Sumo event cancelled on national TV

Japan’s state broadcaster, NHK, has said it will not be showing the next sumo tournament live following a recent betting scandal which has engulfed the sport.

It will be the first time NHK has not shown a tournament live in more than 50 years, but after viewer complaints over the scandal, the broadcaster will now only air a daily review of the tournament.

NHK conducted a survey with viewers which found 68 per cent of 11,100 of those asked did not want the tournament to be broadcast.

NHK chairman, Shiego Fukuchi, said: “The comments from our viewers have been more sever than ever. The sumo association must take the situation as a once-in-a-century crisis, and we hope it will take measures to improve its governance.”

The decision comes just days after the Japanese Sumo Association dismissed top wrestler Kotomitsuki and his coach after they admitted being involved in illegal betting on baseball –  an alleged source of funding for Japan’s ‘yakuza’ gangsters.

Five sponsors have already pulled out of the Nagoya tournament, which is one of six main annual tournaments in Japan.