All directors and auditors of the Japan Wrestling Association sent in their resignation on Monday to President Isamu Takeshita of the Association with a view of democratizing the wrestling world, it was learned by Kyodo the same day.
    The directors and auditors handed in their resignations, it is said, as the ten-day autumnal wrestling tournament which was sponsored by the Wrestling Association came to a close on Monday.
    The reason for their resignations was that since the entire nation is now rushing into a new democratic era, the Japan Wrestling Association also should hereafter be led by "new men", who are capable of guiding the wrestling world in the new era.

    In the wave off democratization which is currently sweeping all over this country, conservative Japanese sumo wrestlers' circles are seething on the issue of their own democratization.
    Grand Champion Futabayama, one of the most popular and strongest wrestlers in recent years, was expected on Monday to declare his retirement from the ring after the current wrestling season for the reason that "he lacks confidence to be able in the future to maintain the honorable position of a grand champion due to the loss of his physical strength", Asahi reports.
    In the backgrounds of his expected retirement lies a wide cleavage between the opinions of the wrestler's association and Grand Champion Futabayama over an issue of democratizing the sumo enterprise, according to the paper. The point of the issue was the extension of the diameter of the traditional wrestling ring.
    In the hope of popularizing the Japanese wrestling more than before, the association insisted that the diameter be extended so that wrestling on the ring would take more time than at present and more interesting for the people to look on. Futabayama, however, opposed the association on the ground to protect the tradition of the Japanese wrestling.
    Interviewed by the press on sunday, the Grand Champion said: "The wrestler's association suddenly decided to enlarge the ring to the embarrassment of all wrestlers. It will certainly result in making wrestling matches more interesting to look on and thus popularizing the enterprise more than before. But it is entirely against what the traditional wrestling should be."
    The grand Champion further explained that what true wrestlers should try to attain is the improvement of their technique in that narrow limited ring. Commercialism is a divergence from a path that true wrestlers should follow, he emphasized.
    Born in Oita Prefecture in 1913, Grand Champion Futabayama, whose real name is Sadaji Kameyoshi, became a wrestler apprentice at the age of 16 and fought his way up to the grand championship. He is credited with a record of winning 69 consecutive victories in 12 wrestling seasons.

    The annual 10-day extra winter tournament which started at the renovated Kokugikan amphitheater in Ryogoku on November 16 ended Monday, Kyodo reports, adding the tournament unusually failed to draw as large crowds of sumo fans as had been expected.
    The customary battle between the east and West camps for honor and team points was decided in favor of the former as the bout between Grand Champions Haguroyama and Akinoumi was brought to a close, the report added.
    In the closing ceremony, Grand Champion Haguroyama who came victorious through the tournament was given a championship cup while Grand Champion Akinoumi representing the East Camp was granted the championship flag.
    The West Camp was no match for Grand Champion Terukuni and company, as they lead the West camp from the very first day of the tournament.
    Haguroyama who won all 10 matches took individual honors. Chiyonoyama, No. 11 man of the Makunouchi rank of the East Camp took individual honors in his class by taking all 10 matches. Chiyonoyama, who was a sensation is a graduate of the "Juryo" rank and this was the first time that he fought in this class.
    Azumafuji, a native of Tokyo and a powerful Grand Champion, took nine out of 10. Terukuni, Grand Champion for the East Camp, also won nine of 10. Those winning eight out of 10 matches included Shionoumi, No.1 man of the Makunouchi rank for the East, Futamiyama, No. 12 man for the West and Kyushunishiki, No. 13 man for the West. Another new man in the Makunouchi rank, Futakoiwa, won seven out of 10.
    Of great disappointment to the fans were the miserable showing made by Grand Champion Akinoumi of the East Camp who was only able to gain four victories out of 10. Mitsuneyama of the West Camp who was a sensation in the last two tournaments hit the skids with only three victories to show for his efforts. Terunobori, another star of the tournaments gone by, hit a new low with only two victories out of 10 tries.
    In tournaments to come, much is expected of the younger group who include Chiyonoyama, Futakoiwa, Kyushinishiki and Shionoumi.
    Just prior to the close of the tournament, it was announced that Grand Champion Futabayama, who failed to make his appearance in this tournament, has decided to retire from the ring due to his health. This brings to a close a colorful career of one of the greatest champions of the Japanese art of wrestling which extended over a period of over 18 years. He became Grand Champion at the age of 26 and has held it for the past eight years. At the peak of the career he chalked up an all-time winning streak of 69 victories. Futabayama also set another all-time record by taking individual honors in 12 successive tournaments.