Origin of the Danpatsu Shiki

[Murasakiayame 0]

Does anybody know about how long rikishi have retired by getting their mage snipped off? More than 100 years? Less than 50?

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

Does anybody know about how long rikishi have retired by getting their mage snipped off? More than 100 years? Less than 50?

Good question...

It has been done as a ceremony for at least 70 years, but I don't know how much longer than that...

EDIT: Well, logically it should have happened at least back to the 1870s, since that's about the time when rikishi were but non-rikishi were not allowed to wear top-knots, but whether it's been a ceremony like now all that time or not is more than I know...

Edited October 10, 2006 by Yubiquitoyama

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

This is a rather old thread by now, but I think I'm closing in on the matter, via Clyde Newton's "then and now" in Sumo World November 1999, plus Rowan Klein's work of copying Japan Times articles at www.juryo.net

According to Newton there are no mentions of danpatsu-shiki during Meiji 1868-1912 (and since everyone had top knot previous to that, this is the period to look for the start). However, there is a mention of Hatachiyama (former Yokozuna Konishiki, retired in the middle of 1901) deciding to get a western style hair cut after several years keeping his hair long (and supposedly with the top knot). This is May 1908 where it also relates the cutting of the knot as a memorable event deserving a specific date and ceremony:

http://www.juryo.net/newspaper/1900/19080520.htm

According to Newton, Ozeki Araiwa had intai sumo in 1909 which was not ended by a danpatsu-shiki.

Later, there is an article from Japan Times from 9th of January 1915 and the last day of Yokozuna Hitachiyama's intai sumo (a three day event), where what could be considered a "traditional" danpatsu-shiki apparently happened, with the exception that the final cut is said to be made by a barber (tokoyama?) http://www.juryo.net/newspaper/1910/19150109.htm

In Sumo World there is thereafter a picture of Umegatani-2 getting his hair cut in a traditional danpatsu-shiki setting by an Admiral Uryu, which should have taken place in 1915.

In short, the danpatsu-shiki can probably be said to have developed between 1910 and 1915.

Edited January 27, 2007 by Yubiquitoyama