The Gyoji

[Naganoyama 6,043]

Kimura Shonosuke 27, November 1977 - November 1990

[Yubinhaad 11,979]

The first post of the thread has been updated to reflect promotions and changes of name and heya in the last few years.

Meanwhile, here are some bonus pictures.

 

One of the most exclusive items in ozumo is the inro, a small case of nested boxes which is hung from the obi. Once used for carrying small items such as medicines or identity seals, these minor works of art are now used sparingly such as with formal dress. A gyoji must wait a long time to earn the privilege, as only those of tate and sanyaku rank may wear them.
 

Spoiler

Shikimori Inosuke's inro is decorated with the crest of Takadagawa-beya, and was given to him along with a matching gunbai.

Kimura Tamajiro.

Kimura Yodo.

Kimura Shotaro.

Kimura Konosuke.

 

Two costumes of new Juryo gyoji Kimura Kozaburo were shown in the Hatsu banzuke thread, in this box are three more.
 

Spoiler

 

In other costume news, this Wakamatsu Kayo costume featuring butterflies was created in 1967 for the 4th Kimura Tamajiro (later 23rd Shikimori Inosuke, 27th Kimura Shonosuke). After being unused for over 30 years, it has been back on the dohyo for the last year or so thanks to his deshi, the 6th Kimura Tamajiro.

 

Spoiler

An archive photo of the costume. Hopefully it won't be much longer until Tamajiro can affix those rosettes himself as the next Shikimori Inosuke.

 

[rhyen 1,858]

Kimura Kozaburo is still announcing the dohyo-iri and kimarites in Makuuchi

[Akinomaki 41,857]

Nice feature on Oshima-beya's Kimura Katsunosuke, who also does hall announcements in jonokuchi

http://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/662953

[Akinomaki 41,857]

On 19/03/2024 at 14:08, Akinomaki said:

Nice feature on Oshima-beya's Kimura Katsunosuke, who also does hall announcements in jonokuchi

Now a full program by local Toyama TV on the first year as gyoji for Kimura Katsunosuke https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDO11Sq0piQ

o o o o

[Asashosakari 20,298]

On 08/10/2024 at 12:21, Akinomaki said:

2 new members for Otowayama-beya from the sumo club of Nagano pref. Sarashina agricultural high school, but one as gyoji.

Both are 18y-old 3rd years and just had their final keiko at the club - they are the only 2 members and Yuuki Ishikawa 市川友輝 leaves for the heya to start his gyoji training: "We'll meet again!"

After quite some time Ishikawa has now officially been hired as of this month (list en, list jp, profile); he's joining the sumo world as Shikimori Tomosaburo 式守 友三郎. You might notice that the first kanji of the given name is also present in his real given name, albeit with a different reading. The remainder may be a reference to his shisho Otowayama (ex-Kakuryu), who has gone by Rikisaburo since his active days.

[Asashosakari 20,298]

The Tatsunami-beya Instagram account briefly mentioned a new gyoji trainee today, referred to only as Seia 成明 for now. I suppose we'll be seeing him doing the usual observation routine during next basho's maezumo sessions.

Assuming he's eventually hired, this will max out the gyoji capacity of 45 until the next retirement; the next scheduled departure is the current Kimura Shonosuke who turns 65 in October 2026.

Edited April 3 by Asashosakari

[Asashosakari 20,298]

On 01/04/2025 at 09:38, Asashosakari said:

After quite some time Ishikawa has now officially been hired as of this month (list en, list jp, profile); he's joining the sumo world as Shikimori Tomosaburo 式守 友三郎. You might notice that the first kanji of the given name is also present in his real given name, albeit with a different reading. The remainder may be a reference to his shisho Otowayama (ex-Kakuryu), who has gone by Rikisaburo since his active days.

Shikimori Tomosaburo looking a bit pensive ahead of his dohyo debut in today's maezumo session (screencap from the Abema stream):

Flanked by the other two young jonokuchi-ranked gyoji, Shikimori Kazenosuke (joined in 2023) on the left and Kimura Yunosuke (joined in 2024) on the right. 

[RabidJohn 2,074]

13 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

This photo makes me feel very old...

[Asashosakari 20,298]

On 14/05/2025 at 21:43, Asashosakari said:

Incidentally, I forgot to mention him yesterday: The young guy who was seated behind shimpan Takekuma then, and right behind the gyoji position today, ought to be Tatsunami's gyoji applicant Seia. Presumably it's going to take a while until we see him in action; Tomosaburo was an observer for no less than three tournaments before he was officially hired.

Only realized now that Tomosaburo (pre-debut) and Seia were also observing during the jonokuchi bouts of the first two days, before maezumo began. Abema put them on close-up at one point during Day 2 (Seia on the left, Tomosaburo on the right):

Edited May 16 by Asashosakari

[WAKATAKE 2,759]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post in, but after checking the Japanese wikipedia it would seem that if the timeline for rankings and titles are correct for the tate-gyoji, the following should be happening in the next few years:

Aki 2026
- 39th Kimura Shonosuke retires

Kyushu 2026
- 43rd Shikimori Inosuke becomes the 40th Kimura Shonosuke
- Kimura Konosuke becomes the 44th Shikimori Inosuke

Nagoya 2028
- 40th Kimura Shonosuke retires

Aki 2028
- 44th Shikimori Inosuke (Konosuke) becomes the 41st Kimura Shonosuke

Haru 2030
- Konosuke retires

[Yubinhaad 11,979]

On 16/05/2025 at 08:42, Asashosakari said:

On 14/05/2025 at 20:43, Asashosakari said:

Incidentally, I forgot to mention him yesterday: The young guy who was seated behind shimpan Takekuma then, and right behind the gyoji position today, ought to be Tatsunami's gyoji applicant Seia. Presumably it's going to take a while until we see him in action; Tomosaburo was an observer for no less than three tournaments before he was officially hired.

Only realized now that Tomosaburo (pre-debut) and Seia were also observing during the jonokuchi bouts of the first two days, before maezumo began. Abema put them on close-up at one point during Day 2 (Seia on the left, Tomosaburo on the right):

Seia's entry is now official so we'll see him during the Kyushu basho as Kimura Senshin (木村 先進). 16 years old from Minato-ku, Tokyo.

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 69]

On 01/10/2025 at 08:11, Yubinhaad said:

Seia's entry is now official so we'll see him during the Kyushu basho as Kimura Senshin (木村 先進). 16 years old from Minato-ku, Tokyo.

I got to meet him when I visited Tatsunami. Very polite and patient young man. I also kinda yelled when I saw him ringside on Abema on day 2 or 3 of the Aki basho! "Yo! That's my dude Seia! What's he doing there?!?" Hahaha. I've been thinking of sending him a congratulatory gift for his promotion ...though I'm not sure how that goes over with him a gyoji and not a rikishi.

I also wanted to thank you for the post above with the gyoji costumes. I did not know they carried an inro. I'm very interested in them. I nearly bought an antique one this summer in Kyoto but bought an antique sword and an antique woodblock print instead. I've seen so many of them that are total works of art and I'm also kinda obsessed with samurai (the sword should give that away though. Hahah).

[Yarimotsu 645]

34 minutes ago, Vancouver BC Sumo Fan said:

I've been thinking of sending him a congratulatory gift for his promotion ...though I'm not sure how that goes over with him a gyoji and not a rikishi.

I'm sure he'd be able to accept it. He seemed pretty hyped on their latest video, saying he would get his first paycheck on the 1st of this month.

[Vancouver BC Sumo Fan 69]

8 minutes ago, Yarimotsu said:

I'm sure he'd be able to accept it. He seemed pretty hyped on their latest video, saying he would get his first paycheck on the 1st of this month.

He looked very proud of himself to get the job! I recall he said previously he wants to buy a knife with his first paycheck to help Kokuryunami more in the kitchen. Such a good kid wanting to buy something with his first paycheck that'll help him do an even better job and help others around him.

[Kintamayama 47,377]

On 29/06/2025 at 23:53, WAKATAKE said:

Aki 2028
- 44th Shikimori Inosuke (Konosuke) becomes the 41st Kimura Shonosuke

I hope I live to see that..

[Jomangor 29]

On 03/10/2025 at 22:44, Kintamayama said:

I hope I live to see that..

We do too!

[Akinomaki 41,857]

On 01/10/2025 at 17:11, Yubinhaad said:

Seia's entry is now official so we'll see him during the Kyushu basho as Kimura Senshin (木村 先進). 16 years old from Minato-ku, Tokyo.

Kimura Senshin https://www.sumo.or.jp/Profile/gyoji/2371/

basho debut

o o o

Edited Friday at 09:15 by Akinomaki

[Koorifuu 1,121]

Seems like this thread missed Kazenosuke's unexpected retirement.