View 1 more
FILE - In this May 8, 2011 file photo, a family pose for a photo at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena where the first sumo tournament since a match-fixing scandal is held as a special free admission "technical examination tournament" with no championsh Shizuo Kambayashi, File, Associated Press
View 1 more
In this Monday, July 11, 2011 photo, spectators watch sumo wrestlers lined up on the ring during the second day of the 15-day Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, central Japan. The sport of sumo has some way to go to win back the Japanese public's tru Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, FRANCE, HONG KONG, JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, Associated Press
By Associated Press

TOKYO — The sport of sumo has a way to go to win back the trust of the Japanese public if the attendance at this week's tournament is any indication.

Only about half the seats were taken at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, which marks the return of the sport after a bout-fixing scandal that shocked the nation.

Sumo shut its doors in March to conduct an internal investigation after it was revealed up to 25 wrestlers and coaches were involved in throwing bouts.

View Comments

To combat such fixing, wrestlers and coaches have been banned from bringing their mobile phones into the dressing rooms in Nagoya.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.