Doyho Dimensions Pre-WW2

[Shiro 13]

Does anyone know the size of the sumo doyho before it was enlarged in 1945?

[Shiro 13]

I guess no one knows.

[Mukonoso 273]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dohyo

According to Wikipedia

The diameter of the ring is 15 shaku (4.55 meters), which increased from 13 shaku (3.94 meters) in 1931.

[Kuroyama 715]

This isn't a chatroom. Don't expect an instant response.

I don't know of any such change that took place in 1945, a year in which, frankly, pretty much everyone in Tokyo had more important things to worry about than the size of the sumo ring. As far as I know, the dohyo was enlarged to its current 15 shaku in 1931. Before then, it was 13 shaku across. (3.3 shaku = 1 m)

It was 1952 when the pillars supporting the tsuriyane were removed, and it was suspended from the roof instead. And in 1970, the shikirisen were moved 10 cm farther apart, to their present distance of 70 cm.

[Shiro 13]

This isn't a chatroom. Don't expect an instant response..

Easy there. Just posted again cause i didn't want the question to get lost in the shuffle.

I had read in Dynamic Sumo that it was during world war 2 that it was changed and that Futabayama (I think it was him, I don't have the book in front of me) sighted that as his reason for retirement. Maybe the book doesn't have its facts streight.

[krindel 675]

As Kuroyama mentions, the current ring size has been in place since April 29, 1931 since a tournament held in the Emperor's presence.

Looking into it, though, I found this piece here however:

Nippon Times, Saturday 17th November 1945Wrestling Matches Open    The 10-day fall wrestling tournament, the first since the end of hostilities, opened Friday at the Kokugikan Amphitheater at Ryogoku, Honjo-ku, Tokyo.    According to custom, the ceremony of opening the wrestling ring was held Thursday morning, attended by members of the Wrestler's Association,under whose auspices the wrestling tournaments are held at the Kokugikan three times in a year, in spring, summer and autumn.Shonosuke Kimura, senior wrestling umpire officiated.    A feature of the current tournament is that all matches are held on an enlarged ring. It is 16 feet in diameter while it was 15 feet in the past.

And also found mention here that this ended up being a one-tournament change, and was reverted immediately after the November 1945 tournament.

Apart from the links I posted, I don't have other knowledge of the authenticity of the information, but I am guessing the author of the book you cite is refering to that temporary change?

[Kuroyama 715]

Easy there. Just posted again cause i didn't want the question to get lost in the shuffle.

A bump by any other name is still unwelcome -- AND unnecessary, since there's not all that much shuffle going on.

I had read in Dynamic Sumo that it was during world war 2 that it was changed and that Futabayama (I think it was him, I don't have the book in front of me) sighted that as his reason for retirement. Maybe the book doesn't have its facts streight.

That same source will tell you that Futabayama had in fact made the decision to retire a year prior.

[Shiro 13]

A bump by any other name is still unwelcome -- AND unnecessary, since there's not all that much shuffle going on.

Apologies Kuroyama. Didn't realize that was a part of forum etequette.

[Asashosakari 19,681]

A bump by any other name is still unwelcome -- AND unnecessary, since there's not all that much shuffle going on.

In fairness, it had been four days, and I must admit I'd meant to get back to the thread but forgot about it...

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

Didn't realize that was a part of forum etequette.

You're not alone.