Recently, all the attention has been on PRIDE's relationship with gangsters (we don't like to use the "Y" word here). The underworld ties are only accusations, but most experienced fans in Japan probably think that some level of relationship does exist.
But PRIDE still survives and recently there have been no new allegations. On the other hand, Hero's will be openly displaying its relationship with gangsters on its card in October. In fact, two of the four light heavyweight semi-finalists have been connected to organized criminals by photographic evidence.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/lucky/angel-wing/torigoe.htm
Many months ago, this link was popular on some forums. It shows old pictures from a festival attended by many "tattoo enthusiasts." In particular, people were focused on the picture of Takada Nobuhiko, in row 7 on the right side.
However, Takada is not the only person implicated by these pictures. For example, can you see Oyama Shungo? Also, look at the casket of sake in row 6. Whose name is that written on top of it? It says Sakuraba Kazushi.
Does this mean that Oyama and Sakuraba are regularly involved with these tattooed men? I hope not, since I like both fighters. Perhaps they participated in the festival just as a way to keep their neighbors happy or something like that. Sometimes this is a business reality. But maybe that is also the case for Takada.
By the way, don't forget that K-1 will have the opening round of its kickboxing Grand Prix at the end of September. At ringside will be Fujiwara Norika, who belongs to a jimusho (talent agency) that is famous for its relationship with gangsters. Apparently, this relationship is pretty well known among television people.
No comments:
Post a Comment