, they took Wakanoho into custody and searched his apartment where they found more marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Wakanoho admitted to police that he had smoked marijuana and said that he got it and the bongs from some other foreigners in Roppongi, a district in Tokyo famous among foreigners for its nightlife.
Wakanoho's stable master, former Yokozuna Wakanohana II, Magaki-oyakata commented to reporters, "I was completely shocked when I heard the news. I've caused so much trouble to everyone. He is not a bad kid, but he has done something terrible.
The sumo commissioner commented, "Wakanoho's arrest is something that should never happen to a rikishi let alone a member of society. It is so unfortunate that I cannot begin to express my sorrow to the fans." Kitanoumi Rijicho then bowed deeply to apologize for the actions of the rikishi under his command. "We will deal with this harshly. It is my responsibility to see that this kind of thing never occurs. I am shocked and disappointed beyond belief."
Police are still continuing their investigation, but they believe that Wakanoho regularly smoked marijuana. A search of Wakanoho's personal room at the Magaki-beya also revealed more drug paraphernalia leading police to believe that he regularly smoked marijuana at the stable as well.
Officials of the Association promptly interviewed the other five Russian rikishi involved in the sport (Roho, Hakurozan, Aran, and two non-sekitori); however, all of Wakanoho's fellow-countrymen vehemently denied having smoked marijuana and claimed no knowledge regarding Wakanoho's actions. Roho, the senior among the group of Russian rikishi, commented, "I frequently warned Wakanoho about his behavior, but I never suspected that he was smoking marijuana. I never saw him running around with the wrong crowd."
Sumo's board of directors will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow morning to discuss the fate of Wakanoho, but those close to the Associaiton say that Wakanoho will undoubtedly be kicked out of the sport altogether. Wakanoho becomes the first sekitori in the history of sumo to have ever been arrested.
