InsideJapan News Network

The Japanese sports ministry has decided that it will allow the Japanese Sumo Association (JSA) to restart regular tournaments from July onwards.

A major match-fixing scandal, exposed in February, left the popular sport in a state of disarray and dishonour, with several senior wrestlers retiring as a result.

However following last month's spring test meet, which was made free to the public to attend, the government is satisfied that the corruption problems have been dealt with, Kyodo News reports.

Kaiketsu Masateru, chairman of the JSA, visited the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to explain the measures that the sumo wrestling world has taken to prevent the recurrence of match-fixing.

In response, Yoshiaki Takaki, Japanese sports minister, said that the JSA should be vigilant in their leadership, as sumo fans are eager to see regular tournaments take place again.

Next month will see the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, the first regular tournament since January.

Written by Mark Smith


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