Pubdate: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 Source: Daily Yomiuri (Japan) Copyright: 2009 The Yomiuri Shimbun Contact: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/629 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) WAKAKIRIN WON'T APPLY FOR RETIREMENT PAYOUT Disgraced former Maegashira Wakakirin will not collect his retirement allowance from the Japan Sumo Association, he wrote in a letter handed to chairman Musashigawa on Thursday. Wakakirin, who is under arrest on suspicion of marijuana possession, was dismissed by the JSA on Monday. He was entitled to request a retirement bonus of 5.29 million yen, a figure calculated based on his career wins. Wakakirin's letter of apology was delivered to Musashigawa by the 25-year-old Hyogo native's former stablemaster, Oguruma, and his father, Junichi Suzukawa. "I have caused the sumo association and the chairman great trouble with my betrayal," Wakakirin wrote. "I have no intention of accepting my retirement allowance." Speaking at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, Musashigawa said Wakakirin had made the correct decision. "I think that declining to accept [the allowance] is the right thing to do," Musashigawa said. "After talking with his stablemaster and father, I think it was Wakakirin's own decision." The decision may relieve some pressure on the JSA board, which was criticized for its handling of the case after it decided to dismiss rather than expel Wakakirin at meeting's Monday. Expelling Wakakirin--and thus depriving him of any payments--would have required a three-fourths majority at a general meeting of all JSA officials, elders, yokozuna and ozeki. "I think he realizes the seriousness of what he has done," Oguruma said of his former wrestler. His father agreed. "He decided on this after reflecting on his actions," Suzukawa said. "Now, I hope he can get on with his life." - --- MAP posted-by: Doug