In November, the media made a huge fuss reporting day after day on a scandal that occurred when sumo yokozuna (grand champion) Harumafuji attacked lower-ranking wrestler Takanoiwa. Both were from Mongolia, and the incident took place at a party where eight Mongolian wrestlers had gathered. It is reported that Harumafuji hit Takanoiwa because he was angry with him for using his smartphone while yokozuna Hakuho was making a speech. Sumo is regarded as a national sport, and the highest-ranking yokozuna wrestlers are not only required to be strong, but also to behave in a dignified fashion. Later Harumafuji took responsibility for the incident by retiring from wrestling, but the episode was curious. Those involved in the incident – the assailant, the victim and other parties – were unable to give a clear account of the situation, and this has resulted in a variety of different rumors flying around. Takanoiwa’s stable master, former yokozuna Takanohana, submitted the damage report to the police some days after the incident. However, as Takanoiwa himself didn’t talk about the situation in public, the extent of his injuries was not clear. When Takanohana came before the Japan Sumo Association’s investigation committee, he took an uncooperative attitude. This uproar brings to mind KUROSAWA Akira’s masterpiece “Rashomon” – a film that won critical acclaim at the Venice Film Festival. In the movie, there is a trial at which, rather than telling the truth, people testify giving their own biased version of events. From the remarks made by the people involved in this incident, you can get a sense of their motives, just as with Rashomon, which lays bare the true nature of human beings.