Sports News
Takanohana speaks out after six supporters kicked out of sumo faction
Former Yokozuna Takanohana, who announced his withdrawal from the Nishonoseki group of sumo stables to run in the Japan Sumo Association's board of directors' election on Feb. 1, spoke out for the first time on Wednesday since six stablemasters who support his candidacy were kicked out of the Nishonoseki faction.
At a press conference at the Takanohana stable in Tokyo's Nakano Ward on Wednesday morning, the former yokozuna great said, "I have mixed feelings. I didn't plan on leaving the faction. I'm ashamed (for causing this state of affairs)."
Katsuharu Magaki of the Magaki stable and five other stablemasters who support Takanohana's candidacy were booted out of the Nishonoseki faction on Tuesday evening.
Takanohana said that he and the six stablemasters were able to reaffirm their commitment to each other after speaking for approximately three hours on Tuesday night. "A single person may not be very powerful, but a coming together of resolve has the potential to accomplish things," he said.
Takanohana stated that he had no plans at this time to establish a new faction.
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) January 20, 2010
