Mongolians will not be able to
follow compatriot Hakuho’s progress in the coming basho in the central Japanese
city of Nagoya. As the sole Yokozuna, Hakuho remains the favorite to lift
another Emperor’s Cup but with Japanese state broadcaster NHK  ending a half-century tradition of live
television coverage of major sumo tournaments, Mongolians at home will not be
able to cheer for him as he fells his opponent with a lethal Yorikiri or a deft Uwatenage.

The TV channel said it took the
decision as the ancient but scandal-hit sport was
failing to respond forcefully enough to allegations of widespread illegal
gambling and links with organised crime,
despite the firing of one of the sport”s top wrestlers, Kotomitsuki, and a
stablemaster for alleged involvement in illegal betting on baseball games.

The gambling scandal has reinforced
suspicions of links between the sumo world and the yakuza syndicates that
dominate Japanese organized crime. Tatsuo Kawabata, Japan”s education and
sports minister, on Tuesday called on the Japan Sumo Association to set up an
independent committee to reform the sport, warning that this could be the
sport”s “last chance”.

NHK has broadcast live all of sumo”s
six annual tournaments since May 1953, a tradition that has helped maintain the
sport”s profile. The broadcasts are also seen as a vital source of funds for
managers of what is widely known as Japan”s “national sport”, though
NHK declines to give details of its contract with the JSA and said it was yet
to discuss how much it might pay for the later “digest” coverage now
planned for the Nagoya tournament. It is believed to pay around USD4.5 million
for each sumo tournament.

An NHK spokesperson said its live
coverage of the 15-day tournaments generated very respectable audiences for the
late afternoon slot, with an average of 13 per cent of households with a TV
tuning in to last year”s Nagoya event.

Some domestic sponsors have already
pulled out of this month”s tournament.