Pat Dollard

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TOKYO, Jan. 13 (AP) – (Kyodo)—Police have tightened security around a Tokyo sumo stable after detecting an online message suggesting a threat to kill Asashoryu, the Mongolian sumo world champion, police officials said Tuesday. Twenty-seven-year-old ASASHORYU has risen through the ranks of Japan’s national sport, sumo, to become only the 68th sumo wrestler ever to achieve the rank of Yokozuna, or Grand Champion. Asashoryu hails from Mongolia and first came to Japan at the tender age of 16 to try his hand at sumo. He won the first of his many champions in 2002, and as of of September 2006, he won a total of 18 champions – the fifth highest number ever.

Police suspect that the anonymous message written on an Internet bulletin board is a hoax and are investigating it on suspicion of threatening or obstruction of business of the Takasago stable in Sumida Ward, to which the wrestler belongs.

The police received a tip Sunday evening that there was such a threat on the Internet.

Officers found a message saying, “will go to Kokugikan (sumo wrestling hall) now to kill” on the bulletin board system called 2 channel.