iPads for sumo wrestlers

The touch screen keyboards are better suited for fingers too thick for ordinary texting

Sumo wrestlers. Photo: Eckhard Pecher via wikicommons

Japan's ancient sport is getting a new toy.

In an effort to improve communication among its oversize wrestlers, the Sumo Association announced Monday that it was distributing iPads to its 51 sumo stables.

Apple's (AAPL) tablet was chosen, according to the Jiji news agency, because many stablemasters don't use computers and sumo wrestlers aren't good at punching messages on mobile phones with their big hands.

The Sumo Association has been struggling recently with charges of illegal gambling, assault and drug use among its wrestlers. The investigation, however, has been hampered by fax and telephone messages that aren't getting through.

"We will hand out the newest iPads to all the sumo stables to swiftly communicate what we need to," association vice chairman Hiroyoshi Murayama told Reuters.

The association has already purchased 60 iPads, which start in Japan at 48,800 yen ($570).

[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]