Heya's Shikonas

[Zuikakuyama 1]

I noticed that there is a relationship between the shikona of rikishis in the same heyas. As far as I know, new rikishis with promising careers change their shikonas in honor of their oyakatas or some other famous rikishi of the same heya in the past.

For instance:

Futagoyama: Taka___, Waka___

Musashigawa: ___yama

Sadogakate: Koto___

Kokonoe: Chiyo___

Naruto: Taka____ (different kanji character from Futagoyama), ____sato

Takasago: Asa___

The other heyas seems to refrain from using the same name another heya is known to commonly use, though that is not always the case.

For instance Wakanosato uses the "sato" of his Oyakata Takanosato, but his "Waka" is also commonly used by Futagoyama (as in the 2 Futagoyama Wakanohana yokozunas). But that seems to be ok since both heyas belong to the Nihonoseki group.

Can anyone shed more light on how rikishis choose their shikonas so as to clearly imply their heya affiliation?

Edited September 30, 2003 by Zuikakuyama

[furanohana 3]

I think this is quite complicated, as the shikona is proposed by the oyakata (or other ones too I think). So you can have have changes in a "heya policy" when the oyaka changes. For example, most of the Michinoku beya's rikishi have now a Kiri___ shikona. But that's not true for the oldest ones (who weren't even in this heya when they started sumo), like Jumonji or Toyozakura. In this case, you can see an intersting good number of shikona changes during the last 2 years by Michinoku heya's rikishis. That makes me woner if Hakuba will stay Hakuba, or adopt a Kiri___ shikona too ?

Besides that, I don't think that there is any "obligation" to have a "heya belonging" shikona. I'm sure some expert here will provide much more interesting insight that me :)

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Few more common shikona parts:

Exceptionless:

Kataonami, Tama-

Sadogatake, Koto-

Common (50+%):

Asahiyama, Dai-

Hakkaku, Hokuto-

Hatachiyama, -nyu

Irumagawa, -tsukasa

Kasugano, Tochi-

Kasugayama, Kasuga-, -kasuga

Kokonoe, Chiyo-

Oshima, Asahi-*, Kyoku-*

Tomozuna, Kai-

Less common (50-%):

Dewanoumi, Dewa-

Futagoyama, Taka-

Izutsu, Kaku-

Kagamiyama, Kagami-

Kiriyama, -segawa

Magaki, Waka-

Matsugane, Waka-

Michinoku, Kiri-

Naruto, Taka-, -sato

Oguruma, -kaze

Oitekaze, Dai-, Hayate-

Takadagawa, Mae-

Takasago, Asa-

Tamanoi, Azuma-, -azuma

Tokitsukaze, Toyo-, Toki-

* Same kanji, I'm told.

[Feginowaka 53]

Few more common shikona parts:

Exceptionless:

Kataonami, Tama-

Sadogatake, Koto-

Common (50+%):

Asahiyama, Dai-

Hakkaku, Hokuto-

Hatachiyama, -nyu

Irumagawa, -tsukasa

Kasugano, Tochi-

Kasugayama, Kasuga-, -kasuga

Kokonoe, Chiyo-

Oshima, Asahi-*, Kyoku-*

Tomozuna, Kai-

Less common (50-%):

Dewanoumi, Dewa-

Futagoyama, Taka-

Izutsu, Kaku-

Kagamiyama, Kagami-

Kiriyama, -segawa

Magaki, Waka-

Matsugane, Waka-

Michinoku, Kiri-

Naruto, Taka-, -sato

Oguruma, -kaze

Oitekaze, Dai-, Hayate-

Takadagawa, Mae-

Takasago, Asa-

Tamanoi, Azuma-, -azuma

Tokitsukaze, Toyo-, Toki-

* Same kanji, I'm told.

Great listing, Kotoseiya :-)

I was just writing about the same, when I saw that you already posted.

There are only 2 issues that I have to add:

In Taiho-beya the ending -ho seems very common.

In Azumazeki-beya the beginning Taka is very common.

To answer Furanohana's question, there is no obligation to have a heya-belonging shikona, but most Oyakata give a part of their names they used as active rikishi to their rikishi.

When you have a look at Kotoseiya's listing and know who the Oyakata is, most shikona parts derive from their own name as active rikishi:

Asahiyama: DAIju

Azumazeki: TAKAmiyama

Hakkaku: HOKUTOumi

Irumagawa: TochiTSUKASA

Kasugano: TOCHInowaka

Kasugayama: KASUGAfuji

Kataonami: TAMAnofuji

Kokonoe: CHIYOnofuji

Matsugane: WAKAshimatsu

Michinoku: KIRIshima

Naruto: TAKAnoSATO

Oguruma: KotoKAZE

Oitakaze: DAIshoyama

Sadogatake: KOTOzakura

Takadagawa: MAEnoyama

Takasago: ASAshio

Tamanoi: TochiAZUMA

Tomozuna: KAIki

[Zenjimoto 40]

Musashigawa: ___yama

Actually, no. Musashigawa's signature is, as far as I understand, the first character/syllable, MU, or also pronounced BU.

MUsashimaru

MUsoyama

BUyuzan

BUshuyama

Of course, in this heya, there are plenty of exceptions, but I think its safe to say, a "classic" Musashigawa shikona would start with MU/BU. I think if Kakizoe DOES change his shikona, it will probably fall into this category.

Cheers

Z.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Interesting quesiton and great answers, as always on this board :-)

On a related note: what is the typical period an oyakata is an oyakata? Say, after retirement of rikishi (~ 35?) to normal retirement age (~ 65?), making 30 years as oyakata average? Or something else?

[Zuikakuyama 1]

Musashigawa: ___yama

Actually, no. Musashigawa's signature is, as far as I understand, the first character/syllable, MU, or also pronounced BU.

MUsashimaru

MUsoyama

BUyuzan

BUshuyama

Of course, in this heya, there are plenty of exceptions, but I think its safe to say, a "classic" Musashigawa shikona would start with MU/BU. I think if Kakizoe DOES change his shikona, it will probably fall into this category.

Cheers

Z.

Actually, maybe both "MU", "BU" (both meaning martical arts) and "Yama" and "Zan" (both meaning mountain) are common Musashigawa shikonas.

In addition to the two "BU"s you named which also contain the "yama", there is also Miyabiyama and Wakanoyama.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

Then again -zan/-yama is common in so many other heyas, it doesn't feel too Musashigawa-centered. Therefore I omitted it in my list. I wasn't aware of the Mu-/Bu-, though.

-ho (鵬) naturally should be mentioned with Taiho (soon to become Odake) -beya. Exceptionally complicated kanji, I'm told. Thanks, Fegi-zeki.

Taka- (高) I missed as I mistakenly thought Takami- was a single kanji associated with Azumazeki-beya but it seems to be a combination of the common 高 with 見 unless, of course, we're talking about Takamisato (隆三郷) of Naruto-beya. :-)

I'd say 30-35 years sounds an average service time for an emeritus oyakata.

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

What is the oldest currently active heya?

Who is the oyakata currently active that's been active the longest?

[Chiyozakura 163]

I think Clyde Newton's "Dynamic Sumo" said that Isenoumi Beya has been running since 17something...

The longest active Oyakata is probably Taiho, who has been Oyakata since 1971, so more than 32 years now. Moti reported that he will give his Heya to Odake on January 1st 2004 although he can still remain with the Kyokai until 2005.

[Yubiquitoyama 4]

What is the oldest currently active heya?

Who is the oyakata currently active that's been active the longest?

I am not sure, but Isenoumi and Asahiyama are both very old.

Tokiwayama-oyakata ex-Wakachichibu has been an oyakata since he retired in September 1968.

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I have an excellent heya summary compiled by Amanogawa-zeki. It lists all the heya changes since the beginning of Showa era. If there's interest, I could turn it into an HTML table.

[Zenjimoto 40]

I have an excellent heya summary compiled by Amanogawa-zeki. It lists all the heya changes since the beginning of Showa era. If there's interest, I could turn it into an HTML table.

There is interest! (Sigh...)

Cheers

Z.

[Asashosakari 20,209]

I have an excellent heya summary compiled by Amanogawa-zeki. It lists all the heya changes since the beginning of Showa era. If there's interest, I could turn it into an HTML table.

There is interest! :-)

Seconded! :-)

Edited October 1, 2003 by Asashosakari

[Exil 301]

Actually, no.

Edited October 1, 2003 by Exil

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

I have an excellent heya summary compiled by Amanogawa-zeki. It lists all the heya changes since the beginning of Showa era. If there's interest, I could turn it into an HTML table.

I would be interested :-)

Thanks everyone for your answers... Sometimes I wish I had as many answers as I do questions, but on second thought I'm not sure which one is better to have... :-)

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

While we're on this topic: what is the most frequently used kanji in shikona?

[Kotoseiya Yuichi 3]

I doubt anyone has ever counted that, but my bet is 山 (yama, san).

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

I doubt anyone has ever counted that, but my bet is 山 (yama, san).

You're wrong with the first part. :-/ I actually did a macro in Excel once to list all charcters with their count (from Jonokuchi to Makuuchi). I don't remember though where this is now... I'm getting old... or I have too much stuff now. Anyway, your second part with yama/zan/san is pretty safe.

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

Ok, after an healthy breakfast I made a new table for the Aki banzuke. It really isn't difficult. Here are all kanji with the number of there occurence which were found at least 10 times:

山	91
大	46
龍	37
若	35
海	32
乃	30
天	27
北	25
田	25
富	23
琴	22
士	21
玉	21
錦	21
日	20
川	18
東	18
勝	17
花	17
安	16
風	16
司	15
島	15
春	14
栃	14
武	14
藤	14
光	13
国	13
翔	13
豊	13
高	13
魁	13
力	12
千	12
朝	12
桜	12
旭	11
木	11
瀬	11
福	11
竜	11
隆	11
代	10
出	10
本	10
村	10
浪	10
羽	10
輝	10
馬	10

Edited December 14, 2004 by Exil

[Manekineko 200]

:-/ JWPce Kanji counting tool?

Here's translation and transcription of kanji for less Japanese-endowed members:

山	91	mountain (yama/san/zan)
大	46	great (oo/dai)
龍	37	dragon (ryuu)
若	35	young (waka)
海	32	sea (umi/kai)
乃	30	(no)
天	27	heaven (ama/ten)
北	25	north (kita/hoku)
田	25	field (ta/da)
富	23	wealth (tomi/fu in fuji)
琴	22	koto
士	21	gentleman (ji in fuji)
玉	21	jewel (tama)
錦	21	brocade (nishiki)
日	20	day/sun (hi/bi/ka/nichi)
川	18	river (kawa/gawa)
東	18	east (higashi/azuma/to)
勝	17	victory (kachi/sho)
花	17	flower (hana/ka)
安	16	(a in ami, aki etc)
風	16	wind (kaze, fuu)
司	15	ruler (tsukasa)
島	15	island (shima/jima)
春	14	spring (kasu/haru/shu)
栃	14	horse chestnut (tochi)
武	14	warrior (mu/bu/take, Musashigawa-beya)
藤	14	wistaria (fuji/to)
光	13	light (ko/hikari)
国	13	country (kuni/koku)
翔	13	soar (sho/kake)
豊	13	abudance (yutaka/toyo)
高	13	tall (taka)
魁	13	(kai of Tomozuna-beya)
力	12	strength (chikara/riki/ryoku)
千	12	thousand (sen/chi of Chiyo...)
朝	12	morning (asa)
桜	12	cherry (sakura/zakura)
旭	11	morning sun (kyoku/asahi)
木	11	tree (ki/gi)
瀬	11	rapids (se)
福	11	fortune (fuku/toshi)
竜	11	dragon (ryuu) - another version of above
隆	11	noble (taka)
代	10	age (yo of Chiyo)
出	10	go forward (de)
本	10	book/origin (hon/moto)
村	10	village (mura)
浪	10	wave (nami)
羽	10	feathers/wings (ha/ba/wa/hane)
輝	10	radiance (aki/ki/kagaya)
馬	10	horse (uma/ba)

Edited December 14, 2004 by Exil

[Asashosakari 20,209]

Very nice! :-/ Thank you, both! :-S

One more question...are there any kanji that are only used by a single rikishi right now? I'd be especially curious if there are any singular kanji that were actually chosen for a shikona, not just ended up in there because they were part of the rikishi's own surname...

(Guessing...the sakari/mori kanji is one such kanji, right?)

Edited October 4, 2003 by Asashosakari

[Yoavoshimaru 0]

Thanks Doitsuyama-zeki (I am not worthy...)