A sumo stable being investigated following the sudden death of 17-year-old wrestler Tokitaizan in June offered to cremate his body, but Tokitaizan's family became suspicious and refused the offer, it has been learned.

The news follows a police decision to investigate sumo stablemaster Tokitsukaze and several other wrestlers on suspicion of inflicting injuries on Tokitaizan.

On the day Tokitaizan died, the Tokitsukaze sumo stable in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, contacted the wrestler's family in Niigata and said, "We'll take care of the body here."

A member of the wrestler's bereaved family criticized the offer.

"It was probably to hide the traces of violence," the family member said.

Family members said that at about 4 p.m. on June 26, the day Tokitaizan died, a stable representative called and indicated that proceedings for a cremation were going ahead. However, a member of the family became suspicious and replied, "We can't have that happen. We'll go there ourselves." After that, the stable reportedly arranged for the body to be sent to the family.

When the family saw Tokitaizan's body, they were shocked. He had a cut on his forehead and severe bruises, along with burn marks that appeared to have been made by cigarettes.

The following day, when Tokitsukaze arrived to pay his respects, the family asked him for an explanation, but he only replied, "He got that from regular training," and repeatedly stated that preparations for a cremation had not been made to hide the wrestler's injuries.

At first the wrestler's cause of death was listed as "ischemic heart disease," but the family remained doubtful of the diagnosis and asked Aichi Prefectural Police to conduct an autopsy. An autopsy performed at Niigata University concluded that Tokitaizan had probably died from shock caused by multiple external injuries. (Mainichi)

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