A 28-year-old woman who works at a Tokyo restaurant has reported to police that Japan Sumo Association Chairman Kitanoumi assaulted and sexually harassed her, police sources said Friday.
The incident allegedly occurred when Kitanoumi visited the restaurant late last month, the sources said. Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department, which handled the case, are questioning parties about the incident.
Kitanoumi, a former yokozuna, has denied the allegations.
Police said that Kitanoumi went to the restaurant in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, with his friends on the night of Oct. 25 and was waited on by the woman. He is believed to have choked and slapped her.
The woman filed a complaint with police four days later. They are also looking into her claim of sexual harassment.
In Fukuoka, Kitanoumi said: "It is true that I went to the restaurant. But I did not slap her."
He said he was surprised that the incident has become such big news and promised to cooperate with police.
Kitanoumi in 1974 became the youngest to be promoted to yokozuna, at 21 years and two months old. He won 24 Emperor's Cups before retiring in 1985 and created the Kitanoumi stable. He became the association chairman in 2002.