[div class=”notice” class2=”icon”]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
One day prior to the 東日本大震災 (Great East Japan Earthquake), Tony Loiseleur revealed the monster of a scandal that was brewing within the upper ranks of Shooto. The revered Japanese fight organization had seen a huge wave of problems occur as the financial scandal bug that had hit so many other Japanese MMA organizations had hit the Shooto organization with a powerful blow below the belt, in shock to many, while expected by others. Taro Wakabayashi, who had served as the “chairman of the spread of the Shooto amateur system”, was also in charge of all aspects of Shooto’s operations. Such operations included the management of their finances, a role that sources close to MMA-Japan inform us only few have such access to.
A hotly battle contested within the ranks of Shooto and spread throughout as people began to want answers. Where did the money go? It is a very complex tale that will only make you scratch your head and wonder why someone would do such crazy things. It only grows.
This week, Mr. Loiseleur continued, what by my account is the best investigative work ever done in mixed martial arts, the look into what exactly is going on in Shooto and how action has been taken. After taking the harsh action of restructuring the upper ranks, Satoru Sayama – the founder of the Shooto organization, has tapped Shooto Commissioner Noboru Urata to take any action necessary to get to the bottom of the matter. Taking full use of his power and the trust instilled in him by Sayama, Urata has not only stripped the months old board of their power, but has dissolved of them completely. Granted those that were at the top could have attempted to resist this change, albeit they would have had little choice, they have chosen in the best interest of the organization by allowing this huge step to take place without much commotion.
