Ozekifan

Hi there everyone, I just joined the forum and am bitterly disappointed I could not post a new topic under the Sumo discussion, so here goes. Is there a another Sumo league for people that are 18 years of age. For example, like junior league, one not as lavish as the pro bashos we are seeing where the top rikishis are battling? If so, what are the ranks within the junior sumo for rikishis under age 18? Is there a promotion system in the amateur league? How does it work? When do they usually have their amateur bashos? Do they still have 15 days in a tournament? Side question: did Akebono jump straight to the pro league in his first basho? Facing of Yokozunas and Ozekis? Thank you so much, your answers would prove invaluable for my research. Be well, all.

Thanks for the approval guys! More: How do rikishi address their Oyakata? Do they call him Sensei or simply Oyakata? And is there a specific name for the white looking shinto altar (perhaps?) that is in the middle of the dohyo? Why is it in the middle of the ring, and who removes it before training and who puts it back on? How do they put it back in the ring? Thank you once more.

Ah I see, thank you guys for the wise input once again! Another question I have, when a Jonokuchi Rikishi goes out in winter, are there certain clothes he is limited to wearing, e.g. a jacket over his Yukata? And does he still have to wear only a pair of Geta in the freezing cold? Be well, all!

Another interesting question, when I typed 白鵬 in Google Translate, why does it not read 'Hakuho' in the pronunciation? Be well, all.

Ok thanks, because I typed in Shusse hiro from the book "The Big Book of Sumo". I'll take your last bit as a compliment! I've been burying myself with a load of Sumo books, such as "Sumo - the pocket guide" and "The Big book of Sumo", and reading a few more in detail!

By the way, does anybody know what a 'shusse hiro' look like? It is a ceremony for which Maezumo are formally introduced where they borrow a kesho mawashi from a sekitori wrestler in their stable or form their oyakata. I can find no youtube videos of it, even when using Japanese text. Thank you.

Short answer: yes. Long answer - check the banzuke at aforementioned Sumo Reference, and you can see how the size of divisions fluctuates. Makushita and Sandanme change size less often than Jonidan and Jonokuchi. Each division has as many ranks as number of rikishi divided by 2 (each rank has one rikishi on "east" and another on "west" side). Why do I get the impression that this person is trying to write a basic sumo article on the cheap? The answers to all of these questions could have been so easily found by somebody doing genuine searches. FWIW Hi Orion, I'm sorry but you have a wrong impression of me. Some of these answers could not have been easily found, sometimes only a conversation could draw out some facts hidden deep within. Genuine searches also depends on how nice Google is to you sometimes, I have done research to the best of my ability from reading the websites the nice members here had shown me and have read through Sumo books, but sometimes the fine detail could only be found from asking. Me: Tell me of what you know about Sumo so far? Orion: Why? Me: I wish to learn. Orion: Do some genuine search. Me: I would rather have a good conversation. Orion: Why? Me: Because we are both fans of Sumo, no? Be well, all!

Manekineko, that was a marvelous response! Thank you for your answers and continuing help. Just one more question for tonight: I have looked at the heya section and I haven't been able to come up with an accurate timetable for a new rikishi's lifestyle, e.g.. 5:00 wake up, clean, 6:00 training, what time they eat, clean again, sleep and when do they wake up in the afternoon again? How much free time are they allowed, how many hours specifically? And when must they go to sleep? I also read from wiki, that when they get promoted from Jonokuchi to Jonidan, they get better kimono garments? And possibly a higher allowance in money? I shall do some deeper research with the banzuke. Just a tiny bit confused how the points/ rank work but I'm sure in time I will understand more, I have already learnt a lot from you guys today! Be well, all.

Andonishiki, thank you for you reply! Really helpful to have known the celebration process, but do the promoted rikishis immediately get less choirs to do? I can't afford to play that sumo game hover interesting it is, I have a lot of study to do but I find Sumo a good way to de-stress! Doitsuyama, thank you also for your helpful insight on the promotion pace. I think I remember seeing your posts before I was a member here, you update people with regards to basho results and fixtures? Very nice! Randomitsuki, thank you again for your response! When you say they rise in ranks within their division, how many ranks are there inside Jonokuchi, Jonidan, Sandanme, and Makushita? Does it depend on how many rikishis are in that division? If I had the honor of being a rikishi, at Jonokuchi I do 4-3 n my first basho, then 6-1 in basho 2, would that be enough for a promotion to Jonidan? Just a little confused about how the ranking points work. But nonetheless very interesting! Thank you again for answering my bombardment of questions, sometimes you could stare so hard at Wiki or other Sumo info sites and still won't get the answers out, you literally need to ask in order to absorb, like a lecture! But rest assured I am also reading a lot of Sumo books and websites at the same time. Be well, all.

It's not quite as straightforward as that. Compare these two examples: Chiyoo / Sakumayama Notice how Chiyoo started his career with four consecutive 5-2 records? They took him to Sandanme. Now compare to Sakumayama, who started his career with three consecutive 7-0 records, which took him to Makushita. Chiyoo is now also in Makushita, but it took him more tournaments to get there because his results weren't quite as spectacular as those of Sakumayama. As for promotion to Juryo, it depends what your rank is to start with. If you're ranked below Makushita 15 it can't be done, while a 7-0 from Mk12-15 is supposed to be automatic promotion. If you're ranked at Makushita 1, on the other hand, a simple 4-3 would be enough. I've read through a few sumo glossary and ranking systems, so in essence, a Makushita 1 is higher ranking than a Makushita 15? Or have I got that wrong? Another question: Are there celebrations held by your Oyakata when you get promoted, from Jonokuchi to Jonidan, etc. If so what does the celebrations entail? Sake or some small festival? And do you do less and less choirs? Again thank you for all your answers, appreciate it humbly. Be well, all.

One more time, to get my theory right: March (Haru Basho, Osaka): mae-zumo Rikishi wins 4-3, gets promoted to Jonokuchi. May (Natsu Basho, Tokyo): Jonokuchi Rikishi wins 4-3, gets promoted to Jonidan July (Nagoya Basho, Nagoya). around Jonidan 10 Rikishi wins 5-2, gets promoted to Sandanme September (Aki Basho, Tokyo): around Sandanme 15 Rikishi wins 6-1, gets promoted to Makushita November (Kyushu Basho, Fukuoka): around Makushita 12 And a rikishi in Makushita must have a perfect 7-0 to the next promotion of Juryo? Thank you again! Be well, all.

Thank you very much Randomituski! That is exactly what I wanted, a possible rise list! And I really liked how my questions were answered, thank you again! A few more questions :) What are the usual techniques rikishis apply in the lower divisions? Which are the 'master level' techniques? Could a Yokozuna apply a basic technique from his Jonokuchi days but perfect it in such a way it becomes vastly more effective? Of course that is the definition of improvement, right? So basically, Jonokuchi rikishis would perform jonokuchi level techniques? Just in case you missed it: If Sumo heyas went beyond the reaches of just the greater Tokyo area, how would they designate prefectures from West to East? Eg, where would Osaka be designated to? Or Toyama? I know they are used nowadays merely for organizational purposes. Another question, I read from Akebono's book, though not very clear in a few facts, when he first started he rose at 5am, sometimes earlier, cleaned up, practiced, helped cook food, serve other rikishis to eat then ate and then finally cleaned up, and showered by that time it would have been around 8? Then they sleep and train again. My question is what are their daily routines and schedules for the day? What time do they rise,train,eat,shower, rest, etc, a rough estimate. As rikishis move up the division, would they do less and less choirs, and not have to rise up so early? Eg, Jonokuchi rikishi rises and works at 5 and cleans toilets, and a lot more, but a Jonidan rikishi does a little less, e.g., rise at 5:30. and so on. Thank you again! Be well, all.

Thank you again for all your invaluable answers! Kintamayama, Randomitsuki and Manekineko. :) In terms of mae-zumo, aside from the time of the day it starts, what time of the month does it occur? Is it always a fixed date or just before any tournament? Do Jonokuchi rikishis have a tokoyama that does their top knot already? And are tokoyama like free agents that do top knots door to door for different heyas? What is the gyoji saying when two rikishis wrestle, it sounds like 'Taga Taga, Tagata'. If Sumo heyas went beyond the reaches of just the greater Tokyo area, how would they designate prefectures from West to East? Eg, where would Osaka be designated to? Or Toyama? When Kintamayama mentioned the Jonokuchi to Makushita division having their own basho, does it take place prior to the Makuuchi's basho, early afternoon? Or on a completely different venue and date? If so what are their basho months? Is it unrealistic for a rikishi to go from Jonokuchi to Juryo within a year? Baruto did in in 8 tournaments, but I wonder if it was 6 bashos per year even from the Jonokuchi up to Juryo, if so that would have taken him a year and a half? Is it a better probability that a really good rikishi rise from Jonokuchi to Makushita within 9 months from March to December? Assuming the mae-zumo could take place in March and they head straight for their first basho in Jonokuchi during March? Again, thank you for answering my listless questions! You are all very knowledgeable. Be well, all.

Thank you so much Manekineko! Those really helped me! A few more questions: Could a new rikishi choose their own Shikona? Do they have to choose it before their mae-zumo? Would it be unnatural to see a slim built rikishi in the jonokuchi suddenly gaining weight in a period of 6 months? Are there heyas out there with only Jonokuchi, Sandanme, and Makushita division rikishis? What are the promotion criteria from Jonokuchi to Sandanme? When and where does the mae-zumo usually take place? Could a Jonokuchi or a Sandanme rikishi ever wear a keshō-mawashi during a charity exhibition event? Are rikishis from foreign countries allowed to perform their own cultural dance in a dohyo? Thank you again for answering my questions! Be well, all!

Thank you for your response, so to get this straight, would it be completed unrealistic for a young foreigner to compete at a Jonokuchi division? And the basho shown on NHK with the Yokozunas and Ozekis, that is a Makuuchi division? When are the Jonokuchi matches shown? Would jonokuchi rikishis ever face Makucchi rikishis? Or must they get promoted to the highest division of Makucchi in order to fight the top rikishis? Thank you again :)!

Thanks, I was just looking at that from a link my friend sent me. However, I still need more details within the amateur sumo, their ranking system, etc, time of tournaments. But nonetheless, thank you Doyobi :)!