Stablemaster Isegahama, the former yokozuna Terunofuji, has been punished for assaulting a drunken disciple while admonishing him for his behavior, the Japan Sumo Association announced on April 9.
His penalty includes an effective two-rank demotion from a committee member-level “toshiyori” to a regular toshiyori and a 10 percent salary reduction for three months.
According to the JSA’s investigation, Isegahama struck makuuchi division wrestler Hakunofuji in the face at a Tokyo restaurant in February. The stablemaster was reportedly angered after the intoxicated wrestler made inappropriate comments to a female acquaintance of a patron.
Isegahama self-reported the assault and attended a compliance committee hearing with Hakunofuji in late February. The JSA’s rules allow for a penalty to be “mitigated or waived” in cases of voluntary reporting, a clause that was applied to his punishment.
Isegahama, who retired from active competition in January 2025, inherited the stable in June that year from the previous stablemaster Asahifuji, a former yokozuna, who had reached mandatory retirement age.
As of the Grand Sumo Tournament in March, Isegahama leads the largest stable in sumo, with 31 wrestlers, including seven ranked in the top two makuuchi and juryo divisions.
Hakunofuji was originally a disciple of former yokozuna Hakuho, who has since retired from the JSA.
He transferred to the Isegahama stable in the spring of 2024 after his former stable, Miyagino, was effectively closed following a separate violence scandal involving a stable member.
Original Source: This article was originally published on Asahi Sports. Click the link to view the full article.