New Yokozuna Harumafuji Dohyoi-iri style

[Tsubame 368]

I have a question in mind and do not found an answer*, so maybe someelse can help me.

Is it mandatory to choose the dohyo-iri style only between unryu and shiranui? Or it is imaginable that a future yokozuna held up (or create) his own style?

Of course most yokozuna had choose his style to honour their stablemaster or a personal paragon or other important persons. Leave that out... my question is, if it is mandatory to choose between these two.

*The question came up into my mind by reading about Hitachiyama Taniemon, who had his own variation of his dohyo-iri.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Tsubame

[krindel 675]

I don't know if it is actually allowed, per se, but in the current climate of "everyone and their aunt gets a say in what a Yokozuna should and should not be doing" I would find it very suprising if a Yokozuna could get away with anything innovative, let alone something so innovative as a new dohyo-iri. Tsuruta and his ilk would DEFINITELY cry their heart out in indignation, and I am sure part of the press would chime in, together with the more easily annoyed oyakata.

The whole consensus would be "If Unryu / Shiranui were good enough for Futabayama / Taiho / Kitanoumi / Chiyonofuji / Takanohana etc, who do you think you are changing things?" :-)

As for Hitachiyama, his legend is that of a kind of guy who had earned a reputation of such impeccable honor that he "can't do anything wrong", who could probably get away with just about anything, really...

[Kuroyama 715]

As for Hitachiyama, his legend is that of a kind of guy who had earned a reputation of such impeccable honor that he "can't do anything wrong", who could probably get away with just about anything, really...

It's said that he actually refused yokozuna promotion unless they also promoted his rival Umegatani -- which they did. I can't imagine anything like that happening nowadays.

[Asameshimae 220]

There is nothing particularly sumo-like about such strict adherence to tradition. Any arts, musical instruments etc. that have been passed down through centuries are considered off limits for innovation in Japan, as far as I have seen. One is to emulate and imitate forms as much as possible. I don't think it even in the realm of possibility that a new dohyo-iri variation would ever be allowed or even considered by a yokozuna.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Asanomeshi

[Akinomaki 40,808]

BTW, is it just me or does that tsuna look kinda lightweight compared to others? Sure, Harumafuji doesn't have the girth of other yokozuna so it's certainly a shorter rope, but it doesn't seem to be just that.

One meter shorter and 4.5 kilos lighter than Hakuhou's, i am told.

Tospo reports it to be 8.7 kg and about 1 kg lighter than Hakuhou's. Shiranui type with two ties is heavier. They say the dohyo-iri takes about the power of 10 bouts, according to Isegahama-oyakata. They speculate it could have an impact on Harumafuji's sumo.

Edited October 2, 2012 by Akinomaki

[Washuyama 641]

While we're still on the topic, I was watching all of the "National Sport of Sumo" videos on Araibira's channel (I would enbed, but I'm a computer idiot...shhhh). In the Volume 20 (1946-1953) video (At the 40:00 mark) it shows parts of all the yokozunas dohyo-iri from Pre-Futabayama up to Hakuho. Interesting to see the subtle changes/differences over the years... Even the gyoji's outfit was different "back in the day."

[Akinomaki 40,808]

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (Izumo great shrine in Shimane pref.) Sagami branch shrine. From there he got assistance since coming to Japan. The name Harumafuji was composed also by the chief priest. About 2000 watched.

Edited May 27, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 40,808]

On 08/10/2012 at 10:47, Akinomaki said:

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (great Izumo shrine in Shimane pref.) Sagami extra shrine.

After the dohyo-iri the presentation of a donated used ambulance, destined for Mongolia, Ulan Bator. Harumafuji is the connection of the two cities via a NPO. There are only few ambulances in his home country. When his father died in 2006 in a traffic accident, no well equipped ambulance came. He thus became active in charity work, also because of the teachings of his father and was also intermediate at the donation of an ambulance and a fire-engine in April.

Edited May 27, 2022 by Akinomaki

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (great Izumo shrine, who is in Shimane pref.) Sagami extra shrine. From there he got assistance since coming to Japan. The name Harumafuji was composed also by the chief priest. About 2000 watched.

Harumafuji's shisho Asahifuji also performed dohyo-iri at the same place, more than two decades ago:

[Dr.Radical 16]

While we're still on the topic, I was watching all of the "National Sport of Sumo" videos on Araibira's channel (I would enbed, but I'm a computer idiot...shhhh). In the Volume 20 (1946-1953) video (At the 40:00 mark) it shows parts of all the yokozunas dohyo-iri from Pre-Futabayama up to Hakuho. Interesting to see the subtle changes/differences over the years... Even the gyoji's outfit was different "back in the day."

Yeah, they're definitely very interesting. One other thing I noticed was the tachiai in those days.... I think a modern rikishi's tachiai would flatten some of those old rikishi. Just speculation though, of course. We'll never know how wrestlers from different time periods stack up.

[Asojima 2,874]

While we're still on the topic, I was watching all of the "National Sport of Sumo" videos on Araibira's channel (I would enbed, but I'm a computer idiot...shhhh). In the Volume 20 (1946-1953) video (At the 40:00 mark) it shows parts of all the yokozunas dohyo-iri from Pre-Futabayama up to Hakuho. Interesting to see the subtle changes/differences over the years... Even the gyoji's outfit was different "back in the day."

Yeah, they're definitely very interesting. One other thing I noticed was the tachiai in those days.... I think a modern rikishi's tachiai would flatten some of those old rikishi. Just speculation though, of course. We'll never know how wrestlers from different time periods stack up.

Extensive use of the "modern" tachial would have resulted in a henka-fest. Those were the days of yotsu sumo. Technique ruled.

[Washuyama 641]

Those were the days of yotsu sumo. Technique ruled.

Ahhh... Wajima, Takanohana, Wakamisugi, Kaiketsu, Asahikuni, Hasegawa, Masuiyama and, of course, Washuyama... Those WERE the days!

[Akinomaki 40,808]

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (great Izumo shrine, who is in Shimane pref.) Sagami extra shrine. From there he got assistance since coming to Japan. The name Harumafuji was composed also by the chief priest. About 2000 watched.

Harumafuji's shisho Asahifuji also performed dohyo-iri at the same place, more than two decades ago:

In 1990 after the Nagoya-basho, also just after he became yokozuna.

The chief priest Kusayama (55) has a 30-year-long friendship with Isegahama-oyakata (i. e. since juryo). He was with him in Mongolia when he scouted Harumafuji. Harumafuji goes to the shrine each year for New Year and the setsubun festival: "Being able to do the dohyo-iri in front of this deity ... I thank destiny and the deity."

[Treblemaker 254]

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (great Izumo shrine, who is in Shimane pref.) Sagami extra shrine. From there he got assistance since coming to Japan. The name Harumafuji was composed also by the chief priest. About 2000 watched.

Harumafuji's shisho Asahifuji also performed dohyo-iri at the same place, more than two decades ago:

What is the marking on the floor in front of Asahifuji in the lower picture? It looks like clay dug up. Anyone?

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

This thing fell off the hook just shortly before. No one was injured.

Edited October 14, 2019 by yorikiried by fate

[Bugman 384]

While we're still on the topic, I was watching all of the "National Sport of Sumo" videos on Araibira's channel (I would enbed, but I'm a computer idiot...shhhh). In the Volume 20 (1946-1953) video (At the 40:00 mark) it shows parts of all the yokozunas dohyo-iri from Pre-Futabayama up to Hakuho. Interesting to see the subtle changes/differences over the years... Even the gyoji's outfit was different "back in the day."

Yeah, they're definitely very interesting. One other thing I noticed was the tachiai in those days.... I think a modern rikishi's tachiai would flatten some of those old rikishi. Just speculation though, of course. We'll never know how wrestlers from different time periods stack up.

Extensive use of the "modern" tachial would have resulted in a henka-fest. Those were the days of yotsu sumo. Technique ruled.

Why and how did it change? I was looking at some of Chiyonofuji's bouts on youtube and it seems that his tachi-ai (at least the few that i saw him do) were more of a "jump forward and clasp" rather than a heavy collision.

[Kuroyama 715]

Harumafuji did a dohyo-iri on the 8th in Kanagawa prefecture, city of Hadano at the Izumo Taisha (great Izumo shrine, who is in Shimane pref.) Sagami extra shrine. From there he got assistance since coming to Japan. The name Harumafuji was composed also by the chief priest. About 2000 watched.

Harumafuji's shisho Asahifuji also performed dohyo-iri at the same place, more than two decades ago:

What is the marking on the floor in front of Asahifuji in the lower picture? It looks like clay dug up. Anyone?

What's puzzling me is why there's a ring there at all. Was there a feeling at the time that in order to perform a ring-entering ceremony you had to have a ring, at least nominally? It looks as if it's just laid thinly over the pavement; almost decorative.

[Mukonoso 273]

Maybe it was easier to do that little double foot shuffle that the Yokozuna does while rising (sorry don't know the term if there is one)? Dirt has got to feel better than concrete.