Sumo Heavies Throw Weight Behind Crime Fighting

Doglips · 02-16-2003, 07:00 PM

Sumo Heavies Throw Weight Behind Crime Fighting

Feb. 14
— TOKYO (Reuters) - Massive sumo wrestlers used to muscling loincloth-clad rivals out of the ring in Japan's national sport are being mobilized to fight rising crime.

About 10 wrestlers from Isenoumi Stable, as sumo gyms are known, began nightly patrols in their neighborhood in the east of Tokyo this week, hoping their bulk would deter would-be crooks.

"Our stablemaster thought that as crimes such as arson were frequent in the neighborhood, we should cooperate to prevent it, so he suggested the patrols," an official at the stable said.

Crime is on the rise in Japan, though the country is still safe by international standards.

Police said they welcomed the assistance from the sumo heavies, whose average weight of 157 kg (345 pounds) could well give a potential criminal pause for thought.

"We hope the wrestlers...will assist us in getting the upper hand on troublemakers," the Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted local police chief Yoichi Takahashi as saying.

Copyright 2003 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Klaus · 02-16-2003, 10:42 PM

As if bad guys couldn't outrun them ...

02-16-2003, 07:00 PM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	Sumo Heavies Throw Weight Behind Crime Fighting Sumo Heavies Throw Weight Behind Crime Fighting Feb. 14 — TOKYO (Reuters) - Massive sumo wrestlers used to muscling loincloth-clad rivals out of the ring in Japan's national sport are being mobilized to fight rising crime. About 10 wrestlers from Isenoumi Stable, as sumo gyms are known, began nightly patrols in their neighborhood in the east of Tokyo this week, hoping their bulk would deter would-be crooks. "Our stablemaster thought that as crimes such as arson were frequent in the neighborhood, we should cooperate to prevent it, so he suggested the patrols," an official at the stable said. Crime is on the rise in Japan, though the country is still safe by international standards. Police said they welcomed the assistance from the sumo heavies, whose average weight of 157 kg (345 pounds) could well give a potential criminal pause for thought. "We hope the wrestlers...will assist us in getting the upper hand on troublemakers," the Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted local police chief Yoichi Takahashi as saying. Copyright 2003 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

02-16-2003, 10:42 PM	#2
Klaus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 2,383	As if bad guys couldn't outrun them ... __________________ "Gee, Wally, Eddie Haskel's mom puts out!"