Sumo stars admit to bullying dead wrestler

Three sumo wrestlers have pleaded guilty to bullying a fellow wrestler who later died, further tarnishing the name of Japan's national sport. Takashi Saito was 17 when he was admitted to a hospital in Nagoya in June of last year with what his stablemaster, Tokitsukaze, claimed was a training accident. Wrestling as Tokitaizan, the boy died and an autopsy subsequently showed that his injuries were not consistent with an accident. The autopsy revealed he had died of shock brought on by multiple trauma. Tokitsukaze and three wrestlers were arrested in February after police learned that Saito had tried to run away from the stable because he found the systematic hazing and physical demands of the training too tough.... [read full story]