Japanese 20s Sumo Wrestler Dies from COVID-19 Infection (Comprehensive)

Japanese sumo wrestler Suetake Kiyotaka (28) passed away on the 13th at a hospital in Tokyo due to COVID-19, the Japan Sumo Association announced.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] A Japanese sumo wrestler has died after contracting the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 13th, the Japan Sumo Association announced that sumo wrestler Suetake Kiyotaka (28) died from multiple organ failure caused by COVID-19 in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Tokyo.

The wrestler first showed symptoms of COVID-19 on the 4th of last month but did not receive consultation regarding testing from the public health center. Even after his symptoms worsened, he was unable to find a hospital for admission and wandered for about four days.

On the 8th of last month, the fifth day after the first symptoms appeared, Suetake's condition deteriorated with blood-tinged sputum, prompting him to call an ambulance. However, he was still unable to be assigned a hospital for admission and wandered until he was admitted to a university hospital that night.

Although a rapid test at the university hospital returned a negative result, a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test conducted at another university hospital confirmed the diagnosis. His condition worsened afterward, and he reportedly died around 12:30 a.m. on the 13th.

In Japan, when COVID-19 symptoms appear, unless it is an emergency, patients generally consult the public health center by phone, undergo diagnostic testing, and then receive guidance for hospitalization.

As a result, Japanese netizens have expressed shock that a sumo wrestler, a symbol of a healthy body, was unable to receive prompt testing and died.

Meanwhile, the Japan Sumo Association announced that starting next week, it will conduct antibody tests to check for COVID-19 history among about 1,000 association members, including 693 professional sumo wrestlers.

Additionally, it decided to cancel the summer sumo tournament "Natsubasho (夏場所)" scheduled to begin on the 24th. Previously, the spring sumo tournament "Harubasho (春場所)," held every March, was conducted without spectators.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.