The commercials are split 50-50 between the stable and the rikishi… The contents of the document “Money Management and Income Arrangement” of former Terunofuji, who assaulted his apprentice.

The Japan Sumo Association has been interviewing Isegahama Oyakata (34, former yokozuna Terunofuji) since February 24 in connection with an assault case involving the former yokozuna.

The trouble occurred late at night in late February. It was at a meeting with Isegahama, Hakunofuji (22) and Nishikifuji (29), who belonged to the stable, and other influential members. As the meeting progressed, Hakunotofuji, who was drunk, tangled with a woman in the restaurant. Oyakata was enraged by his apprentice’s disgusting behavior, and is said to have beaten him up.

On February 24, the three of them went to the Sumo Association for questioning. The Sumo Association will discuss how to deal with the situation at its board of directors meeting on March 6, and is expected to make a decision on the disciplinary measures after the March tournament (March 22, the last day of the tournament) is over.

The JSA has issued a “Declaration of Separation from Violence” and has strictly forbidden the assault of rikishi and their masters. Isegahama must have been aware of the seriousness of the situation, as he was present when former yokozuna Hima Fuji assaulted stablemate Kinoiwa in October 2005, when he was still active. Even though it was a blunder on the part of a disciple, it was clearly an overreaction on the part of the stablemaster to initiate violence.

FRIDAY Digital independently obtained a document said to have been devised by Isegahama’s stablemaster. The document is titled “Rikishi Sincerity Rules. The document lists such rules that a rikishi should keep in mind as a rikishi, such as “Keep training hours,” “No drinking or smoking until age 20,” etc. The document also states that “70% of the money should be paid back to the rikishi.

Seventy percent of the money goes to the rikishi himself.

The section on “money management and income arrangements” is of interest. It is said that a supporters’ association/fan club will be set up for all the members, and 70% of the membership fee will be returned to the members themselves. It further states that commercial income is to be split five for (the room) and five for (the individual). Another member of the stable, who knew the contents of the paper, said, “Isegahama Oyakata is a good friend of ours.

I heard that after Isegahama took over the stable in June 1925, the paper was distributed to those concerned. I guess the stablemaster wanted to make sure that the lifestyle and money flow of his rikishi were in order.

The Isegahama stable has its own supporters’ association for each rikishi, in addition to the local supporters’ association for each rikishi. Oyakata wanted to eliminate the local supporters’ association so that the stable would receive 30% of the membership fees from the supporters’ association. However, some rikishi protested, saying, ‘I can’t lose the supporters’ association that was created by people who have taken care of me for a long time.

The rules regarding commercial income also seem to be unusual. The rules regarding commercial income are also unusual,” Tanimachi continued.

In many yokozuna, the commercial appearance fees and income from private supporters’ associations are all shared by the rikishi. There is no doubt that the stablemaster takes money management very seriously.

The Isegahama stable has many rikishi who transferred from the former Miyagino stable. The former Miyagino Oyakata (40, former yokozuna Hakuho) was a generous master when it came to money. I believe that many of the rikishi who have transferred to the Isegahama stable are confused by Isegahama’s management system.

I have no intention of lining my own pockets.

The background seems to be the situation of the stable and its stablemaster.

The Isegahama stable, which has the largest number of active rikishi (31), is planning to relocate to a larger facility. The stable is planning to move to a new location in order to secure a larger facility. The stable is also in need of money since it has just been replaced by a new one and has a lot of things on its plate.

FRIDAY Digital sent a letter of inquiry to the Isegahama stable regarding the “rikishi spirit and rules” and the system of dividing each income between rikishi. The following is the response from the stable.

The document was devised by the stablemaster in June of last year, when he was replaced, after consulting with everyone involved in the stable. （Thirty percent (of the income from the supporters’ association) is used for the room’s expenses. For example, the cost of the ranking cards sent to the supporters’ association.

（The Sumo Association has no clear rules (regarding commercial income). We are aware that it is on a room-by-room basis. We do not intend to line our own pockets, but to act in the best interest of the rikishi.

Isegahama Oyakata has told the Sumo Association about the assault and says, “We are still waiting for the disposition of the case. Will he be able to settle the confusion in the stable by enforcing his own “rules”?