The Japan Sumo Association on Monday received a bomb threat and phone calls threatening an assault on Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu, association sources said.
Several calls were made to the association to the effect that somebody would assault the 22-year-old grand champion during the ongoing Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, they said.
Asashoryu performed the day's customary ring-entering ceremony as a yokozuna amid extremely tight security at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, but many fans threw cushions at him. The yokozuna has been at the center of several controversies both in and out of the ring, especially with fellow Mongolian Kyukushuzan, a No. 2 maegashira grappler.