Using the controversy surrounding yokozuna Hakuho, this essay examines arrogance and responsibility among those at the top of institutions.
It argues that similar tendencies can be seen in major Japanese media organizations.

This observation applies equally and exactly to organizations such as The Asahi Shimbun and NHK and other television networks.
2018-01-20
The following is a chapter I originally published on December 2, 2017, and I later received notice that it ranked 32nd under the official “pro-wrestling” hashtag on Ameba.
Television wide shows and figures such as Yasunori Ikenobo have been portraying stablemaster Takanohana as the villain.
They likely know nothing of sumo, or of the way of sumo.
During Takanohana’s time as yokozuna, there were enormous and extraordinarily powerful wrestlers who stood as rivals at the rank of yokozuna and ozeki.
Many must remember his bouts in which, despite suffering a devastating knee injury in fierce battles against these massive and powerful opponents, he continued to compete, win, and secure championships, wearing an expression like that of Asura.
Had he continued his career without that injury, his number of championships would surely have been far greater.
In other words, he was a true grand yokozuna.
The reason I regard Hakuho as the worst is his use of elbow strikes—particularly striking opponents with an elbow reinforced by a supporter.
That is not sumo.
I am convinced that he would do better to transfer to professional wrestling at once, go to the United States as a master of the Mongolian lariat surpassing even Stan Hansen, become a star in the WWF, and earn vast sums of money.
He could perform his banzai cheers freely and to his heart’s content after every victory.
If dissatisfied with a referee’s decision, in the WWF he could knock out the referee and no one would complain.
He could spend his life as the unquestioned top figure.
The following is from page 25 of today’s Yomiuri Shimbun.
The runaway egotism of Hakuho.
“I would like to lead the audience in three cheers of banzai. May I?”—for this performance during his championship interview on the final day of the Kyushu tournament, the Sumo Association issued a stern warning.
Regarding Harumafuji’s assault, Hakuho also stated, “As a representative of the wrestlers, I apologize,” “I will speak the truth and bring everything into the open,” and “I hope to see Harumafuji and Takanoiwa return to this ring.”
The Yokozuna Deliberation Council expressed discomfort, calling it “a completely unprecedented interview,” and questioned, “Hakuho was present at the scene of the incident,” and “What exactly does ‘bringing everything into the open’ mean?”
When Asashoryu’s conduct was under scrutiny, Hakuho had been praised as a “model yokozuna.”
However, around the time he achieved his 33rd championship and surpassed Taiho’s record, his behavior began to change.
This has also appeared in his style of sumo.
While maintaining the orthodox yokozuna style of pulling the left inside grip, he increasingly used a decisive and rough technique of striking opponents’ faces and jaws with his right elbow.
In his 14th-day bout against Endo, which secured his championship, he raised Endo’s face with a left slap and then unleashed a right elbow.
Endo’s stance collapsed, and he stepped out of the ring in a dazed state.
Is this attack acceptable or not?
Sumo rules prohibit eight acts, including “striking with a clenched fist,” “slapping both ears simultaneously,” and “grabbing the throat.”
However, elbow strikes are not included.
Hide Shige Moriya, former chairman of the Yokozuna Deliberation Council (76), professor emeritus at Chiba University, who retired after the January tournament this year, had long pointed out, “Precisely because it is not a forbidden move, the question is whether it is appropriate for a yokozuna. No yokozuna in history has done such a thing.”
Even after retirement, Moriya has continued to attend tournaments at ringside as a supporting member of the Sumo Association in Tokyo.
Regarding Hakuho’s recent behavior, he commented, “When a person remains at the top for too long, they either become arrogant with the thought ‘It must be me,’ or they bow their head in humility. Perhaps Hakuho has become ‘I am the rule.’
This observation applies equally and exactly to organizations such as The Asahi Shimbun and NHK and other television networks.
There is no value in forty championships achieved through techniques bordering on prohibited moves.
I completely agree with this.
Those around him who permitted it are also at fault, but Hakuho has become excessively self-righteous,” he admonished the transformed grand yokozuna.
The Harumafuji assault incident is not merely an individual problem but is exposing issues concerning the authority of yokozuna and the structure of the Sumo Association itself.
“For the Japan Sumo Association, the misconduct of a yokozuna is a matter of survival.
They say all six tournaments over ninety days each year are full houses, but in the autumn and Kyushu tournaments, empty seats were beginning to stand out.”