名古屋場所閉幕 「賜杯なき優勝」を繰り返すな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 28, 2010)
Learn from tourney lacking Emperor's Cup
名古屋場所閉幕　「賜杯なき優勝」を繰り返すな（7月27日付・読売社説）

The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, which was rocked by a scandal over illegal betting on professional baseball games, ended Sunday with a remarkable accomplishment by yokozuna Hakuho--he became the first wrestler since the end of World War II to claim three consecutive championships without losing a single match.
　野球賭博問題に揺れた大相撲の名古屋場所は、横綱白鵬の３場所連続全勝優勝という戦後初の快挙で幕を閉じた。

Since the Japan Sumo Association refrained from accepting any awards from outside organizations due to the gambling scandal, Hakuho received only the championship flag and a certificate at the award ceremony.
　日本相撲協会が外部からの表彰を辞退したため、表彰式で白鵬に贈られたのは、優勝旗と賞状だけだった。

Hakuho also extended his winning streak to 47 bouts, exceeding legendary yokozuna Taiho's record of 45, but said with tears in his eyes that the Nagoya tournament was "very difficult."
"On behalf of [all] wrestlers, I wish I could've received just the Emperor's Cup," he added.
　自身の連勝記録を、大鵬の４５を上回る４７に伸ばした白鵬は、「大変な場所だった」と涙を浮かべ、「力士代表として、天皇賜杯だけは頂きたかった」と語った。

To prevent such situations in the future, the JSA must proceed with reforms and regain the trust of sumo fans as soon as possible.
　このような事態を繰り返さないためには、相撲協会は改革を推し進め、ファンの信頼を一刻も早く取り戻さなくてはならない。

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More problems arise

Regrettably, however, a few cases suggesting close ties between sumo officials and gangsters were revealed during the Nagoya tourney. One of them involves stablemaster Matsugane and is too serious to overlook.
　だが、残念ながら、名古屋場所中にも角界と暴力団関係者の親密な関係がうかがえる複数の事例が明らかになった。特に、看過できないのは、元大関若嶋津の松ヶ根親方の問題である。

A former ozeki who wrestled under the name Wakashimazu, Matsugane has used a building rented from the president of a gang-related real estate agency as lodgings for his wrestlers during spring tournaments in Osaka. He has done so since he started his own stable 20 years ago.
　松ヶ根親方は、暴力団と関係が深いとされる不動産会社社長から借りたビルを春場所（大阪）の宿舎に使っていた。部屋を興した２０年前から続いているという。

The company president in question was arrested in 2008 over land sharking, the practice of forcing people to sell their residences so a land shark can resell consolidated plots of land for large development projects. Despite knowing this, however, Matsugane continued to rent the building.
"I thought he was a businessman," Matsugane said.
　この社長は２００８年に、地上げに絡んで逮捕された。松ヶ根親方は、事件のことを知りながらも借り続け、社長については「実業家と思っていた」という。

Nevertheless, he should have at least stopped using the building when the president was arrested. This is a scandal caused by insufficient risk management.
　しかし、少なくとも、社長が逮捕された時点で、ビルの使用を見合わせるべきだった。甘い危機管理が招いた不祥事である。

Securing lodgings for wrestlers is certainly an important issue for a stable, and stablemasters badly need offers of help. But sumo officials must not forget that this is one way gangsters approach them.
　確かに、相撲部屋にとって、宿舎の確保は大きな問題だ。支援の申し出は、親方にとっては「渡りに船」だろうが、それが、暴力団関係者が近付いてくる手口であることも忘れてはならない。

Gangs use their close ties with the sumo world to flaunt their influence. We strongly feel that gangs are spreading their tentacles into everything.
　暴力団は、角界との親密な関係を力の誇示に利用する。暴力団の触手は至る所に伸びているという感を強くするばかりである。

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Rules not enough

Also, a serious problem has surfaced over special ringside seats at sumo tournaments, the kind primarily allocated to financial supporters of the JSA. It was discovered that a gang boss obtained a ticket for a ringside seat via a chain of people that included an acquaintance of a member of the special panel investigating the gambling scandal.
　土俵近くの特別席である維持員席を巡っても、ゆゆしき問題が発覚した。維持員席に座っていた暴力団組長にチケットが渡る過程で、不祥事の調査を担当している特別調査委員会のメンバーの知人が関与していたというものだ。

Since this could erode public trust in the investigation panel, the JSA was quite right to dismiss that member.
　調査委への信頼を損なう問題だけに、相撲協会がこのメンバーを解任したのは当然のことだ。

An independent panel of the JSA tasked with improving the association's governance and implementing organizational reforms is planning to compile measures to eliminate gangsters' influence, including a provision that would penalize sumo wrestlers and officials severely if they associate with gangsters.
　相撲協会の改革案を協議している「ガバナンス（統治能力）の整備に関する独立委員会」は、暴力団との交際には厳罰を下す規定などを盛り込んだ暴力団排除対策をまとめる方針だ。

Of course, strict rules are necessary. But, it is more important that sumo wrestlers and stablemasters learn lessons from the commotion during the Nagoya tournament and strengthen their determination to sever their ties with gangsters.
　規定も必要だが、大切なのは名古屋場所の騒動を教訓に、力士、親方が暴力団との関係を断つという意識を徹底することである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27, 2010)
（2010年7月27日01時17分 読売新聞）