Oct 31 (NHK) - Sumo wrestler Takanoiwa has withdrawn a damages suit against former yokozuna Harumafuji, claiming he can no longer tolerate harassment of his family by his fellow Mongolians.
Takanoiwa filed suit with the Tokyo District Court demanding about 213,000 dollars from Harumafuji, who is also from Mongolia. Harumafuji hit Takanoiwa with a karaoke machine remote control a year ago in a city in western Japan, causing injuries that required a hospital stay.
But the wrestler dropped the suit on Tuesday, according to his lawyer. The lawyer explained that Takanoiwa's family in Mongolia has been subject to harassment far beyond imagination, and that the wrestler wants them to be able to live peacefully.
Takanoiwa issued a statement saying he has decided to pay his own medical expenses and that he will now focus on sumo.
