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So, you're probably all wondering what my obsession over Sumo is. And my answer is that it simply is cool. If you don't believe me, go visit This Site and watch a few vids. Then see what your opinion is! (IMHO Watching a fight with Akebono, Kaio, Kotomituski or Mainoumi is sure to make you a fan. I'm sure Yumi would add Asashoryu to the list. And Crystal says she would add Wakanohana.)
Since I blab so much about sumo, I figured I'd tell everyone everything they need to know to understand what I'm going on about.
Sumo (Or Sumo Wrestling) is an ancient japanese sport. The rules are very basic. They fight in a ring (The Dohyo) which is 18 feet wide and two feet high. To win they either have to get their opponent out of the ring, or make any part of him besides his feet touch the ground. (Knee, elbow, back, even his fingertips count.) No punching, choking, hair pulling, gauging, or kicking to the stomach or chest is allowed. That's it. No other rules exist, though slaps to the face are frowned upon but commonly seen anyway.
Which Brings us to Bashos.
There's six grand tournaments a year (Bashos), and each one lasts 15 days. During which every wrestler (Rikishi or Sumotori) of the top two divisions fights once a day. At the end of the Basho the Rikishi with the best record wins. If there's a tie the two (or more) Rikishi face eachother in a play-off. The winner of which wins (Yusho. A win with a perfect record (15 wins, 0 losses) is Zensho Yusho or (in slang)Zenyusho). Each Division has their own winner. And in addition, three prizes are handed out in the top Division (Makunouchi). The goal for each rikishi is to get more wins than losses (Kachi- koshi). Which means, for the top divisions, atleast 8 wins. If they do get Kachi-Koshi, they retain their rank or, depending on how many wins they get and how well the other rikishi did, they go up in rank. If they get more losses than wins (Make-koshi) their rank drops. With the exception of the top most ranked rikishis (Ozeki and Yokozuna). However, both are expected to always get double-digited Kachi-koshi. An Ozeki is allowed another tournament at Ozeki if he gets make-koshi (He spends a tournament Kadoban.), however failure to get kachi-koshi the next tournament will result in his demotion from Ozeki. A Yokozuna is always expected to get Kachi-koshi, and is expected to immediately retire if he fails to do so.
The three prizes handed out in Makunouchi are:
The Outstanding Performance Award (Shukun-sho) - awarded to the rikishi ranked below ozeki who defeats the most ozeki and yokozuna in a Basho.
The Fighting Spirit Award (Kanto-sho) - awarded to the rikishi ranked below ozeki who displays the most fighting spirit.
The Technique Prize (Gino-sho - awarded to the rikishi ranked below ozeki who displays outstanding technique during the basho.
If no one is see as having been worthy of one of the prizes, however, they are not handed out.
Before every Basho, a list of the ranks of every active rikishi is published (Banzuke)
The ranks are as follows:
The top five divisions are all considered part of the top division (Makunouchi), and never number over 40. Komsubi, Sekiwake, and Ozeki are collectively known as Sanyaku - the top fighters below Yokozuna. There can never number any more than 5 Ozekis. The Juryo usually rank around 30 rikishi. The lower divisions can have over a hundred rikishi in them at any given time. However, Makushita and below do not wrestle every day of the basho.
A quick word about promotion.
Though all of the ranks from Sekiwake to Jonokuchi move up in terms of wins/losses, the promotion to Ozeki and then Yokozuna are not so easy. These are the top two ranks of the sumo world, and alot is expected from each, least of all double digit records every tournament! Also, since they are the top wrestlers, they are expected to have the image, dignity, and presence neccessary for that role. Sumo is the national sport of Japan, and men at these levels are often called on to participate in community activities, and to visit hospitals, schools, and community organizations.
To be promoted to Ozeki, the rikishi must first be ranked sekiwake. They must also have over thirty wins during the past three bashos. Of course, they can only be promoted if an opening is available among the ozeki. So if there are 5 ozekis, they will not win promotion regardless.
Yokozuna is the top rank of sumo. Since the early 1700s there have been only 65 men who have attained it. There is no fixed number for Yokozuna. There have been as many as five at a time, and years when there have been no Yokozuna at all. To earn Yokozuna rank, a rikishi must be ranked as Ozeki first. As Ozeki, they must win two yushos in a row. This, however, does not guarantee their promotion. As the top rank, Yokozuna are seen as the embodiment of sumo. If a rikishi's performance is not consistent enough, or in the eyes of the Sumo Kyokai, not a man of character worthy to hold such an exalted position, two yushos in a row will still not guarantee promotion.
Besides the sumo's, there are other important positions in the world of sumo. Coaches (Oyakatas), who are retired rikishi, Stable Masters (Shisho)< Stable Owner (Heya Mochi Oyakata), Hair Dressers (Tokoyama), Attendants (Tsukebito, and - the most well-known Referees (Gyojis), Judges (Shimpanin), and Announcers (Yobidashi).
The Gyoji is who you see inside the ring with the rikishi, shouting what probably sounds like wild exclamations. What he's really shouting is encouragements to the wrestlers, and telling them where they are in the ring. Of course, if the two rikishi stay still too long in a stand- off he'll shout - "Hakkeyoi!" Translation? "Do something!" ^-^
Dressed in what in ancient times was the outfit of judges, he carries a warpaddle (Gunbai)
Watching the Gyoji during the pre-bout ritual where the rikishi seem to get ready to fight, then don't, will also help you know when the bout is going to really start. The pre-bout ritual is part of the fight, and is really quite exciting when seen with Rikishi who are showman. Akebono and Takatoriki in March 2000 when Takatoriki won the yusho are a perfect example. It is a truly delightful watch!
However, refer to these pics to see how to tell when the fight's going to start.
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A final word, the opening ceremony (Dohyo-iri) is one of the delights of any sumo fan. It's when the rikishi wear their kesho-mawashi.
It's also where the Yokozuna wear a white braided "belt" they wear over their mawashi's (Tsuna).
It's much fun to see!
And, if you're wondering what I'm on about when I talk about tegatas...a Tegata is the hand print of a Rikishi. Instead of signatures, sumo fans get tegata's. Which is way cooler, don'tcha think?
So, there's the basics. Of course, there's way more to learn. ^-^ But I'll let you discover it on your own!
