Tate-Gyoji news

[Kintamayama 45,542]

As we all heard, Number 35 Kimura Shounosuke (the gyoji that presides over the last match every day)has retired. He will be replace by current Shikimori Inosuke (63), who will become Kimura Shounosuke number 36. His intended replacement Sanyaku-kaku Kimura Tamamitsu (61) has declined to accept the post citing health issues, so for the first time in five years, there will be only one tate-gyoji.

Edited September 29, 2011 by Kintamayama

[Mattjila 0]

So, because the #3 doesn't want to be #2 now, #4 can't leapfrog him and take his place?

[Asashosakari 19,682]

So, because the #3 doesn't want to be #2 now, #4 can't leapfrog him and take his place?

They might be taking the time for some greater changes. Trawling through the forum archives, for what it's worth:

Sanyakukaku gyoji Kimura Tamamitsu is kyujo from today after suffering a fractured rib in his bout against Chiyotaikai and Goueidou yesterday. He will need three weeks of rest.

Sanyaku Gyoji Kimura Tamamitsu is kyujo as of today. He fell down on his way home yesterday . "Right foot fracture dislocation" and must rest for 20 days.

Sanyaku rank Gyoji Tamamitsu Kimura, 60, (Nobehide Ueda from Kyoto) of Hanaregoma Beya and Masanao Kimura, 57, (Yukihisa Yamauchi from Gifu) of Asahiyama Beya have gone on kyujo from Day 1. Tamamitsu has left foot injury while Masanao is ill, diagnosed with liver cancer and expected to be in treatment for at least several months.

I haven't checked, but I'm guessing Kimura Masanao was back on the job the next basho, but still, it seems that the sanyaku gyoji ranks might be in need of some greater revamping if the senior one actually declines a promotion (it's not like being Inosuke is a completely new and different job...), and the junior one has had serious health issues of his own. Are the sanyaku-kaku ranks fixed in number to three?

(And who knows, perhaps the reason they're not going ahead with promoting the #4 Kimura Shozaburo is that he has declined as well? Wouldn't look good to publicize two such decisions at once, if so.)

[Asashosakari 19,682]

On another subject, does anyone recall why there was just one tate-gyoji five years ago? Was that when the then-Shonosuke and Inosuke both turned 65 one after another...?

[Naganoyama 5,949]

Kimura Shozaburo looks like he might also have been ill in recent times.

His picture in the directory from 2009:

His picture in the directory from 2010:

[Jonosuke 28]

Actually there is no requirement to have a Tate-gyoji though traditionally when there is a sitting yokozuna (like now) we will have at least one.

The Kyokai can decide on its own based on historical precedence, promote or not to promote a Sanyaku level gyoji to a tate-gyoji position but unless one commits some mishaps, it's always seniority and service that count. Perhaps they are of an opinion that the next one they have in mind will need further seasoning before he can be promoted.

[Asashosakari 19,682]

Since it hasn't been mentioned yet - the most senior makuuchi-kaku gyoji, Shikimori Kindayu (Miyagino-beya) was promoted to sanyaku-kaku as well. So clearly no restriction to just three spots for that level.